Modern Slavery Act Transparency statement

Statement on Slavery and Human Trafficking for the Financial Year 2023/24

This statement is made pursuant to section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes Developing Experts' modern slavery and human trafficking statement for the financial year 1 September 2023 to 30 August 2024.

This statement provides background on our organisation and supply chains, outlining the steps we have taken to ensure that slavery and human trafficking do not occur within our organisation or any of our supply chains.

Our Organisation

Developing Experts (DE) is a limited trading company (Company Number: 09824688). As of 30 August 2024, we have approximately 15 employees.

Our primary objective is to build and recruit future talent pipelines for industry through our science curriculum.

Our activities are overseen by our Board of Directors, who hold ultimate responsibility for all operations. The Executive Board manages the day-to-day functions of DE and reports directly to the Board of Trustees.

Our Policies and Procedures

Developing Experts is committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business dealings and relationships. We ensure that slavery and human trafficking do not take place within our organisation or supply chains. Our policies and procedures reflect this commitment, and we have robust systems in place to enforce ethical business practices.

Our key policies and procedures to minimise the risk of modern slavery and human trafficking include:

• Risk Management Policy – Ensures compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and governance codes, including those related to slavery and human trafficking.
• Health and Safety Policy – Protects the wellbeing of all employees and individuals affected by our activities.
• HR Procedures – Ensure all employees have the legal right to work and are paid fairly in line with the National Minimum and Living Wage. Policies also safeguard the interests of all employees, including unpaid work experience volunteers.
• Procurement Policy – Factors ethical considerations into supplier selection, assessing suppliers' reputations, compliance with laws, and ethical standards.
• Anti-Bribery and Corruption Policy – Prevents and reports fraudulent activities, ensuring transparency and accountability.
• Whistleblowing Policy – Encourages employees and stakeholders to report any concerns about slavery, human trafficking, or unethical practices without fear of retaliation.
• Safeguarding Policy – Protects children and vulnerable adults who interact with DE and our subcontractors.

Our Supply Chains

Developing Experts collaborates with various organisations and suppliers to support our operations. Our key supplier categories include:

• Online/Internet services
• Location filming
• Intellectual property, IT, and design
• Finance, legal, and investments
• Professional services
• Employment and recruitment

Our supplier agreements require external partners to comply with the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and align with our ethical standards.

Supply Chain Due Diligence

Our Procurement Division, in collaboration with our Legal and Risk Divisions, continuously reviews and strengthens our procurement processes to mitigate risks, including modern slavery and human trafficking.

Key actions include:

• Conducting due diligence on key suppliers to assess their compliance with anti-slavery and human trafficking laws.
• Requiring suppliers to complete due diligence questionnaires as part of our vetting process.
• Monitoring and reviewing supplier policies and procedures to ensure alignment with ethical standards.

Due diligence and monitoring are ongoing and periodically reviewed to enhance risk management across our supply chain.

Training and Awareness

We provide comprehensive training to ensure all employees, contractors, and key stakeholders understand the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking.

• Induction Training – All new employees receive training on our policies and procedures, including modern slavery awareness.
• Manager Training – HR provides managers with training on ethical recruitment, employee wellbeing, and compliance with anti-slavery laws.
• Procurement and Legal Teams – Continuously update their knowledge on best practices for identifying and mitigating supply chain risks.

In 2024-2025, we will further enhance our modern slavery training by updating our learning modules and providing additional resources to staff.

Sarah Mintey MBE
CEO and Founder
November 2024