Our Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement

This voluntary statement has been published in accordance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015. It sets out the steps taken by the Small Business Commissioner to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking in its business and supply chains.

About the Small Business Commissioner

The Small Business Commissioner is an independent public body launched in December 2017 under the Enterprise Act 2016 to tackle late and unfair payment practices in the private sector. The Small Business Commissioner covers the whole of the UK- England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Our commitment to the principles of the Modern Slavery Act 2015

The Small Business Commissioner is committed to the principles of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and the abolition of modern slavery and human trafficking. As an equal-opportunities employer, the Small Business Commissioner is committed to creating and ensuring a non-discriminatory and respectful working environment for its staff.

The Small Business Commissioner recruitment and people management processes are designed to ensure that all prospective employees are legally entitled to work in the UK and to safeguard employees from any abuse or coercion once in our employment.

Our supply chain

The Small Business Commissioner’s procurement for goods and services is provided by our shared services provider, UK SBS. UK SBS contracts directly with approximately 230 suppliers, but our supply chain is limited and we procure goods and services from a restricted range of UK and overseas suppliers. Only two of the companies that we have procured through Crown Commercial Service Frameworks are of a size to be subject to Section 54, and both have complied. UK SBS have also published their statement on Slavery & Human Trafficking which includes their mechanisms for guarding against modern slavery in their client’s supply chains.

Their statement is published on their website:

UK SBS Modern Slavery Statement 

Actions taken in 2019-20

The Small Business Commissioner has undertaken the following actions: Key Performance Indicators: Actions to be taken in 2024-25

During 2024-25, Small Business Commissioner will undertake the following activities: This statement has been approved by the Small Business Commissioner as accounting officer.

Liz Barclay, Small Business Commissioner