Hemp Path Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking Statement 2022 to 2023

Here are the steps Hemp Path has taken and continues to take to understand and minimise the potential risk of modern slavery in its business and supply chains.

This statement is published in line with section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Hemp Path 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're 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.

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.

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.

Due to the nature of our business, we assess ourselves to have a low risk of modern slavery in our business and supply chains.

Our supply chains are limited and we procure goods and services from a restricted range of UK and overseas suppliers.

The following policies are available to all staff through the Hemp Path intranet:

- Code of conduct
- Ethics policy
- Whistleblowing policy
- Bullying and harassment policy
- Diversity and inclusion policy
- Recruitment and selection policy

Hemp Path continues to identify and address risks of modern slavery within its operations and supply chain throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The health and safety of Hemp Path employees is of utmost importance to the Company, with local and national government guidelines and policies on social distancing and payment of statutory sick pay implemented where applicable.

The payment of suppliers, employees and grants are priority activities for Hemp Path is continuing to adhere to the government’s prompt payment guidelines to help protect the payment of wages within supply chains.

A review of internal policies, including grievance procedures, has taken place to align them to the Company’s new approach to working from home and ensure they are applicable and accessible to Hemp Path employees whilst working remotely. Additional signposting to the Employee Assistance Programme has been provided for employees to access independent, confidential advice and the modern slavery awareness campaign that last took place in May 2020 highlighted contact information to report suspected incidents.

Recruitment activity within Hemp Path continues with sustained rigorous checks in place to eliminate the risk of vulnerable workers being exploited by third parties during the crisis.

We will continue to embed the principles through:

- providing awareness training to staff on the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and informing them of the appropriate action to take if they suspect a case of slavery or human trafficking

- ensuring staff involved in procurement activity are aware of and follow modern slavery procurement guidance on GOV.UK

- ensuring that consideration of the modern slavery risks and prevention are added to Hemp Path's policy review process as an employer and procurer of goods and services

- making sure Hemp Path's procurement strategies and contract terms and conditions include references to modern slavery and human trafficking

- continuing to take action to embed a zero tolerance policy towards modern slavery

- ensuring that staff involved in buying or procurement and the recruitment and deployment of workers receive training on modern slavery and ethical employment practices

This statement has been approved by David Hartshorne, Hemp Path Founder, for the financial year ending 31 March 2023.

This statement will be reviewed and updated every year.