Modern Slavery Statement

We take our responsibility to prevent modern slavery and trafficking in our supply chain seriously, and we will keep working with our suppliers to ensure that their supply chains are free from modern slavery and human trafficking.

This statement is designed to comply with the requirements of Section 54 Part 6 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, by informing our staff, suppliers to the Scottish Tourist industry and the public about Trip To Scotland and its policies with respect to modern slavery, human trafficking, forced labour and labour rights violations in its supply chains. It sets out the steps that we have taken to ensure, as far as possible, that modern slavery is not taking place within our organisation or our supply chain.

1. General Principles

1.1 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.

1.2 Trip To Scotland complies with all of the laws of Scotland and The Uk. Amongst these are the laws relating to anti-human trafficking and anti-slavery laws. We have a zero tolerance approach to modern slavery and are committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all of our business dealings and relationships and to implementing effective systems and controls to ensure modern slavery is not tolerated in our own business or in any of our supply chains.

1.3 The Company is also committed to ensuring there is transparency in our own business and in our approach to tackling modern slavery throughout our supply chains, in line with the disclosure obligations under the Modern Slavery Act 2015. The Company expects the same high standards from all of our contractors, suppliers and other business partners.

2. Scope of this policy

2.1 All Company employees, officers and directors, as well as anyone acting on behalf of the company must comply with this policy.

2.2 Management at all levels are responsible for ensuring those reporting to them are aware of the issue of modern slavery and understand and comply with this policy. Any employee who has any questions in respect of this policy should address this to local management.

3 Our status, operations and supply chain

3.1 We have a diverse and substantial supply chain, with procurement carried out both centrally and within local markets across Scotland.

3.2 As an equal opportunities employer, we’re committed to creating and ensuring a non- discriminatory and respectful working environment for our staff and contractors. We want all our staff to feel confident that they can expose wrongdoing without any risk to themselves.

3.3 Our 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.

4. Current procurement policy and processes

4.1 Our procurement policy is based on accepted commercial standards and, where required, procurement legislation. It provides standards and obligations when procuring goods, works and services from external third party suppliers. This includes planning, sourcing, supplier selection and contracting.

4.2 The policy’s objectives include ensuring all potential and incumbent suppliers are dealt with transparently, fairly and proportionally and that we uphold the principles of sustainable procurement at all times. Our procedures comply with Scottish and Uk law and address environmental management, health and safety, equality legislation and social justice. We have created internal guidance to ensure that the policy is followed during the procurement process.

4.3 We require our suppliers to maintain standards while supplying to us and we will act to terminate contracts where we become aware of serious transgressions.

5 Our actions to prevent Modern slavery

5.1 We will ensure effective Human Resources policies and procedures which ensure all members of staff have the right to work; paying the Living Wage to all permanently employed staff;

5.2 We will ensure compliance with The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) Professional Code of Ethics; and providing appropriate training to staff with responsibility for procurement who are required to complete the Tackling Modern Slavery in Supply Chain course.

5.3 We will ask all our suppliers to provide information regarding their policy towards slavery and human trafficking on an annual basis.

5.4 We will ensure internal policies are in place to prevent slavery and human trafficking such as whistleblowing policies and right to work checks.

6. Guidelines

6.1 Company employees must ensure that they read, understand and comply with this policy.

6.2 The prevention and reporting of modern slavery in any part of its business or supply chains is the responsibility of all those working for the Company or under its control. Company employees are required to avoid any activity that might lead to, or suggest, a breach of this policy.

6.3 Company employees must notify their manager or report it in line with the applicable whistleblowing procedures as soon as possible if they believe or suspect that a conflict with this policy has occurred, or may occur in the future.

6.4 If you are unsure about whether a particular act, the treatment of workers more generally, or their working conditions within any tier of the supply chains constitutes any of the various forms of modern slavery, raise it with your manager.

6.5 The Company aims to encourage openness and will support anyone who raises genuine concerns in good faith under this policy, even if they turn out to be mistaken.

7. Communication and Awareness of this Policy

7.1 The company must seek to ensure that our  zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery is communicated to all employees, suppliers, contractors and business partners.

7.2 As part of the contracting processes, you must include specific prohibitions against the use of forced, compulsory or trafficked labour, or anyone held in slavery or servitude, whether adults or children, and the company expects that our suppliers will hold their own suppliers to the same high standards. For assistance in drafting appropriate clauses, please consult your normal source of legal advice.

8. Breaches of this Policy

8.1 Any Company employee who breaches this policy may face disciplinary action, which could result in dismissal for gross misconduct.

8.2 The Company may terminate its relationship with other individuals and organisations working on our behalf if they breach this policy.

If you are aware of a breach of our Modern Slavery Act please contact your manager or contact us.