We are committed to improving our practices to combat slavery and human trafficking.
This statement sets out the approach taken by Lowri Beck Holdings Limited (Reg No 04347790) and its subsidiaries in England and Wales (as set out below and together, “Lowri Beck”) towards identifying and preventing modern slavery and human trafficking in its business and supply chains, as required under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (the “Act”).
Lowri Beck operates within the utility services industry for a wide range of energy suppliers. Lowri Beck offers a variety of services including meter installation and data collection and utilises several supply chains to achieve this.
Lowri Beck Holdings Limited is the holding entity of the following subsidiaries:
Lowri Beck invests in and manages utility infrastructure assets. As an expanding business with a number of suppliers, Lowri Beck recognises that there is a risk (however small) of modern slavery or human trafficking to occur in its supply chains. Lowri Beck takes a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery and human trafficking and adheres to the strictest behaviors and standards and expects the same of its suppliers. Lowri Beck therefore seeks to partner with suppliers that ensure a fair and ethical workplace, where workers are treated with dignity and respect and the highest standards of human rights are upheld.
As part of the Calisen group of companies, Lowri Beck has adopted the following new Calisen group policies relating to supplier procurement and management, which builds upon the previous Lowri Beck policies to provide a consistent business management framework:
(1) Calisen Group Vendor Management Policy;
(2) Calisen Vendor Management Security Policy; and
(3) Calisen Group Code of Conduct for Vendors.
As highlighted in the Calisen Group Code of Conduct for Vendors, it is a fundamental requirement of Lowri Beck to conduct its business with integrity and in accordance with the highest standards of ethics, equity and fair dealing.
Lowri Beck is committed to ensuring that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in its supply chains or in any part of its business.
The Calisen Vendor Management Policy also reflects Lowri Beck’s commitment to acting ethically and with integrity in all its business relationships and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure slavery and human trafficking is not taking place anywhere in its supply chains.
Alongside the Calisen group policies, Lowri Beck is also aware of the UN Global Compact’s 10 Principles. There are a number of internationally recognised declarations, standards and codes that it is aware of and respects, including: (i) The UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, (ii) UN Guiding Principles of Business and Human Rights, (iii) International Labour Organisation core conventions, and (iv) the Code of Ethical Trading Initiative.
Lowri Beck operates a range of certified management systems, including the quality standard ISO 9001, to help ensure that all relevant aspects of legal compliance and due diligence requirements are identified in respect of human trafficking and modern slavery.
Internally, as part of Lowri Beck’s recruitment and on-boarding process, it ensures that all employees have valid right to work status for the UK and can produce their own documents as requested, whilst also holding agency and contracting workers to this same standard. This information is held securely within our Human Resources and Finance Systems for the duration of any contract to ensure that the correct on-going management of all employees.
Lowri Beck also source a wide variety of items from a range of suppliers and work to ensure that the items provided are to the highest safety standards and best meet the needs of our business. This includes items such as company vehicles, uniform, tools and IT hardware. They also contract with a range of suppliers who provide services such as cleaning and waste management. As part of Lowri Beck’s initiative to identify and mitigate risk in its supply chain, it: 1) has implemented the new Calisen group procurement processes outlined above; 2) has updated its due diligence processes; 3) acknowledges the need to continue to map its supply chains to identify the parts of the supply chains where the risks are most severe or most likely to occur; and 4) has adopted processes to identify and assess potential risk areas in its supply chains. This involves consideration of the geographical location where its supply chain operates as well as assessing whether specific parts of the business or particular relationships or transactions are vulnerable to modern slavery and human trafficking.
As part of Lowri Beck’s approach to combat slavery and human tracking typically a number of physical site visits to suppliers are undertaken in each financial year. However, due to COVID-19 some physical visits have not been possible in 2021/2 and therefore Lowri Beck has adapted its approach. When physical audits are not possible, virtual audits of selected suppliers are being undertaken to ensure compliance with the Act in accordance with Lowri Beck’s standards.
Finally, the largest group of external organisations that Lowri Beck works with there is its customers, and so alongside supplier due diligence, Lowri Beck has a robust vetting process in place to ensure that every applicable regulation and relevant business need is addressed through the respective contract arrangements with such customers. This in turn includes required controls on modern slavery and human trafficking.
Lowri Beck believes that it is important for all third parties that it works with to morally align with Lowri Beck’s corporate values, to ensure that such organisations can build long term and mutually beneficial relationships. As part of Lowri Beck’s due diligence process, it ensures that all organisations who are engaged have equivalent Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking statements in place that are easily accessible to other third parties.
Lowri Beck is implementing an online training program on modern slavery to increase awareness amongst all staff. All new starters will complete this training on joining Lowri Beck and all existing staff will be required to complete this training every two years.
As a service business, Lowri Beck work with a large number of external organisations and suppliers to deliver the desired service(s) to customers, and so it is accepted that this diverse network brings with it some risks that are continually managed and monitored. Below is a non-exhaustive list of the areas that Lowri Beck has highlighted as their higher risk areas:
Lowri Beck is committed to continual improvement and will take active measures to combat modern slavery and human trafficking in its business and supply chains.
This statement is made under section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes Lowri Beck’s Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement for the financial year ending 31 December 2022.
This statement has been approved by Lowri Beck Holdings Limited board of directors and will be reviewed annually.
Approved by the Board: 19 January 2023
Signed by: Sean Latus, Group Chief Executive Officer
