Modern Slavery Statement

This statement is made pursuant to Section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 makeuk.org for the financial year ending [Date/year] and sets out the steps that 4 Woods Carpentry and Construction Limited ("the Company") has taken and is continuing to take to address the risk of modern slavery and human trafficking in our business and supply chains.

Our Business:

4 Woods Carpentry and Construction Limited is a private limited company operating in the construction sector, specifically providing carpentry, joinery, and general construction services. We are based in [City/Region] and operate primarily within England & Wales. Our projects range from residential renovations and extensions to small commercial fit-outs. The Company has approximately [number] employees (including skilled tradespeople and support staff) and engages several subcontractor crews and suppliers for materials and specialist services. Given our size (annual turnover well below the threshold requiring a formal statement, but we choose to voluntarily issue this statement as a reflection of our commitment) and local operation, our supply chain is relatively short and primarily UK-based. However, we procure raw materials like timber, hardware, fixtures, and equipment which may have international supply chains upstream.

Our Stance:

The Company has a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery, forced labour, servitude, and human trafficking. We are committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business dealings and relationships. We will implement and enforce effective systems and controls to ensure modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in our own business or in any of our supply chains. We recognise our responsibility to be alert to the risks, however small, in our business and in the wider supply chain. All our employees are expected to report concerns, and management is expected to act upon them.

Policies:

To underpin our commitment, we have developed and continue to refine internal policies and procedures, including:

Recruitment and Right-to-Work Policy: We conduct robust checks on all new hires to ensure they are legally entitled to work in the UK, which helps guard against forced or underage labour. We do not charge recruitment fees and we do not retain workers' personal documents. We provide all staff with written employment contracts including fair terms and conditions.
Wage and Working Hours Policy: We pay at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage (as applicable) to all staff, and often above it, and ensure working hours are reasonable and comply with legal limits. Overtime, if needed, is voluntary and paid fairly. This helps prevent exploitative conditions.
Anti-slavery and Human Trafficking Policy: We have adopted a specific policy stating our commitment to prevent modern slavery and how employees can report any concerns. This policy is communicated to all staff (e.g., via induction and the employee handbook). It covers the basics of what modern slavery is, how to spot signs (such as workers showing signs of fear or distress, or not being in control of their documents or wages), and encourages vigilance. It also affirms our stance of non-retaliation for whistleblowing.
Whistleblowing Policy: Our whistleblowing policy provides a procedure for employees to raise concerns about any wrongdoing, including human rights violations like modern slavery, in confidence and without fear of reprisal. Reports can be made to management or anonymously [if mechanism exists]. We assure staff that we will investigate and address any issues raised.
Code of Conduct for Suppliers and Subcontractors: We are in the process of integrating anti-slavery clauses in our agreements with suppliers and subcontractors. Our standard terms now require our business partners to comply with the Modern Slavery Act and to ensure that no slavery or human trafficking is present in their business. We reserve the right to terminate relationships with suppliers or contractors who are found non-compliant or unwilling to engage on this issue.
While we are not required to have a full formal Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement due to our turnover, we have voluntarily chosen to do so and to implement proportionate controls.

Supply Chain Overview and Risk Assessment:

Our direct suppliers typically include:

Building material suppliers (timber yards, builders' merchants) – mostly UK-based companies who source products globally (timber, manufactured goods).
Tool and equipment suppliers.
Subcontracted labour or trade contractors (like electricians, plumbers, painters).
Office and facility services (e.g., cleaning, waste removal).

We assess that the areas with potentially higher risk for modern slavery in our context might be:

Sourcing of raw materials like timber or stone from regions of the world where labour standards are not well enforced.
Any use of agency or temporary labour in construction, which in some cases has been known to be a route for exploited workers (e.g., debt bondage by rogue labour providers).
On site, trades employed by subcontractors where we don't have direct oversight of their pay and conditions (though typically these are small local firms we know).

