In this informal, conversational event, we’ll hear from Dr Akilah Jardine from the Rights Lab, University of Nottingham and Mike Carter, Managing Director of Chariot Office Supplies Ltd – an SME that has passionately engaged with the anti-slavery agenda. You’ll leave with an understanding of what modern slavery is, what your business can do to help address it and how engaging with this issue could actually mark your company out as exactly the kind of responsible business people want to work with.
The past decade has seen a seismic shift in consumer and workforce interest in responsible business. The customers and employees of today want to buy from and work for ethical, society-focused, purpose-led businesses and the pandemic has only accelerated this trend.
When allegations of exploitation and modern slavery in Leicester’s garment factories hit national headlines in July, with sweatshop conditions blamed for a spike in Covid-19 cases, there was public outrage. But what is modern slavery, exactly, and what’s it got to do with us?
Modern slavery is a hidden crime, covering a range of exploitative practices such as slavery, human trafficking, debt bondage, forced labour and sexual exploitation. There are an estimated 13,000 victims in the UK alone. Most of us wouldn’t entertain such practices within our own companies, but you might be surprised by how much your business can do to help tackle this in your own community.
This year, we’ve grown closer to the communities on our doorstep than ever before and there’s a rising sentiment within business to give something back. What’s more, government, public sector and other tenders increasingly expect SME suppliers to demonstrate an understanding of the issues around modern slavery. If you have never engaged with this subject before, now’s the time.
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