Modern Slavery Statement

1. Introduction

This statement is made pursuant to Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and sets out the steps that The Hivals Group Limited has taken, and continues to take, to ensure that modern slavery and human trafficking is not taking place within our business or supply chain.

Modern slavery is a crime and a violation of fundamental human rights. It takes various forms, such as slavery, servitude, forced and compulsory labour, and human trafficking, all of which have in common the deprivation of a person's liberty by another in order to exploit them for personal or commercial gain.

2. Our Business

The Hivals Group Limited is a multi-disciplinary consultancy providing expert services in Design & Construction, project management, risk assessment, and building surveying. We operate primarily in the United Kingdom.

3. Our Commitment

We are committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business dealings and relationships, and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in our own business or in any of our supply chains.

We are also committed to ensuring there is transparency in our own business and in our approach to tackling modern slavery throughout our supply chains, consistent with our disclosure obligations under the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

4. Our Supply Chains

Our supply chains include:

• Professional service providers and consultants
• Technology and software suppliers
• Office supplies and equipment providers
• Contractors and subcontractors for project delivery

5. Our Policies

We operate the following policies that support our commitment to preventing modern slavery:

• Recruitment Policy: We operate a robust recruitment process, including conducting eligibility to work in the UK checks for all employees to safeguard against human trafficking
• Whistleblowing Policy: We encourage all employees, customers, and suppliers to report any concerns related to our activities or supply chains
• Supplier Code of Conduct: We expect our suppliers to adhere to our values and ethical standards, including provisions against modern slavery
• Equal Opportunities Policy: We are committed to creating a working environment free from discrimination

6. Due Diligence

As part of our initiative to identify and mitigate risk, we:

• Assess potential suppliers before they enter our supply chain
• Review our existing suppliers on a regular basis
• Require all suppliers to confirm they comply with modern slavery legislation
• Include modern slavery provisions in our contracts with suppliers
• Investigate any concerns raised about modern slavery practices

7. Risk Assessment

We consider the following factors when assessing modern slavery risk in our supply chains:

• The nature of the goods or services being provided
• The geographical location of suppliers
• The use of temporary or agency labour
• The complexity and transparency of supply chains

We have assessed our supply chains and consider the risk of modern slavery to be relatively low due to the nature of our business as a professional services consultancy. However, we remain vigilant and committed to continuous improvement.

8. Training and Awareness

To ensure a high level of understanding of the risks of modern slavery, we provide training and information to our staff. We are committed to ensuring that our staff are aware of:

• The nature and scale of modern slavery
• How to identify potential victims
• The procedures for reporting concerns
• Our expectations of suppliers regarding modern slavery

9. Reporting Concerns

We encourage anyone who has concerns about modern slavery in any part of our business or supply chain to report them. Reports can be made through:

• Email: info@thehivalsgroup.co.uk

All reports will be treated in confidence and investigated thoroughly.

10. Our Progress

We continue to develop and strengthen our approach to tackling modern slavery. Our key actions include:

• Regular review of our policies and procedures
• Ongoing assessment of our supply chain risks
• Training and awareness programmes for our staff
• Engagement with suppliers on modern slavery issues

11. Approval

This statement has been approved by the Board of Directors of The Hivals Group Limited and will be reviewed and updated annually.