Steps we have taken to manage these risks:

For material suppliers: We prioritise those who have clear sustainability and ethical sourcing policies. For instance, we aim to buy FSC-certified wood (which not only covers environmental but also social criteria in forestry). We ask major suppliers for their Modern Slavery Act statements or any equivalent policies. Key suppliers (like [Name of major timber supplier]) have published statements affirming checks in their supply chain.
For subcontractors: We usually work repeatedly with known local subcontractors. We communicate our expectations (no forced or illegal labour, proper pay, etc.) and have started including terms in contracts requiring compliance with labour laws and the Modern Slavery Act. We plan to further verify that their workers are voluntarily employed and have the right to work, by possibly spot-checking or obtaining written confirmation from subcontractor companies.
For any labour agencies (though we rarely use them): We would only use reputable, certified agencies. If we ever needed gang labour or similar, we would ensure the agency is registered with GLAA (Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority) if applicable, or otherwise has a good track record.
We recognise that in construction, occasionally unscrupulous practices exist (like not paying workers properly or using undocumented labour). We actively avoid those by choosing trusted partners and by adhering to Construction Charter principles if present in the local area.

Due Diligence Processes:

We conduct basic due diligence on new suppliers or contractors. This includes checking their business credentials, reputation, and where possible, their stance on ethical issues. For significant new suppliers, we might send a brief questionnaire that includes questions on how they prevent modern slavery in their operations.
Our standard purchase order terms (recently updated) include the right to audit or check compliance in the supply chain, though as a small client we acknowledge leverage is limited. However, making our stance clear hopefully contributes to wider pressure.
If any warning signs or reports of potential forced labour in our supply chain came to light, we would investigate immediately. This could involve meeting with the supplier, requesting corrective action, or ultimately ceasing to trade with them.
Internally, we ensure all our direct employees are employed freely and under no duress. We keep HR records that include proof of ID and right to work, but we never withhold passports or other documents. Wages are paid directly to employees' own bank accounts; we do not pay a third party on their behalf.

Training and Awareness:

All management and supervisory staff in the Company have been briefed on this Modern Slavery Statement and the basics of the Modern Slavery Act requirements. We have educated them on:

What modern slavery and human trafficking are, including common red flags (e.g., workers who seem scared to talk, someone speaking on their behalf all the time, signs of poor living conditions, etc.).
Our responsibility as employers and as human beings to ensure we are not complicit in such practices.
The steps to take if they suspect any form of forced labour (which is to report to our Director or via the whistleblowing channel immediately, so it can be investigated and appropriate action taken, including reporting to authorities if needed).
Additionally, we have made informational materials available (posters in staff areas about the modern slavery helpline, etc.). In future, as we grow, we plan to incorporate a segment on modern slavery into our induction training for all new employees, to keep awareness raised at all levels.

Effectiveness and Ongoing Steps:

We understand that preventing modern slavery is an ongoing effort. We currently measure effectiveness in primarily a qualitative way given our size:

We have had zero reports or findings of modern slavery in our business or immediate suppliers to date (and we aim to keep it that way).
We maintain open dialogue with workers and subcontractors; this helps ensure there are no hidden issues. For example, we talk to subcontractor workers on site and build rapport, making it easier to detect if something was amiss.
We will keep our risk assessment under periodic review. If we expand to new suppliers or geographies, we'll reassess risk.
In the next year, we aim to formalise a Supplier Code of Conduct and incorporate it into all new major supplier contracts. We will also map our supply chain beyond first tier for key materials (like where our timber comes from) and evaluate if those sources are certified or have any known labour issues.
Another goal is to engage with our industry network or trade association to share best practices on ethical employment. As a small company, learning from industry peers can help us improve.
We plan to provide specific training to our procurement/purchasing responsible person on identifying and mitigating slavery risks in supply chains (perhaps via an online course or seminar offered by an ethical trade organisation).
If any shortcomings are identified (for example, if a supplier is not very transparent about their own supply chain), we will either seek further assurances or consider alternative suppliers who give us more confidence in their practices.

Approval:
This statement has been approved by the Director of 4 Woods Carpentry and Construction Limited, who will ensure it is reviewed and updated annually. The Director and senior leadership take responsibility for implementing these principles and fostering a culture of ethics and integrity.

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