ModeSlavery and Human Trafficking Statement 2023
Modern
Slavery
Statement
Modeslavery and human trafficking statement 2023
Inside this report
Overview |
Managing our risk |
Training |
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01-06 |
09-14 |
18-19 |
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Inside this report |
01 |
Our colleagues |
09 |
Looking ahead and |
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Our 2023 statement |
03 |
Investments and pensions |
11 |
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Scope of this report |
02 |
Our clients and customers |
10 |
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About |
04 |
Our suppliers |
11 |
next steps for 2024 |
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Our commitment to human rights |
05 |
Combating modeslavery and |
20-21 |
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Key initiatives 2023 |
06 |
human trafficking as a financial crime |
14 |
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Governance |
Collaboration |
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07-08 |
and partnerships |
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15-17 |
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Our policies |
08 |
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Supporting survivors of modeslavery |
16 |
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Overcoming the language barrier |
16 |
Overview |
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This is our eighth ModeSlavery |
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and Human Trafficking Statement. |
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It is published in accordance with |
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section 54 of the |
Governance |
Act 2015 and applies to |
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respective employees and officers |
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of the Group for the financial year |
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ending |
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Managing our risk |
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and |
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Collaboration |
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partnerships |
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Training |
Looking ahead and steps fornext2024
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01 |
Modeslavery and human trafficking statement 2023 |
Scope of this report
Our Purpose is Helping
a more sustainable and inclusive future for people and businesses, shaping finance as a force for good.
The Group recognises the importance of addressing the risk of modeslavery throughout our operations, banking, investment, insurance and supply chain activities as an activity that is key in supporting our ability to deliver on our purpose of Helping
Our active supply base comprises of approximately 2,600 suppliers, the majority of which are in professional services sectors, such as management consultancy, legal, HR, IT, operations, marketing and communications. Our suppliers are located in the
We are listed on the
a secondary listing on the
of modeslavery in 2023, but we acknowledge that modeslavery is prevalent in modesociety and can be difficult to detect. As such, we may be exposed to modeslavery risks through our relationships with our clients, suppliers and customers, as well as through our employment practices, and our investment portfolios. This Statement outlines the steps we have taken in 2023 to identify, assess, address and combat the risk of modeslavery and human trafficking taking place
in either our business or our supply chain, and our focus for the year ahead.
For a full list of our subsidiaries which are covered by this statement see 344 page of the
OverviewGovernance
Managing our risk Collaboration and partnerships
Annual report and accounts 2023
Sustainability metrics basis of reporting
Sustainability metrics data sheet
See herefor our full reporting network suite.
For the purposes of this Statement,
Training
Looking ahead and steps fornext2024
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02 |
Modeslavery and human trafficking statement 2023 |
Our 2023 statement
Chief Sustainability Officer statement
As a Group, we recognise the importance of addressing the risk of modeslavery throughout our operations, lending and investment activities, and supply chain, as part of our journey to becoming a more purpose-driven organisation that is Helping
Chief Sustainability Officer
Due to the significant impact of the issue on the communities and society in which we operate, we are keen to take action where we are best placed to support through our role as a
Over the course of the year, we have seen how the current global socioeconomic challenges and uncertainty have led to people being even more vulnerable to exploitation than ever and we anticipate that in the coming years, with the expected physical impacts of climate change globally, this vulnerability in society will only grow.
The increase in the rates of modeslavery and human trafficking, both in the
During 2023, the Group has continued to make progress in understanding and prioritising key actions to take in our approach to the issue of modeslavery. We have continued to work in collaboration with key stakeholders on this issue through our membership of Unseen
We have made good progress in 2023, and we will continue this into 2024 as we continually review and improve our approach to addressing modeslavery and human trafficking, prioritising those actions where we are best placed to make a significant positive change.
Chief Sustainability Officer
In 2023, 17,004 |
Overview |
potential victims of |
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modeslavery were |
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referred to the Home |
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Office, the highest |
Governance |
annual number since |
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the NRM began in |
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20092 |
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Managing our risk |
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and |
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Collaboration |
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partnerships |
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Training |
stepsnextforLooking 2024 aheadand 1 Unseen Annual Assessment 2022.
