Modern Slavery Statement
Introduction
Modern slavery is a heinous crime and a morally reprehensible act that deprives a person’s dignity for another person’s gain. There are millions of people worldwide, including many in developed countries, who are subjected to slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour.
Prestons Group Limited and its fellow group companies, Nimogen Limited and Winsor Bishop Limited, are committed to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking in all its forms within its retail operations and supply chain. We recognise our responsibility to respect and promote human rights, and we are committed to taking appropriate steps to ensure that modern slavery and human trafficking do not take place within our organisation or in connection with any of our products and services.
Under Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, this Modern Slavery Statement details the steps we have taken to prevent modern slavery taking place across our businesses and supply chains.
Organisation Structure and Business Activities
Prestons Group Limited is the parent company of Nimogen Limited and Winsor Bishop Limited which retail diamond jewellery and fine wristwatches from locations across the United Kingdom. We showcase the world’s finest watch houses alongside an exquisite selection of bridal and fine jewellery of which most is crafted “in-house”.
Our Policies
We are committed as a group to ensuring that there is no modern slavery or trafficking in our business or supply chains, and we require all our suppliers to comply with policies such as Equal Opportunities and to uphold the health and safety, welfare and dignity of those that engage with us. Our policies create the standards required for our employees and include routes that can be used to report any concerns about modern slavery linked to any of our companies.
Our policies that relate and support the Modern Slavery Act 2015 are:
- Equal opportunities
- Dignity at Work
- Whistleblowing
- Disciplinary Procedure
- Supplier Code of Conduct
Training
It is important that we equip our staff to identify any concerns relating to the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and we are committed to:
- Training staff to identify signs of slavery or human trafficking.
- The process followed should slavery or human trafficking be suspected and how to report this within the Company.
- Explaining external resources and help available via the Modern Slavery and exploitation helpline.
Due Diligence and Risk Assessment
Prestons Group Limited conducts regular risk assessments of its supply chains to identify and mitigate potential risks related to modern slavery and human trafficking. We prioritise suppliers and geographic areas where there might be a higher risk of these activities. We do not engage with any organisation that knowingly supports or is found to relate to slavery, servitude or forced or compulsory labour.
We have reviewed our business and our supply chains. Neither we nor, to the best of our knowledge, our supply chain makes use of forced labour.
Supplier Engagement
We only engage with suppliers that uphold our expectations related to our commitment and protection of human rights. We actively engage with our suppliers to evaluate their compliance with our Supplier Code of Conduct, including conducting audits and assessments as needed. We collaborate closely with suppliers to address any issues identified.
Reporting and Whistleblowing
All members of the Senior Manager team alongside key personnel in HR and Purchasing have been made aware of the Modern Slavery Act. The group encourages employees, suppliers, and our customers to report any concerns related to modern slavery and human trafficking. We have established mechanisms for reporting, and we will treat all reports seriously and confidentially.
Our Modern Slavery Statement is available to view online.
Performance Indicators
We measure our progress in combatting modern slavery and human trafficking though key performance indicators on an annual basis, including:
1. The number of reported incidents
2. The number of staff that have received training
3. Supplier compliance levels.
4. The number of instances in which suppliers are in breach of the Act
5. The outcome of any investigations
Future Steps
Prestons Group Limited and its subsidiaries, Nimogen Limited and Winsor Bishop Limited, remain committed to enhancing our efforts to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking. We will continue to review and strengthen our policies, conduct regular risk assessments, and work closely with our suppliers to ensure compliance with our standards.
Approval
This Modern Slavery Statement covering the period from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 has been approved by Karl Massey, Managing Director.
Date
7 April 2023