Statement on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking
BMS Investment Holdings Limited and its subsidiaries, including BMS Group Limited, (BMS) are committed to social and environmental responsibility and to the fair and humane treatment of people in its employment and in its supply chains. This statement sets out the steps that BMS has taken during the financial year ended 31 December 2018 to ensure that slavery and human trafficking are not taking place in any of its supply chains or in any part of its own business.
Organisational structure and supply chains
BMS is the parent company of the insurance and reinsurance broking business of the Minova Insurance group of companies, with operations in the UK, USA, Spain, Australia, Canada and Latin America. As such, BMS’s own business operations and supply chain consists primarily of office based professionals, with only very limited exposure to areas with a greater risk of modern slavery, for example, cleaning services, and travel and accommodation providers.
Policies
It is our belief that modern slavery and human trafficking are abhorrent practices that will not be tolerated in our own operations or in our supply chains, and we will take such steps that are reasonable to ensure than none is present. We are committed to working ethically and with integrity and we require our business partners to do the same.
BMS has a whistleblowing policy which refers specifically to slavery and human trafficking, and systems have been put into place to make it easy for our employees to disclose any concerns they may have regarding such practices with the Group. Employees are also encouraged to report any concerns about slavery or human trafficking that they may suspect or may have witnessed outside of the Group, whether or not they have become aware of such during the performance of their employment.
Risk assessment and due diligence process
We have conducted an assessment of the risks, both external and internal, of slavery and human trafficking, including country risks, sector risks and business partnership risks within its own operations and in its supply chain and we have determined that none of our own business operations are undertaken in higher risk areas, whether by reference to geographical location or business sector.
Where we have identified higher risk areas in our supply chains, appropriate due diligence has been undertaken to satisfy ourselves that the parties concerned have in place ethical employment practices that comply with all relevant legislation including, where applicable, the making of an Anti-Slavery statement pursuant to the Modern Slavery Act 2015. Where suppliers have not published an Anti-Slavery Statement, they are required to confirm that they have in place such ethical employment practices and that they, in turn, require their suppliers to have the same.
Future steps
Throughout 2019, BMS will continue to monitor the risk of slavery and human trafficking in its supply chains and its own business, and we will act and report accordingly.
This statement is made pursuant to s.54 (1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes Slavery and Human Trafficking statement for the financial year to 31 December 2018. It has been approved and authorised by the Board of Directors of BMS Investment Holdings Limited and BMS Group Limited.
Approved by the Board of Directors of BMS Investment Holdings Limited and BMS Group Limited on 17 May 2019