- ModeSlavery: National Referral Mechanism and Duty to Notify statistics
UK , end of year summary 2023.
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03 |
Modeslavery and human trafficking statement 2023 |
About
Overview |
Our purpose
Helping
We do this by creating a more sustainable and inclusive future for people and businesses, shaping finance as a force for good.
Our vision
Our vision is to be the
Our strategy
We will achieve our vision through our strategic priorities: Grow, Focus and Change. Our strategy has been designed to transform the business and create higher, more sustainable growth and returns.
Our trusted brands |
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Our products and services are |
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made available to our customers |
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through our trusted brands, which |
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enables us to address the needs |
Governance |
of different customer segments |
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more effectively. |
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Our values
Our values guide how we work together and how we make decisions, so that we're always Helping
the needs of customers, colleagues, and communities - today, and for generations to come. We are aiming to embed these values into every decision-making moment across the business, from big strategic decisions to smaller everyday choices.
Our structure
We have three core divisions and, in line with our new strategy launched in 2022, we have restructured our business
to optimise synergies and efficiencies to best serve
People-first |
Bold |
Inclusive |
Sustainable |
Trust |
We listen and |
We innovate |
We learn |
We take |
We give |
care for people |
and do things |
about and |
responsibility |
each other |
as individuals. |
differently |
embrace our |
for the impact |
the space |
to better serve |
differences, |
of our actions |
and support |
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our customers |
and seek |
on nature |
to take things |
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and grow with |
out diverse |
and Britain's |
on and see |
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purpose. |
perspectives. |
transition |
them through. |
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to net zero. |
Consumer lending |
Consumer |
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Mortgages |
relationships |
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Retail |
• |
Credit cards |
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Current accounts |
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Personal loans |
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Savings accounts |
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• |
Motor finance |
• |
Mass affluent |
Managing ourrisk |
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about each |
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unique brand. |
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and |
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We've built our business and |
We regularly review the associated opportunity and risk implications to ensure the |
Collaboration |
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strategy to manage the fluctuations |
right choices are being made for customers, colleagues and the Group. As a large, |
partnerships |
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Our external drivers, opportunities and risks |
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in our external environment |
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and to adapt to ever-changing |
of external factors: |
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stakeholder needs. |
our customers' needs.
proposition |
Insurance, pensions and investments
- Home, motor and protection insurance
Lloyds |
Insurance, |
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Pensions |
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Banking |
Pensions and |
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Investments |
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Investments |
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Small and medium |
Corporate and |
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businesses |
institutional banking |
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Commercial |
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Business loans |
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Lending |
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Transactional |
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Risk management |
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Banking |
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banking |
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Liquidity |
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Working capital |
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Debt capital |
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markets |
This helps ensure the Group remains sustainable over the longer term and can manage opportunities and risks as they emerge.
Read more on our effective risk management on pages 39 to 44 of ourannual report and accounts 2023.
Read more about our external environment on pages 14 to 17 of our
Economy |
Customers |
Society and |
environment |
Technology |
Competitors |
Regulation |
and data |
Training
Looking ahead and steps fornext2024
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04 |
Modeslavery and human trafficking statement 2023 |
Our commitment to human rights
OverviewGovernance
We do not tolerate modeslavery, human trafficking or forced labour in any part
of our business or supply chain. This is reflected in how we are embedding human rights considerations across our business and operations.
Through our Group strategy, we have set out to become a truly purpose-driven organisation, and we are taking steps to embed our purpose at the core of our business, decision- making, operations and culture. We aim to deliver long-term and profitable growth while making a meaningful and positive difference for all stakeholders, and our commitment to human rights is a fundamental foundation of this.
To help us achieve our ambition, we aligned our values to our purpose and these guide how we work together and how we make decisions.
Read ourhuman rights policy statement.
We are either a signatory to, or abide by, the principles of a number of international and national initiatives and standards relating to sustainable business practices through which we work with other members and peers to gain insights, develop our knowledge, collaborate
on topics and participate in knowledge sharing. These initiatives, memberships and standards support our approach to human rights and modeslavery.
