Voluntary Modern Slavery Act

Higginson PR Limited trading as Higginson Strategy is making a voluntary Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement relating to section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. 

We oppose slavery and human trafficking in all its forms and make this statement to set out the steps we have taken to ensure that there is no slavery or human trafficking in our business or in our supply chains. 

About us

We are a boutique communications agency for purpose driven organisations working in the PR and Communications sector. 

Our annual turnover is under £36 million. Although we are not required to make a Modern Slavery Statement under section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, we are making this voluntary statement to show our commitment to ethical trading principles and to set out the steps we are taking to tackle modern slavery and human trafficking in our business and in our supply chains. 

Our supply chains are mainly made up of the following: 

• As a professional services firm, our supply chains are very limited, with the majority based in the UK. Our suppliers include, amongst others, office goods suppliers, ICT equipment, professional assistance, and catering supplies, Photographers, Videographers, Design services, Translation services, Professional printers, Website designers, Freelance consultants, Polling companies, Research agencies, Couriers and Taxi services. We also use several online media platforms including: Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, podcasts on Soundcloud, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. 

Due to the size and nature of our supply chain we consider there to be a low risk from incidents of slavery and human trafficking. Our supply chains include event production, content production, photography services and other suppliers connected to our core business. 

In engaging with suppliers, by preference we work with companies where we have experience of the quality of their service, ethics and ways of working either directly or through recommendation from trusted third parties. We maintain a database of trusted and preferred suppliers and always seek to ensure the quality of our suppliers and mitigate risk from harmful working practices. We work with different suppliers at different times to fulfil our client briefs. For example, for some clients we would organise a photo shoot, for others the printing of branded materials. 

Policies or our commitment to ethical trading

Our Anti-slavery and Human Trafficking Policy reflects our commitment to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure slavery and human trafficking is not taking place anywhere in our supply chains. 

Due diligence and risk assessment

To help identify and monitor the risk of slavery and human trafficking in our supply chain we have introduced a questionnaire that will seek input from our Suppliers through a request for information that details the Supplier’s: 

• Structures; 
• Policies they have in place; 
• Relationships including their direct suppliers and subcontractors and accompanying steps taken to mitigate modern slavery tracking in their supply chains; 
• Steps taken to ensure compliance with relevant slavery and Anti-Trafficking policies; 
• Measures taken to ensure anti-slavery and human trafficking awareness training is given to their respective staff members 

We will be vetting suppliers and sub-contractors through this questionnaire to ensure that they are committed to ethical labour practices. 

We only employ agency workers through reputable employment agencies that adhere to our Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy (or equivalent policies). 

Effectiveness in combating slavery and human trafficking 

We use the following key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure how effective we have been at ensuring that slavery and human trafficking is not taking place in any part of our business or supply chains: 

• We have formulated an anti-slavery steering group that will meet every quarter to ensure that key areas of our business are aware of our obligations and are involved in improving our approach to tackling slavery and human trafficking. 
• We have created a Supplier Questionnaire that is sent to suppliers. After an initial data capturing exercise this information will help inform the anti-slavery steering group on which areas of our supply chain require closer attention. 

TRAINING To ensure a high level of understanding of the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking in our supply chains and our business, we are in the process of sourcing relevant training providers and toolbox talks to provide training to our staff. We are in the process of engaging one of our business partners in sourcing relevant and effective training materials. We also require our business partners to provide training to their staff and suppliers and providers. 

This Voluntary Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement is made in connection with section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, for the financial year ending 2023/2024. It was approved by the board on 17th April 2023.

John Higginson – Director Higginson Strategy Date: 17th April, 2023