Introduction

Venture Up Ltd. recognises that all businesses have an obligation to prevent slavery and human trafficking and will do all in its power to prevent slavery and human trafficking within its business and the supply chains through which it operates.

Modern slavery can take many forms including the trafficking of people, forced labour, servitude and slavery. As committed tech recruiters, we take our responsibility for supplying staff extremely seriously and are aware of the potential for being targeted by traffickers and unlicensed gangmasters. Our own processes around candidate management ensure our employees are alert to the signs of exploitation so we can take the necessary action promptly and effectively should it be identified. Sectors affected include, but are not limited to, technology and engineering within health and social care, retail, financial markets etc.

This statement focuses specifically on Venture Up Ltd.’s compliance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (the Act) and highlights the steps we take to ensure there is no slavery or human trafficking occurring within the organisation or its supply chains. One of our company’s most valuable assets has always been its reputation for integrity and fairness. Maintaining this reputation within our market is an essential pre-requisite to our continued success.

Organisation’s Structure

Venture Up Ltd. Has over 20 years’ experience in sourcing in qualified, professional and skilled talent in tech since 2016.

Our Business

Our business consists of recruitment across the following specialisms:

Tech, design and product professionals.

Our Supply Chains

Our supply chains include, but are not limited to, sourcing candidates for clients. This may involve the introduction by external agencies to Venture Up Ltd.’s candidates for onward supply to our clients. We expect our suppliers and potential suppliers to aim for high ethical standards and to operate in an ethical, legally compliant and professional manner. We also expect our suppliers to promote similar standards in their own supply chain.

Our Policies on Slavery and Human Trafficking

Employees should be free to choose to work for their employer and to leave the company upon reasonable notice.

All employees must be provided with a clear contract of employment, which complies with local legislation.

All employees must be treated in a fair and equal manner and with dignity and respect.

Any form of discrimination, victimisation or harassment on the grounds of marital or civil partnership status, sex (including gender reassignment), race (including colour, ethnic and national origin, nationality), disability, sexual orientation, having or not having dependents, religious belief or political opinion, age, trade union activity and offending background should be prohibited.

All applicable laws and industry standards on employee wages, benefits, working hours and minimum wage should be adhered to without any unauthorised deductions. Suppliers should observe the provisions of the International Labour Organization such that any young persons under the age of 18 should not be employed to work at night or for any hazardous work and their employment should not harm the young person’s education, health or physical, mental, moral or social development. No young persons may be employed below the age of 16.

All slavery and human trafficking laws must be complied with including, but not limited to, the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015. Suppliers must ensure their business operations are free from slavery and human trafficking practices whether in the UK or elsewhere, both internally and within their supply chains and other external business relationships. We are committed to ensuring that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in our supply chains or in any part of our business.

Due Diligence Process for Slavery and Human Trafficking

Venture Up Ltd. ensures strict compliance checks are carried for all candidates it supplies. We verify the identity of each worker and their right to work before supply commences.

As part of our commitment to identify and eradicate slavery and human trafficking, we have in place a process to undertake due diligence on our supply chain network to ensure compliance with legislative obligations, such compliance forms as part of our contractual relationship with suppliers.

All Venture Up Ltd. employees have access to dedicated channels through which they may voice concerns, either through local reporting mechanisms or through the global whistleblowing procedure. Venture Up Ltd. is committed to protecting employees when disclosing malpractice and will ensure that all disclosures made in good faith will be treated confidentially and without fear of retaliation.

Training

All staff within Venture Up Ltd. are expected to comply with all laws and act in accordance with local guidelines and regulations and act with integrity and honesty. We have undertaken to review our policies and procedures to ensure our colleagues have access to any additional information and support they may require with regard to human trafficking, forced labour, servitude and slavery.

This statement is made pursuant to Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes Venture Up’s slavery and human trafficking statement in respect of its 2023 financial year.

Signed: Jake Whittall

Position: Co-Founder

For and on behalf of Venture Up Ltd.