Modern Slavery Statement

Introduction

 

This statement sets out the steps AVM Solutions (UK) Ltd (“AVM”, “we”) has taken to make sure modern slavery and human trafficking are not taking place in our business or our supply chains. It covers the financial year 1st April 2025 to 31st March 2026.

We have published this statement voluntarily because we believe our partners, our people and our suppliers should know where we stand.

What we mean by modern slavery

We consider modern slavery to include:

1. Human trafficking
2. Forced work, through mental or physical threat
3. Being owned or controlled by an employer through mental or physical abuse, or the threat of abuse
4. Being dehumanised, treated as a commodity, or bought or sold as property
5. Being physically constrained or having restrictions placed on freedom of movement.

Our commitment

 

AVM is committed to making sure our business operations are free from slavery and human trafficking. We recognise this needs ongoing review of how we employ our own people and how we work with our suppliers.

We will not knowingly do business with any organisation, in the UK or abroad, that supports or is involved in slavery, servitude, or forced or compulsory labour. We meet the minimum standards required by employment law in each country where our people work: the United Kingdom, India and South Africa and in many cases exceed them.

Our organisation

 

AVM Solutions (UK) Ltd is a technology consultancy specialising in audio-visual and smart building technology. Founded in 2008, we design, install and support AV and smart building systems, and supply AV equipment, for partners across corporate workspaces, retail, the public sector, education and hospitality.

We are headquartered in Bolton, Lancashire, with team members also based in India and South Africa. Our UK team car

ries out work at partner sites across the United Kingdom. Our work is not seasonal.

Our supply chains

 

Our main supply chains are:

• AV and technology hardware – displays, audio, cabling, control systems and related equipment, bought mainly through UK distributors. Much of this equipment is manufactured overseas [confirm main regions, e.g. Asia].

• Installation and specialist labour – subcontractors who support our own engineers on partner projects [confirm whether we use subcontractors and roughly how many].

• Professional and office services – software, IT, office supplies and similar services, mostly from UK suppliers.

Most of our first-tier suppliers are distributors rather than manufacturers, so they have their own relationships with lower-tier suppliers that we do not see directly.

Our policies

 

The following policies support our stance on modern slavery:

• Anti-Slavery Policy

• Whistleblowing Policy

Assessing and managing risk

 

We consider our main exposure to modern slavery risk to be in two areas:

• Hardware manufacturing, because electronics are often made in countries where protection of workers’ rights may be limited, several tiers away from us.

• Subcontracted labour, because construction and installation work is recognised as a higher-risk sector in the UK.

Our own team is small, with most people based in the UK and others in India and South Africa, so we consider the risk within our own operations to be low. Overall, we consider our exposure to be relatively limited. We still take the steps below to manage it.

Due diligence

 

Our due diligence is proportionate to our size and our level of risk. It includes:

• checking that every employee has the right to work in the country where they are based before they start, and is paid at least the legal minimum wage there (in the UK, the National Minimum Wage)

• working towards including obligations in our supplier agreements that require suppliers, and their own suppliers and subcontractors, to comply with the Modern Slavery Act 2015

Any concern raised is investigated, and we would end a relationship with a supplier found to be involved in modern slavery.

Training

 

Training on modern slavery and human trafficking is available to all employees. People involved in purchasing and our supply chain receive short briefing on spotting the signs of modern slavery and how to raise a concern. New starters are introduced to our Anti-Slavery Policy as part of induction.

Monitoring and effectiveness

We measure how well our approach is working by tracking:

• the proportion of employees with right-to-work checks completed before they start (target: 100%)

• the proportion of supplier agreements that include modern slavery obligations

• the number of relevant staff who have completed training

• the number of concerns raised, and how each was resolved.

Steps

 

AVM Solutions (UK) Ltd has not, to its knowledge, conducted any business with another organisation which has been found to have involved itself with modern slavery.

 

In accordance with section 54(4) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, AVM Solutions (UK) Ltd has taken the following steps to ensure that modern slavery is not taking place:

 

· reviewing our supplier contracts to include termination powers in the event that the supplier is, or is suspected, to be involved in modern slavery;

· measures in place to identify and assess the potential risks in supply chains;

· any actions taken to embed a zero tolerance policy towards modern slavery;

Raising a concern

 

Krupa Mistry is responsible for overseeing our compliance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015. Anyone with a concern about modern slavery in our business or supply chains can contact her at krupa.mistry@avmsolutionsuk.com. Employees can also raise concerns through our whistleblowing procedure.