Modern slavery statement

1. Introduction

1.1 This Statement is designed to inform the University of West London’s (UWL) students, staff and members of the public about UWL’s efforts to prevent slavery and human trafficking in its business and in its supply chain in compliance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

1.2 Modern slavery is a crime and a gross violation of fundamental human rights. It takes various forms, such as slavery, servitude, forced and compulsory labour and human trafficking, all of which have in common the deprivation of a person's liberty by another in order to exploit them for personal or commercial gain. UWL is committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business dealings and relationships and to implementing effective systems and controls to ensure modern slavery is not taking place anywhere within the University.

1.3 UWL is also committed to ensuring there is transparency in our approach to tackling modern slavery throughout its contracts and supply chains, consistent with its disclosure obligations under the Modern Slavery Act 2015. The University expects the same high standards from all contractors, suppliers and other business partners, and as part of the contracting processes, includes specific prohibitions against the use of forced, compulsory or trafficked labour, or anyone held in slavery or servitude, whether adults or children. The university expects that suppliers will hold their own suppliers to the same high standards.

2. Our organisation structure and business

2.1 UWL is a Higher Education corporation with 850 staff employed directly or indirectly. UWL primarily operates in West London and Reading but has an international examinations board offering graded and diploma qualifications in music, drama and communication across a large network of exam centres worldwide (Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas). It is also developing centres in Hong Kong and China and has significant and developing partnerships to deliver UWL courses in Cyprus, Spain, India, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong and Singapore.

2.2 The University’s academic activities are based in the following nine schools:

• Claude Littner Business School
• College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare
• London College of Music
• London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism
• London School of Film, Media and Design
• School of Medicine and Biosciences
• School of Computing and Engineering
• School of Human and Social Sciences
• School of Law.

3. Our supply chains

3.1 UWL's main spent categories are:

• Estates goods and services
• ICT equipment and services
• Library resources
• Professional services

3.2 Of these, the principal categories which carry material risks are estates goods and services and ICT equipment. In addition, UWL procures office supplies and raw materials related to the preparation of food and drink.

4. Our action to prevent modern slavery

4.1 UWL is committed to ensuring that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in its supply chains or in any part of its business. It is committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all its business relationships and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure slavery and human trafficking is not taking place anywhere in its supply chains.

4.2 As part of UWL’s action to prevent modern slavery it undertakes the following:

• Effective Human Resources policies and procedures which ensure all members of staff have the right to work; paying the London Living Wage to all permanently employed staff; ensuring compliance with The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) Professional Code of Ethics; and providing appropriate training to staff with responsibility for procurement.
• Membership of purchasing consortia which are committed to acquiring goods and services for its members without causing harm to others.
• Ensuring major contractors have undertaken appropriate action.
• Ensuring that all new tenders for goods and services include consideration of actions to prevent modern slavery including appropriate clauses in purchasing terms and conditions and agents and partnership contracts.
• Due diligence in relation to partners, agents, procurement that specifically asks about Modern Slavery with appropriate contracts.
• Provision of an effective public interest disclosure (whistle blowing policy).

4.3 The University will not knowingly engage with any suppliers that operate poor labour practices or those who do not undertake to ensure that businesses in their supply chain.