Modern Slavery Statement for Carpet Cleaners St John's Wood

Carpet Cleaners St John's Wood is committed to conducting all aspects of our business in an ethical and transparent manner. We recognise our responsibility to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking within our own operations and throughout our supply chains. This statement outlines the steps we take to identify, assess, and address the risk of modern slavery, and reflects our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement.

Our Commitment and Zero-Tolerance Policy

We maintain a strict zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of modern slavery, human trafficking, forced labour, servitude, and child labour. This policy applies to all employees, contractors, agency staff, and any third parties who act on our behalf. We expect the same high standards from our suppliers, and we will not knowingly work with any organisation that is involved in, or condones, such practices.

Our senior management is responsible for ensuring that this policy is embedded in our culture and day-to-day operations. All relevant decisions, including supplier selection and contract renewals, are informed by our zero-tolerance stance on modern slavery.

Our Business and Supply Chains

Carpet Cleaners St John's Wood provides professional carpet, rug, and upholstery cleaning services to residential and commercial clients. Our supply chains include providers of cleaning products, equipment, vehicles, workwear, and certain outsourced services. We recognise that some of these areas may carry higher risks of labour exploitation, particularly where goods are manufactured or sourced from regions with weaker labour protections.

We are committed to understanding these risks and to taking proportionate action to mitigate them, focusing in particular on suppliers that provide cleaning materials, tools, and ancillary support services.

Supplier Standards and Audits

We require our suppliers to conduct their business in a manner that respects the rights and dignity of workers. As part of our onboarding and ongoing supplier management process, we communicate our expectations regarding modern slavery and human trafficking. Suppliers are expected to comply with all applicable labour, employment, and human rights laws.

Where appropriate and proportionate to the level of risk, we conduct supplier audits. These audits may include requests for documentation on labour practices, checks on recruitment methods, and confirmation that workers are employed voluntarily and receive fair wages. Where a supplier presents a higher risk, we may seek additional assurances, such as evidence of internal policies, training programs, or third-party certifications related to ethical labour practices.

If a supplier fails to meet our standards, we will work with them to implement corrective actions within a reasonable timeframe. Where serious or persistent non-compliance is identified, we reserve the right to terminate the business relationship.

Reporting Channels and Whistleblowing

We encourage all employees, workers within our supply chains, and other stakeholders to report any concerns about modern slavery or unethical labour practices. Concerns can be raised confidentially through our internal reporting channels, including direct reporting to line managers or senior management.

We do not tolerate retaliation or victimisation against anyone who raises a concern in good faith. All reports are taken seriously, investigated promptly, and handled with discretion. Where allegations are substantiated, we will take appropriate action, which may include notifying relevant authorities and ending relationships with responsible parties.

Training and Awareness

We are committed to raising awareness of modern slavery risks among our employees and key suppliers. Training is provided, where relevant to job roles, to help staff identify signs of exploitation, understand how to respond to concerns, and apply our policies in practice. We aim to build a culture in which ethical conduct and respect for human rights are central to how we operate.

Monitoring, Governance, and Annual Review

Responsibility for overseeing our approach to modern slavery rests with our senior management team. They review the effectiveness of our policies, risk assessments, supplier controls, and training on a regular basis. We monitor changes in legislation, industry guidance, and best practice to ensure that our approach remains robust and up to date.

This Modern Slavery Statement is reviewed annually and updated as necessary to reflect changes in our business operations, supply chains, and risk profile. The review considers any incidents reported, audit findings, and feedback from employees and stakeholders. By doing so, we aim to strengthen our safeguards year on year and uphold our commitment to preventing modern slavery in all its forms.

This statement has been approved by the management of Carpet Cleaners St John's Wood and represents our position for the current financial year.