Modern Slavery Statement

This statement is made pursuant to Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 ('the Act').  It aims to inform the University Court, our staff, students and the general public about the steps the University has taken during the last financial year, ending 31 July 2021 in relation to modern slavery and human trafficking.

University of Stirling Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement

Statement for the financial year ending 31 July 2021 Purpose of the Statement

This statement is made pursuant to Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (‘the Act’). It aims to inform the University Court, our staff, students and the general public about the steps the University has taken during the last financial year in relation to modern slavery and human trafficking.

Statement

The University is committed to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking from taking place in any part of its own business and in its supply chain.

Commitment

The University’s compliance to the Modern Slavery Act 2015 is part of the University’s Sustainability Strategy. The Corporate Sustainability Steering Group (CSSG) is chaired by the Deputy Principal (Operational Strategy and External Affairs) who is responsible for the strategic direction of sustainability at the University.

The University is a member of Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges Ltd (APUC) and endorses the APUC Supply Chain Code of Conduct (‘the Code’). Use of the Code demonstrates our commitment to ensure that slavery and human trafficking is not taking place within our supply chains.

Every regulated procurement process undertaken by the University requires tenderers to disclose whether they, or any member of their organisation with decision‐making powers, has been convicted in the last five years of any offence under Part 1 of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015 or under any provision referred to in the Schedule of the Act. Tenderers that confirm such a conviction are excluded unless they can provide evidence that they have taken sufficient measures to demonstrate compliance with this Act.

The University is committed ‘to engage with the supply chains to ensure continued value, managed performance and minimisation of risk throughout the life of contracts for the benefit of customers and students’. This strategic procurement objective was approved by Court in December 2016. (A revised Procurement Strategy, to support the Addendum to the current Strategic Plan for the period 2021-23, will be published later this year).

The risk of modern slavery occurring in the University’s workforce is mitigated by ensuring that staff are recruited following robust recruitment policies. We are rigorous in checking that all new recruits have the right to work in the UK.

Financial year ending 31 July 2022

The University employed the APUC Supply Chain Code of Conduct in all its regulated procurements.

Sustainability considerations were addressed in all regulated procurements (over and above adherence to the Code).

In 2021/22 there were no requirements to terminate business with any suppliers on the grounds of contravention of the Modern Slavery Act.

Next steps for financial year ending 31 July 2023

Regulated procurement

The University will continue to address modern slavery directly by using minimum standards, ‘fit for purpose’ specifications and appropriate contract management.

Category management

Procurement managers will continue to analyse ‘at risk’ supply chains as part of their ongoing category management activity. Additional mitigating measures will be adopted as appropriate.

Best practice

Best practice will be utilised, and sectoral initiatives will be engaged with as appropriate. APUC’s Supply Chain Management (SCM) tool will be adopted for use by Procurement Services. Through SCM, suppliers are asked to provide details of measures they take in relation to modern slavery in their supply chain, including any third-party accreditations and assessments to evidence this.

All Procurement Services staff will undertake the revised Ethical Procurement and Supply eLearning and Test provided by the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS).

Awareness

Procurement Services will continue to raise awareness of modern slavery and human trafficking issues across the University community – how to identify risks and how to put in place mitigation or management measures – through its ongoing stakeholder engagement.

Collaborative working

The University will continue to support the various ‘live’ cross-sectoral initiatives to address modern slavery risk in supply chains.

APUC

Where appropriate, the University will supplement our own efforts with activities already being progressed by APUC. See the APUC Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking statement.

The Procurement team continues to have representation on the APUC Sustainable Procurement Leaders Group. The Sustainable Procurement Leaders Group brings together representatives from APUC members, as well as all Heads of Category, to consider all key issues related to sustainable procurement and looks at ways to increase and improve sector awareness.

Electronics watch

The University remains an associate member of Electronics Watch (EW), an independent monitoring organisation working to achieve respect for labour rights in the global electronics industry through socially responsible public purchasing in Europe. Appropriate engagement with, and support of EW, will continue. See Electronics Watch for reference.

This statement will be reviewed annually.

Professor Sir Gerry McCormac, Principal and Vice‐Chancellor