These include:
- The Equator Principles
- The UN Principles for
Responsible Investment (UNPRI) - The
UN Global Compact (UNGC) - The UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- The
International Labour Organization's Labour Standards - The UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) Principles for Responsible Banking and the Principles for
Sustainable Insurance The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Guidelines forMultinational Enterprises - The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs)
As members of the UNGC, we participate in the
As part of our membership of UNEP FI, we have joined the
Salient human rights risks
The UN Guiding Principles Reporting Framework asks companies to focus their human rights reporting on their salient human rights issues. A company's salient human rights issues are those human rights that stand out because they are at risk of the most severe negative impact through the company's activities or business relationships.
During 2023, we have worked with an external party to identify and prioritise the inherent salient human rights risks that can be connected to the Group's operations and value chain. The aim of the activity was to have an external and independent review of potential human rights risk for the Group without taking into consideration any of our current programmes, policies, or initiatives, primarily for the Group to ensure that we aren't missing any key aspects of human rights risk related to our activities. The scope of this work covered all of the Group's subsidiaries, and aimed to identify where
the Group could cause, contribute, or be connected to human rights issues across our value chain.
Affected parties considered included:
- Colleagues and contractors
- Customers and clients
- Workers and communities affected by financing that the Group has provided through our commercial banking, insurance clients and investee companies.
- Workers and communities affected by the Group's supply chain and procurement activities.
Modeslavery was identified as a material potential human rights risk across the Group's activities due to some of the sectors and activities which the Group lends to, invests in and procures from.
Having identified the inherent salient human rights risks, the next step will be for the Group to review our current business processes, some of which already consider human rights risks, identify any gaps and implement measures to prevent or mitigate these potential risks thereby embedding respect for human rights into the Group's core business where it is relevant.
Read about our approach to human rights on page 81 of thesustainability report 2023.
Managing our risk CollaborationTraining and partnerships
Looking ahead and steps fornext2024
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05 |
Modeslavery and human trafficking statement 2023 |
Key initiatives 2023
We have continued our membership of the Unseen
We worked with Unseen
We have joined and participated in the
To mark International
for colleagues across the Group with Unseen
We have reviewed the Group's salient human rights risks which identified modeslavery as a salient risk for our commercial lending, investments and supply chain activities.
In addition to engaging with our asset managers on their voting practices, during the 2023 AGM season,
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Overview |
engagement with asset managers |
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All of our appointed investment |
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managers consider human rights |
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and focus on different human rights |
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themes. During 2023 we focussed |
Governance |
engagement activity with companies. |
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on our asset managers' research |
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approach and covered some of their |
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We continuously monitor how our |
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managers are prioritising human |
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rights engagement with companies. |
Managing our risk |
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direct engagement activity |
and |
research on each company, we wrote |
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Collaboration |
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with companies |
partnerships |
to 25 shortlisted companies in July |
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After undertaking in-depth qualitative |
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and |
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on human rights related issues such |
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as freedom of association, supply |
Training |
chain and working conditions. We |
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have had detailed responses from |
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several companies expressing their |
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interest in engagement and are |
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currently in the process of having |
stepsfornext |
with a selected list of companies. |
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follow up deep dive conversations |
Looking |
For further information and updated reporting please |
2024 |
aheadand |
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06 |
Modeslavery and human trafficking statement 2023 |
Governance
The Group's approach to human rights is governed by the Responsible Business Committee (RBC),
a sub-committee of the Board of
Given the strategic importance of our sustainable business ambitions and commitment in managing the impacts arising from human rights risks and broader social issues, our governance structure provides clear oversight and ownership of the Group's identified salient human rights issues.
Board oversight
The Committee's role is to support the Board in overseeing the Company's policies, performance and priorities as
a responsible business and to oversee the Company's activities of all stakeholders including customers, shareholders, colleagues, suppliers, the wider community and the environment.
More information about RBC can be found in the Directors' Report of theannual report and accounts 2023.
