Slavery, Environment & Social Policies

Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement

What this policy covers

This policy applies to employees, workers and contractors.

Slavery and Human Trafficking remains a hidden blight on our global society. We all have a responsibility to be alert to the risks, however small, in our business and in the wider supply chain.

Our Commitment

The Company is committed to ensuring that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in our supply chains or in any part of our business.

We are committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships and taking reasonable steps to ensure slavery and human trafficking are not taking place in any business or organisation that has any sort of a business relationship with our Company.

Due diligence processes for slavery and human trafficking

The Company has zero tolerance to slavery and human trafficking. We expect all those in our supply chain and contractors to comply with our values.

As part of our initiative to identify and mitigate risk the Company has in place systems to encourage the reporting of concerns and the protection of whistleblowers.

Our supply chain providers are always with a UK provider and we expect these entities to have suitable anti-slavery and human trafficking policies and processes.

Training

The management team are responsible for compliance within their respective departments and in their supplier relationships and have been trained accordingly.

There is a Company induction where our policies, procedures and expectations are outlined.

Our effectiveness in combating slavery and human trafficking

The Company uses the following key performance indicators to measure how effective we have been to ensure that slavery and human trafficking is not taking place in any part of our business or supply chains:

• Use of labour monitoring, right to work documentation and payroll audits
• We maintain a level of communication and personal contact with the next link in the supply chain to ensure their understanding of, and compliance with, our expectations.
• We regularly review supply chain policies, codes of conduct and our working practices to show commitment.

This statement is made in accordance with section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes the Company's slavery and human trafficking statement.

Reporting suspicions of slavery

You can report any suspicions of slavery either through the Company's Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblowing) policy or externally to the Modern Slavery Helpline. Details are set out below:

https://www.modernslaveryhelpline.org/

08000 121 700.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tough Master are a responsible employer and contributes towards sustainable development.  We aim to create a working environment where the principles of social responsibility are fully integrated in our work to transform our customers’ communication and deliver measurable improvements in how companies, leaders and teams communicate.

 

As an organization, we are committed to ensuring that we provide all employees with the necessary resources, information, instruction, and training to fulfill the requirements of this policy, commensurate with their role. Our company Directors fully support the implementation of this policy and are responsible for ensuring that it is communicated, understood, implemented, and maintained at all levels within the organization.

 

Compliance with legally binding obligations is a crucial aspect of social responsibility but there are also implications that go further than enforceable standards. Where no legal standard exists, we will seek to follow good practice guidelines.

 

Our consultancy activities and business processes have a positive role to play in providing sustainable livelihoods, which links to the sustainability of society through sustainable consumption and resource use. The following Social Responsibility policy sets out the core principles and areas of focus when considering our significant impacts.

 

Stewardship:

• Demonstrate our commitment to social responsibility by implementing relevant strategies and the development of appropriate objectives or targets
• Establish accountable leadership practices and commitment to shared ethical and other values
• Abide by international norms of behavior such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and, where possible, encourage their advancement
• Conduct trade fairly and maintain anti-corruption practices
• Ensure compliance with applicable legislation using codes of practice and guidance produced by regulatory bodies to assist where appropriate.
• Periodically review our arrangements to ensure they remain current.
• Engage and motivate employees and others to participate in our social responsibility activities

 

Employment:

• Provide conditions of work that are lawful, such as fair wages, reasonable working hours, and holiday entitlement.
• Permit a good work-life balance for employees and recognise family responsibilities
• Ensure the equal treatment of men and women workers throughout the lifecycle of employment
• Provide access to skills development and opportunities for career advancement to all employees
• Support employees in working towards professional qualifications relevant to their roles.

 

Health and safety:

• Provide a working environment that is safe and without risks to health, so far as is reasonably practicable
• Ensure effective communication and consultation on health and safety matters
• Keep records of accidents and incidents and carry out a thorough investigation when applicable
• Report relevant injuries, diseases, or dangerous occurrences to the appropriate enforcing authority

 

 

Environment:

• Adopt environmentally sound technologies whenever possible to minimize use of resources.

