Scope of this statement
Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 requires a statement from commercial organisations with a turnover of £36 million or more. Smith Design Engineering Ltd is below that threshold and is not required to publish one.
This statement is published voluntarily. Main contractors, public sector clients and framework operators routinely ask for one at pre-qualification regardless of the threshold, and publishing it is quicker than answering the same question in every questionnaire.
Our position
Smith Design Engineering Ltd does not tolerate modern slavery or human trafficking in any part of its business or supply chain.
Our business
SDE is a building services engineering consultancy providing mechanical, electrical and public health design. It does not manufacture, does not construct, and does not procure goods or labour from the sectors and jurisdictions ordinarily assessed as high risk.
The practice assesses the risk of modern slavery occurring within its own business as low, on the basis of the size of the practice, the professional and qualified nature of the work, and the fact that everyone carrying it out is known to the directors personally.
Our supply chain
SDE's supply chain consists principally of professional services, software licences and IT. The risk of modern slavery within it is correspondingly low, and it is not a supply chain in which the practice has purchasing power over a manufacturer or a labour provider.
The exception worth naming is subconsultants. Where specialist input is engaged on a project, the expectation is that the subconsultant maintains standards equivalent to those set out here.
Steps taken
- Verifying the right to work of everyone engaged by the practice.
- Paying at or above statutory minimum rates.
- Engaging engineering staff directly rather than through unverified intermediaries.
- Expecting subconsultants and suppliers to maintain equivalent standards, and asking where that is not evident.
- Reviewing this statement annually, and on any material change to how the practice engages people.