Modern slavery statement

Statement:

AYMES International Limited has a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery in our organisation and our supply chains.

Organisation

AYMES is a specialist supplier of Oral Nutrition Supplements whose commitment is to provide our customers with innovative high-quality products exceeding their needs and expectations in a safe, affordable and ethically responsible manner

AYMES directly employs the services of 30 people in the UK and Europe.

Scope

This statement is made pursuant to the Modern Slavery Act 2015

This statement applies to all staff, self-employed people and contractors working for, or on behalf of AYMES International Limited, in any capacity, including employees at all levels, directors, agency workers, seconded workers, volunteers, agents, contractors and suppliers.

Definitions

The Organisation considers that modern slavery encompasses:

• human trafficking
• Child labour
• forced work, through mental or physical threat
• being owned or controlled by an employer through mental or physical abuse of the threat of abuse
• being dehumanised, treated as a commodity or being bought or sold as property
• being physically constrained or to have restriction placed on freedom of movement.

Commitment

AYMES International Limited acknowledges its responsibilities in relation to tackling modern slavery and commits to complying with the provisions in the Modern Slavery Act 2015. We understand that this requires an ongoing review of both internal practices in relation to our labour force and, additionally, our supply chains.

AYMES International Limited does not, and will not, enter into business with any other organisation, in the United Kingdom or abroad, which knowingly supports or is found to be involved in slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour.

AYMES International Limited does not use slavery, human trafficking or enforced servitude in the staff and labour it employs for its own services. AYMES International Limited strictly adheres to the minimum standards required in relation to its responsibilities under relevant employment legislation in the United Kingdom and as laid out in its Conditions of Employment and Code of Ethics Policy

Our Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy reflects our commitment to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking taking place in any part of our business or our supply chains

The prevention, detection and reporting of modern slavery in any part of our business or supply chain is the responsibility of all those working for us, with us or under our control. Our employees are required to avoid any activity that might lead to, or suggest, a breach of this statement. All employees are required to read, understand and comply in full, with our Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy.

We encourage our employees to report any concerns or wrongdoing which extends to any human rights violations like modern slavery. Any discussions or evidence will be fully investigated, and appropriate remedial action taken.

Supply Chains

AYMES International Limited is committed to engaging with suppliers to address the risk of modern slavery in our operations and supply chain.

Our suppliers are researched and vetted according to our QMS standards and Code of Conduct, which includes our modern slavery policy and will only engage with suppliers who are compliant with and meet those standards and codes. Our contracts with third parties include the specific prohibitions against the use of modern slavery and trafficked labour. AYMES International Limited expects all suppliers to comply with our Code of Conduct, which sets out the minimum standards required to combat modern slavery and trafficking.

AYMES operates a supplier assessment & review process and maintains a preferred supplier list. We conduct due diligence on all suppliers before allowing them to become a preferred supplier. This due diligence includes an online search to ensure that particular organisation has never been convicted of offenses relating to modern slavery.

In addition to the above, as part of our contract with suppliers, we require that they confirm to us that:

1. They have taken steps to eradicate modern slavery within their business
2. They hold their own suppliers to account over modern slavery
3. UK Based Suppliers: They pay their employees at least the national minimum wage / national living wage (as appropriate)
4. International Suppliers: They pay their employees any prevailing minimum wage applicable within their country of operations
5. We look to work with Sedex members who adhere to recognised Labour Standards, Health and Safety, Business Ethics and Environment
6. We may terminate the contract at any time should any instances of modern slavery come to light.

Steps

Prior to entering into a business arrangement, AYMES International Limited carries out due diligence processes in relation to ensuring slavery and/or human trafficking does not take place in its organisation or supply chains, including conducting a review of the controls of its suppliers.

When considered necessary, part of the ongoing risk assessment and due diligence processes can include audits of suppliers for their compliance with our Code of Conduct. We may require:

• Employment and recruitment agencies and other third parties supplying workers to our organisation to confirm their compliance with our Code of Conduct
• Suppliers engaging workers through a third party to obtain that third parties’ agreement to adhere to the Code

If AYMES International Limited find that other individuals or organisations working on our behalf have breached this policy, we will take appropriate action. This may include any or all of the following: insisting the breaches be remediated immediately, reporting the breaches to the relevant authorities, up to and including, terminating such relationships.

AYMES International Limited has never, to its knowledge, conducted any business with another organisation found to have been involved with modern slavery.

Our performance indicators

We will know the effectiveness of the steps that we are taking to ensure that slavery and/or human trafficking is not taking place within our AYMES business supply chain if:

• All UK employment legal due diligence taken in recruitment and return to work, including National Insurance, Passport and UK Residency Permit review
• No reports are received from employees, the public, or law enforcement agencies to indicate that modern slavery practices have been identified.

This AYMES Policy is communicated to all employees, suppliers and sub-contractors and is made available to interested parties.

This statement will be reviewed, updated and/ or amended as required, for each financial year.