Modern slavery is a crime which transcends age, ethnicity, gender and territorial boundaries. The term is used to describe the use of fraud, force or coercion to recruit, transport, harbour, provide or obtain a person or persons for compelled labour or commercial sex acts.
The Modern Slavery Act 2015 was introduced to tackle slavery within the UK and consolidates previous offences relating to both trafficking and slavery.
The Modern Slavery Act 2015 affects Smart Metering Systems plc and each of our group companies including Metis Energy LTD (“the Company”) as we fall within the definition of a “commercial organisation” involved in the supply or goods or services and with an annual turnover of over £36 million. The term “commercial organisation” encapsulates both listed and private companies and partnerships that carry on a business or any part of it within the UK – as a consequence the Modern Slavery Act 2015 will impact upon foreign businesses acting within the UK.
Our Business and Supply Chains
Smart Metering Systems Plc provide a completely integrated service from beginning to end, from project managing the installation of the gas and/or electricity supply and connection and the provision of Carbon Reduction (CaRe) assets through to the procurement, installation and management of the meter asset, data collection, on-going energy management solutions and CaRe assets. This breadth of service makes us completely unique in the industry. There are no other organisations in a position to be able to offer all of these services simultaneously, meaning that without us our customers would need to use several different providers to cover their needs.
As a consequence of our widespread operational activities, we are involved in various supply chains with suppliers and it is these relationships which we are committed to ensuring are untainted by the concept of modern slavery. Through our range of innovative solutions, SMS’ mission is to delivery the future of smart energy, working closely with both private and public sectors to achieve the UK’s net-zero carbon target by 2050. This mission is underpinned by SMS’ core values and behaviours linked to our commitment of “Putting Our People First”.
Our Operational Policy
The Company has a robust Modern Slavery Policy (the Policy) in place. The Company takes the Policy very seriously and takes a zero tolerance approach to modern slavery in all forms. All employees are expected to adhere to the terms of the Policy. Our position is one which does not tolerate the concept of modern slavery within our immediate business and wider supply chain. The Policy is communicative of our ethical and moral principles when conducting business.
The Company also operates a robust supplier due diligence process, based on risk assessment and effective follow up. We expect all third parties that we work with to maintain their own modern slavery policies and this is supplemented by ensuring that our supplier and service provider contracts include strong obligations regarding compliance with modern slavery legislation.
We take any allegations of modern slavery, as existing within our immediate business or wider supply chains, extremely seriously as we consider modern slavery to be a clear violation of the most basic of human rights.
The Policy clearly states that any concerns or doubts about modern slavery should be addressed to SMS’ General Counsel. All concerns and reports will be fully investigated and, where appropriate, remedial action will be taken by the Company. Overall accountability is held by the Board of Directors of the Company.
- Due Diligence and Audit
As part of the due diligence process we include clauses within our contracts with new suppliers under which they will warrant to us that they are in compliance with, and will remain in compliance with, the terms of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
As part of our wider due diligence exercise, we will liaise with new suppliers to ascertain the exact steps which they have taken to ensure that modern slavery does not taint their business. This will be through the completion of a questionnaire which will ask them to detail the compliance procedures which they have put in place to monitor their adherence to the terms of the Act.
As part of our ongoing audit of our existing supplier relationships we reserve the right to ask that they provide us with the necessary confirmations to the effect that they are in compliance with the terms of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 – this could be achieved by accessing their own Statement on Modern Slavery or by contacting them directly to discuss this matter with them and obtain such confirmations.
We will also ask our existing suppliers to sign up to our Modern Slavery Certification, attached to this Statement.
Violations
As a Company our position does not tolerate modern slavery and any violation of the laws relating to the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and the use of slave labour will lead to the termination of our contracts with such suppliers.
Effectiveness
Modern Slavery risk is not static, we intend to proactively approach our understanding of the area and our strategy to mitigate this risk in the year ahead. To assess the effectiveness of our planned measures we will be reviewing the following key areas and reporting on them in future Modern Slavery Statements:
- key staff training;
- actions taken on supply chain auditing and verification;
- steps taken to upskill any suppliers we consider high risk; and
- any investigations undertaken into reports of Modern Slavery and remedial actions taken in response.
Modern Slavery Certification
We hereby confirm that we will comply with the following statements:-
Freedom of Employment
We shall not force any person or persons to become our employee against their will through the use
of force, coercion, fraud or any similar method. All of our employees are free to terminate their
employment with us, subject to the terms and conditions of their contract of employment (being in
all respects reasonable).
The conditions of employment which we implement will in all respects be reasonable and not require
any employee to surrender to us any form of identification or any form of work permit, as a condition
of their employment.
Ability to Communicate
We encourage all of our employees to communicate with their line managers and other members of
the management team. Our working environment is one which fosters openness and discussion
without the threat of any form of reprisal.
Prevention of Slavery
We do not knowingly violate the terms of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 either within the UK or out with the UK. We have taken any preventative steps which we consider necessary to eradicate modern slavery from our immediate business and any wider supply chains to which we are a party.
This statement was approved by the Board of Smart Metering Systems plc
Timothy Mortlock
Chief Executive Officer
April 2023