This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and sets out the steps we have taken to minimise the risk of modern slavery in our business and supply chains.
The Directors of Hotter Shoes Ltd have overall responsibility for adherence to and for reviewing and approving this statement.
Hotter Shoes Ltd is committed to preventing slavery and human trafficking occurring in any of its activities.
Our commitment is to ensure that those organisations that we contract with to receive goods and services are aware of our policies to comply with the Modern Slavery Act.
This commitment is evident through our company policies, which aim to uphold the highest ethical and professional standards. We ensure the adherence to policy commitments and compliance of current Government legislation and regulations.
Hotter Shoes Ltd is a Shoe Manufacturer with a manufacturing site with warehousing and head office function based in Skelmersdale along
with 26 retail outlets, spread across the country.
The majority of our suppliers and contractors are based in the UK. We also import shoe components and whole shoes from India and the Far East.
Hotter shoes Ltd 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, we are committed to creating and ensuring a non-discriminatory and respectful working environment for our staff. We want all our staff to feel confident that they can expose wrongdoing without any risk to themselves and as such the company has an established whistleblowing policy which all staff can access alongside all other company policies.
Our recruitment and people management processes are designed to ensure that all prospective employees are legally entitled to work in the UK, monies are only paid into that person bank account, and there are not multiple people at the same address, along with other procedures in order to safeguard employees and apprentices from any abuse or coercion.
We do not enter into business with any organisation, in the UK or abroad, which knowingly supports or is found to be involved in slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour.
Our contracts with our suppliers and customers allow us to terminate under a contract clause which covers those to be found in breach of the modern slavery act.
The Hotter Shoes Ltd Anti-Bribery and Corruption Policy states the principles, rules, and guidance that all employees must abide by and follow to ensure good ethical and business practice.
The Hotter Shoes Ltd Quality Management System and the Health, Safety and Environment Management System, based on ISO 9001 and 45001 respectively, ensure the documented control, review and continuous improvement of all related policies, procedures, and training.
Our Anti-slavery policy available to all staff and is available from the HR department together with all other company policies and procedures.
We have training for manager to understand and minimise the risks of human trafficking and other modern slavery practices infiltrating our business operations and we will act ethically and with integrity in all our business activities and relationships.
Due to the nature of our business, we assess ourselves to have a low risk of modern slavery in our UK business and have audit and regular monitoring of overseas supply chains in line with the above policies.
Prioritise the safety of our employees and those working within our supply chain in all our activities, considering the potential impacts of fast-moving business demands on labour when making critical decisions.
Progressively and proactively identify and assess potential slavery risks within our recruitment, employment and business practices and establish measures to reduce any risks to our employees, supply chain and business.
Provide information, instruction, training, and supervision to our employees on Modern Slavery and Forced Labour in conjunction with Stronger Together, to give awareness, skills, and assurance.
We will review our policies at least annually or when necessary, to achieve our goals, monitor effectiveness and to remain in accordance with the Law and best practices.
We aim to take the following further steps over the course of the next financial year ending December 2024:
