Modern Slavery Policy

Modern Slavery Policy 

SCOTTS (2023) LTD MODERN SLAVERY POLICY STATEMENT 

Financial Period Ended 31st March 2024 

Modern slavery is a crime and a violation of fundamental human rights. It takes various forms, such as slavery, servitude, forced and compulsory labour and human trafficking, all of which have in common the deprivation of a person’s liberty by another in order to exploit them for personal or commercial gain. 
 
This statement is published in accordance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and sets out the steps that Scotts (2023) LTD has taken during the previous financial period to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking from operating within its own operations or within its supply chain. 

Scotts and Co. is a multi-channel retail business with five active brands trading through the legal entity Scotts (2023) LTD. With brands including “Scotts of Stow”, “Expert Verdict”, “Bloom”, “Gift Discoveries”, and “Solutions World from Scotts of Stow”, and we largely trade with our customers through catalogue mail order and e-commerce websites. We also have two shops in Stow-on-the-Wold, where our business started over 30 years ago. 

Pre-empting and Banishing Modern Slavery Within Our Business 

Over the next 12 months we will continue to educate all employees on modern slavery at every level and in every department of the business in a format appropriate to their role. 

As a retailer, we recognise that the most likely source of slavery occurring in the course of our business is via the product supply chain. We mitigate this by increasing our knowledge of our suppliers’ businesses and how they source materials and manufacture the products they supply. For our own-sourced products, we trace back to factory level. This allows us to satisfy ourselves, and our customers, that the products are not created as a result of slavery. 

Modern Slavery & Our Supply Chain 

At Scotts (2023) LTD, we have a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery and expect the same position from our suppliers. Although we don’t own the factories that supply our products, we recognise our involvement in ensuring that suppliers’ employees have good working conditions. We work closely with our supply base both in the UK and in other countries including China, India, and Vietnam as well as Spain, Portugal, and France, ensuring that they are compliant with our Code of Conduct. The Code forms part of their contract to supply our company and covers the following key areas: 
 
• No forced labour.  
• Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining. 
• Safe and hygienic working conditions. 
• No child labour. 
• Payment of living wages. 
• Working hours are not excessive. 
• No discrimination is practised.  
• Regular employment is provided. 
• No harsh or inhumane treatment.  
 
Any supplier found to be in breach of the Modern Slavery Act will be asked to take immediate action to improve conditions. Business relationships will be terminated if the required improvements are not made. 

Due Diligence Process 

In 2023 we maintained a register of suppliers signing up to the Scotts Code of Conduct or adopting their own similar policy. We remain committed to these high standards in 2024. 

Key Performance Indicators 

To measure the effectiveness of steps being taken in relation to this policy, our key performance indicators will continue to be assessed using the following parameters in 2024: 

  • Training – equality, diversity, and Modern Slavery training will be given to all current staff and new starters. 
  • Regular reviews – a wider project team will constantly review and adjust current processes in our supply chain. 

We will continue to focus on our supply chain as this is where we recognise many of the issues relating to Modern Slavery could potentially reside. 

This statement is made in accordance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes the company’s Modern Slavery Policy Statement for the current financial year.