Robert Dyas Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement 2023

This statement is published in accordance with Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (Transparency in Supply Chains) Regulations 2015. It sets out the steps taken during 2022/23 by Robert Dyas Holdings Limited (“Robert Dyas”), having its registered office at 1 St Georges Road, Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom, SW19 4DR, and Company number 04041884.

Modern slavery includes slavery, servitude, human trafficking and forced labour. It’s recognised that this is a global and growing issue which can exist in all economies and business sectors. The Modern Slavery Act is an important piece of legislation which seeks to protect vulnerable workers, respecting their human rights, driving transparency throughout the supply chain, and ensuring the supply chain is both slavery and trafficking free. As responsible retailers, Robert Dyas is fully committed to acting ethically and with integrity. We are also committed to putting effective systems and controls in place within our organisation, and continually improving our processes, to ensure we prevent any form of modern slavery or human trafficking from taking place within our business and supply chains. This statement sets out the actions we take, and have taken, during the financial year ending 1st April 2023.

We are a trusted multi-channel brand, focused on delivering outstanding customer service and first-class product knowledge. We strive to trade with the best quality suppliers, who have the highest social and ethical standards, and make available the highest quality products and services for our business and our valued customers. Our products and services are sourced globally including UK, Europe and further afield such as the Indian subcontinent and Asia.

As a responsible retailer, we are committed to the continual improvement of our systems and processes, and we strive to ensure modern slavery does not exist within our businesses or supply chains. We expect those in our supply chain to respect the rights and wellbeing of their workforce and promote high standards of welfare.

We pride ourselves on having long-standing relationships with a large number of carefully selected suppliers, who produce some of the most prominent brands within the sector, and who provide services (including the provision of contract and temporary labour) to our business. We are committed to making sure all colleagues around the world, who are involved in the sourcing and production of Robert Dyas branded products, are safe and treated fairly at all times. It is also our aim to source from factories and suppliers who share this commitment. All our Robert Dyas branded product factories are audited by approved and accredited bodies. We monitor the results of these audits and work with our suppliers to ensure any issues identified, are improved upon appropriately. We continue to monitor suppliers by requesting regular and up to date factory audits.

As part of our efforts to reduce the risk of slavery and human trafficking occurring within our supply chains, we continually review, improve, and develop systems and processes designed to:

• Establish and assess areas of potential risk in our business and supply chains;
• Monitor potential risk areas in our business and supply chains; and
• Reduce the risk of slavery and human trafficking occurring in our business and supply chains.

We are proud to put our name and branding on a range of unique and high-quality products. Our due diligence processes are designed to demonstrate our commitment to striving to ensure that there is no slavery or human trafficking in our supply chain. We track all factories producing and packing Robert Dyas brand products in terms of audit status and factory grading. We expect our suppliers of each of our own brand products to adhere to our expected ethical standards. The implementation of these standards is sought through regular factory audits which ensure we remain committed to upholding principals such as freedom to choose employment, freedom of association and collective bargaining, safe and hygienic working conditions, no child labour, payment of a living wage, no excessive hours, no discrimination, regular employment and no harsh or inhumane treatment.

We have developed an in-house eLearning course to ensure all colleagues are aware of, and have a better understanding of, the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking. All store colleagues complete our basic awareness eLearning every two years, whilst our retail support centre colleagues must complete this eLearning course on an annual basis. Our trading and buying colleagues are required to complete the specialist version of the course, annually. Modern Slavery awareness is also included as part of colleague inductions and the relevant eLearning course is assigned to all new starters. 

We understand that the approach to modern slavery requires an ongoing assessment of our business and supply chain, in order to continue to minimise the risk of its occurrence. We will continue to work towards reducing the risk within our business in the coming year. To do this, we plan to review the following key areas, and will report progress in our next statement:

• Governance: Develop our Corporate and Social Responsibility governance framework and review Modern Slavery governance, to build focus and clear action planning for the future.
• Learning and Development: Maintain awareness within our business, by training colleagues in all levels of the business.
• Policy review: Review, improve and develop systems and processes to ensure that our supply chain adheres to our principles and values.
• Risk Mitigation and Audit compliance: Review and improve our due diligence and selection process for new suppliers.

Approval

This statement was approved by the board of Robert Dyas.                                         

Kirsten Lawton
Group Company Secretary

25th September 2023