• Use energy, water, materials, and other natural resources as efficiently as possible.
• Use electronic means of communication such as e-mail and videoconferencing rather than paper-based options
• Buy office supplies containing recycled materials
• Follow the waste hierarchy of reduce, reuse, recycle
• Manage the low quantities of hazardous wastes from our office activities in accordance with legislation
• Work towards quantifying and reducing our carbon footprint.
• Seek opportunities to establish links with local businesses, neighbors, or suppliers to facilitate improvements in the local environment

 

Consumer issues:

• Provide customers with adequate and appropriate information about our products to enable an informed customer choice
• Provide a transparent and flexible approach to scoping contracts with our customers
• Set and review clear milestones and deadlines throughout implementation
• Maintain the quality of our consultancy services and continue to offer fair pricing
• Handle personal data from our customers appropriately and securely
• Use marketing and promotional materials that avoid negative connotations on issues of gender, religion, race, disability, or interpersonal relationships.
• Encourage feedback from our customers regarding their experience of working with us
• Make available effective forms of redress for customer complaints

 

Community involvement

• Offer in-kind support for local business groups and SMEs via organised events and training provision at a local level
• Act upon opportunities for mentoring where mutually convenient
• Offer work placement opportunities with local university or college students where feasible.
• Foster good relationships with others in the business community and other interested stakeholders.

 

This policy will be communicated to all employees and organisations working for or on our behalf. Employees and other organisations are expected to co-operate and assist in the implementation of this policy, whilst ensuring that their own work, so far as is reasonably practicable, is carried out without risk to themselves, others, or the environment.

 

This policy will be periodically reviewed by the Company Directors and where deemed necessary will be amended and re-issued.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tough Master Environmental Policy Statement

 

Tough Master is an environmentally conscious organisation and as such we acknowledge the potential environmental impact that our operations may have on the environment.

This policy has been established by top management who fully support its implementation. Top management are responsible for ensuring that it is communicated, understood, implemented and maintained at all levels within the organisation.

We are committed to the protection of the environment through the prevention of pollution and the continual improvement of our management systems to enhance environmental performance. This has been facilitated through the setting of environmental objectives based on our significant environmental aspects. These objectives will be documented, allocated targets and programmes and be periodically monitored and reviewed. The results of which are communicated throughout the organisation and available to interested parties where appropriate.

As an organisation, we are committed to ensuring that we:

• Comply with all compliance obligations (legal and otherwise); including codes of practice and guidance produced by regulatory bodies and specific standards, relating to our environmental aspects.
• Provide all employees with the necessary resources, equipment, information, instruction and training to fulfil the requirements of this policy, commensurate with their role.
• Work towards implementing an informal Environmental Management System (EMS) that complies with the requirements of BS EN ISO 14001:2015, as defined within the scope of our EMS.
• Prevent pollution to the environment, and strive to integrate environmental best practice into our business operations.
• Minimise waste to landfill by reducing waste generation and by segregating and recycling waste where economically and operationally feasible.
• Coordinate business mileage so as to maximise fuel efficiency.
• Use energy, water, materials and other natural resources as efficiently as possible, giving particular regard to the long term sustainability of consumable items.
• Consider the environment throughout the lifecycle of our business activities including the products and services we provide to customers.
• Work with local businesses, neighbours, partners or suppliers to encourage commitment and improvement in our local environment.

This policy will be communicated to all employees and organisations working for or on our behalf. Employees and other organisations are expected to co-operate and assist in the implementation of this policy, whilst ensuring that their own work, so far as is reasonably practicable, is carried out without risk to themselves, others, or the environment.

This policy will be reviewed annually by top management and where deemed necessary will be amended and re-issued. Previous versions will be archived and are available upon request.

This policy statement is displayed on site. It is publicly available upon reasonable request by any interested party.