Senior executive accountability
The accountable executive for the Group's human rights and modeslavery approach is
Cross-divisional management
The Group's day-to-day management of modeslavery and human rights is coordinated and driven by the Human Rights Manager who is part of Group Sustainable Business and is guided by a cross-divisional working group, the
This working group has input from functions across the Group, including our People and Places team, Group Sourcing, Retail and Commercial Banking divisions, Group Economic Crime Prevention, as well as external human rights experts.
The internal working group convenes bi-monthly and is an opportunity for key colleagues to discuss how to apply best practice to tackling modeslavery across financial services, support awareness raising activities and explore how to support colleagues with additional resources and training opportunities on this issue, as well as hear from experts in the field of modeslavery.
The working group has shared case studies and experiences on the practicalities of managing modeslavery risks in their respective business areas. The working group also acts as a forum to share and discuss key findings from relevant reports and benchmarks that have been published, as well as emerging trends and risks to be aware of and address going forward.
Other relevant committees that play a role in the oversight of modeslavery issues and initiatives include:
- The People and
Places Executive Committee which is responsible for governance of the Group's people and colleague policies, covering conduct, values and behaviours that can relate to human rights concerns, as well as related areas, including remuneration, and reports directly to the Chief Executive, by way of the Group Executive Committee. - The Group Supply Chain Committee which has business unit representation and is responsible for overseeing supply chain management practices and effectiveness across the ring-fenced bank. The Committee shares insights with non-ring-fenced entities, informing their view of supply chain management.
OverviewGovernanceManaging our risk CollaborationTraining and partnerships
Looking ahead and steps fornext2024
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07 |
Modeslavery and human trafficking statement 2023 |
Governance continued
Our policies
We have a number of internal Group policies and procedures in place that seek to implement our commitment to operating responsibly and ethically as a business and set out our expectations for employees.
These policies and procedures help us to embed human rights considerations into our operations and cover a number of critical areas.
Code of ethics and responsibility
The Code of Ethics and Responsibility (the Code) explains how we can each work responsibly, living up to our purpose and values and doing the right thing when we make decisions.
It applies to all
of major international companies committed to anti- corruption and high ethical standards in business practices.
Code of supplier responsibility
The Code of Supplier Responsibility defines our expectations in terms of key social, ethical and environmental values, including human rights and labour issues in the countries and communities in which our suppliers operate. Read more about our expectations on our suppliers in terms of responsible business, sustainability practice and behaviour.
Read our Code of supplier responsibility here .
Human rights policy statement
Our Human Rights Policy Statement provides an overview of the work we do to uphold our respect for human rights within our business and communities. The Statement
is guided by the UNGPs on Business and Human Rights.
Speak Up
We value 'speaking up' as a key part of our ethical business culture. We encourage anyone who has a conceabout our ethics, conduct or our relationships with third parties to report it without delay.
Our Speak Up reporting service is managed independently by a third party. It allows individuals raising a concern
to report confidentially or anonymously (where permitted by local law) if they are uncomfortable reporting concerns openly. Interpreters are available for most languages.
We also encourage people to report their concerns to a manager, or to Group Conduct Investigations directly.
All concerns are taken seriously and will be dealt with sensitively and confidentially. The identity of anyone who raises a concewill not be shared (unless required to by law) beyond our investigation team. Anyone considering raising a concecan read our Speak Up guidance before making contact.
All colleagues complete annual mandatory training on how to raise their concerns, and this includes details of the support available to them throughout the process and all of our third-party employees working for, or on behalf of, the Group, are also briefed on how to report their concerns via our Speak Up service. We investigate all cases of modeslavery, or any other human rights concerns reported to us, through our Speak Up service.
Our Third-Party Policy Summary sets out the expectations on suppliers, which includes an annual communication or refresher training on how to Speak Up - which includes
Banking Group has identified sectors and defined specific risk appetites related to our financing activities within sectors that have the potential to negatively impact the environment and society, including human rights abuses such as modeslavery and labour exploitation. With specific reference to human rights, we expect our existing customers to respect and protect human rights, both of their own workforce but also those in their supply chain and comply with all applicable legislation, regulations and directives in the countries and communities in which they operate.
Read our Sector Statements here.
Where our insurance business invests its own funds or customer funds in assets traded in the public markets, we use professional third-party asset managers that are required to follow the Scottish Widows Exclusions Policy and the Scottish Widows Stewardship Policy as applicable.
As a long-standing signatory of the UNPRI, we are committed to being responsible investors and stewards of the assets we oversee on behalf of our pension customers through
Read more about our Stewardship policy on page 11 and here.
Economic crime prevention
OverviewGovernanceManaging our risk Collaboration and partnerships
With specific reference to human rights, we expect our existing customers to respect and protect human rights.
communicating the Group's reporting channels to those employees who are working on a Group contract. There were no modeslavery concerns reported through Speak Up in 2023.
External sector statements
The Group has published External Sector Statements which apply to the Group's customers that have a direct lending relationship with the Group, including direct loans within
The External Sector Statements set out our approach and appetite to lending as they relate to high-risk sectors, whether this risk derives directly from environmental, social or reputational risk. These External Sector Statements outline what types of activities we will and will not support. Lloyds
Our Economic Crime Prevention Policy, including our procedures and Anti-Bribery Policy Statement, contribute to our ability to identify and manage the risk of modeslavery and human trafficking as predicate crimes to money laundering, fraud, bribery, corruption and other financial crimes.
Each business area within the Group is required to set its strategy in line with the Group risk appetite and policy requirements.
Training
Looking ahead and steps fornext2024
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08 |
Modeslavery and human trafficking statement 2023 |
Managing our risk
As one of the
risks across our operations, supply chain, banking, investment and insurance activities, and implementing measures, procedures and processes to mitigates these risks.
The
Our colleagues
At the end of 2023, we employed 62,569 permanent employees globally. In addition, the average number of contractors and temporary colleagues employed during 2023 was 3,5001.
Colleague screening standards
Our Colleague Screening Standards apply to all permanent employees and non-permanent workers that we recruit, including temporary workers and contractors. These standards and processes upholds our respect for labour rights and, for our
in the
The Group has long-standing relationships with two trusted and pre-approved managed service providers (MSP's) to fill temporary worker and contractor roles. These two MSPs are bound by contracts which require compliance with our Colleague Screening Standards and the Code of Supplier Responsibility, and which include specific ModeSlavery and Anti-Bribery clauses. Both MSP's also attest compliance annually via the Financial Services Supplier Qualification System (FSQS).
Freedom of association and collective bargaining
We support our colleagues' rights to exercise freedom of association and have extensive consultation and collective bargaining processes in place. We have a recognition agreement with two trade unions who collectively consult and negotiate on behalf of our
and Group Executives.
- This number does not include outsourced workers and consultants.
2 Union recognition of theUK workforce does not include executive grades.
Supporting a living wage
The
a National Living Wage rate as set by the
We have worked, and continue to work, with third-party contractors to ensure that they operate in line with our commitments, and we expect them to ensure that the wages they pay meet legally mandated minimum wage requirements without unauthorised deductions or financial burdens.
Our Group Places Team understand that supply chain decisions could increase modeslavery risks, including short or unrealistic lead times to complete projects. As we have a framework of suppliers that undertake all our investment activity, we partner with them to give them maximum forward visibility of potential allocation, including a five-year rolling forecast of demand (Medium Term Plan).
This enables our suppliers to establish a resource plan in
a controlled manner taking on board the Group's workload, as well as any other commitments they have with other clients. This de-risks spikes in demand and ensures that all our projects and programmes are resourced effectively. Our projects and programmes are also planned well in advance with timelines benchmarked with industry standards to ensure that there is adequate time to undertake all the activity. There is also a legal requirement under the Construction, Design and Management Regulations 2015 that helps protect employee health during all construction projects. Part of this requires a programme to be provided to undertake the works safely in accordance with our core values.
OverviewGovernanceManaging our risk CollaborationTraining and partnerships
Looking ahead and steps fornext2024
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09 |
Modeslavery and human trafficking statement 2023 |
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