Modern Slavery statement 

This statement is designed to satisfy the requirements of Section 54 Part 6 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (“the Act”), by informing our staff, suppliers to the British Tourist Authority (t/a VisitBritain/VisitEngland) and the public about VisitBritain/VisitEngland and its policies with respect to modern slavery, human trafficking, forced labour and labour rights violations in its supply chains. It sets out the steps that the BTA has taken during the financial year ending 31 March 2023 to ensure, as far as possible, that modern slavery is not taking place within its organisation or its supply chain.

Our status, operations and supply chain

As the national tourism agency – a non-departmental public body funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), VisitBritain/VisitEngland plays a unique role in building England’s tourism product, raising Britain’s profile worldwide, increasing the volume and value of tourism exports and developing England and Britain’s visitor economy.

We are an international organisation operating from four regional hubs - Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific, Mid-East & Africa (APMEA) and China & North East Asia - our extensive network, serviced by offices around the world, connects us with customers worldwide.

We have a diverse and substantial supply chain, with procurement carried out both centrally and within local markets across the globe. Our Procurement function is responsible for the corporate procurement policy and our commercial (procurement) strategy.

Further information about VisitBritain/VisitEngland and our business is set out in the annual report and accounts.

As an equal opportunities employer, we’re committed to creating and ensuring a non-discriminatory and respectful working environment for our staff. We want all our staff to feel confident that they can expose wrongdoing without any risk to themselves.

Our recruitment and people management processes are designed to ensure that all prospective employees are legally entitled to work in the UK and to safeguard employees from any abuse or coercion.

The following policies are available to all staff through our intranet:

• Standards of conduct
• Whistleblowing policy
• Anti-harassment and bullying policy
• Diversity and equal opportunities policy

Current procurement policy and processes

Our corporate procurement policy is based on the UK government public sector procurement legislation. It provides standards and obligations when procuring goods, works and services on behalf of VisitBritain/VisitEngland from external third party suppliers. This includes planning, sourcing, supplier selection and contracting.

The policy’s objectives include ensuring all potential and incumbent suppliers are dealt with transparently, fairly and proportionally and that we uphold the principles of sustainable procurement at all times. Our procedures comply with UK law and address environmental management, health and safety, equality legislation and social value. We provide guidance and tools to ensure that the policy is followed during the procurement process.

In accordance with our procurement policy we are required by DCMS to procure via Crown Commercial Services (CCS) or other public sectors framework agreements where applicable.

We require our suppliers to maintain standards while supplying to us and we will act to terminate contracts where we become aware of serious transgressions.

Our actions to prevent modern slavery

As part of VisitBritain/VisitEngland’s action to prevent modern slavery it undertakes the following:

• Effective Human Resources policies and procedures which ensure all members of staff have the right to work; paying the London Living Wage to all permanently employed staff;
• Ensuring compliance with The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) Professional Code of Ethics; and providing appropriate training to staff with responsibility for procurement. All our Procurement & Contract Management staff are required to complete the Tackling Modern Slavery in Supply Chain course facilitated by the Government Commercial College and the Ethical Procurement and Supply course facilitated by CIPS

Additionally, in line with last year’s KPIs, VisitBritain/VisitEngland:

• Has obtained information from 22 strategic suppliers regarding their policy towards slavery and human trafficking;
• 21 suppliers have a policy towards modern slavery and human trafficking;
• 1 supplier has a turnover below the £36M threshold, therefore they are not required to issue a Modern Slavery statement. However, this supplier has policies in place to prevent slavery and human trafficking such as whistleblowing policies and right to work checks.

Supplier adherence to the Act

Our standard supplier contracts include a warranty by the supplier that they comply with the Act. The BTA has a right of termination if a supplier was found to be in breach of this warranty.

Next steps

VisitBritain/VisitEngland is a dynamic organisation with ever-evolving requirements in diverse locations, and we recognise that there are always improvements that can be made. We intend to continue to review and monitor and, where necessary, enhance our policies and procedures about the Act. We take our responsibility to prevent modern slavery and trafficking from existing in our supply chain seriously, and we will keep working with our suppliers to ensure that their supply chains are free from modern slavery and human trafficking.

Additionally, VisitBritain/VisitEngland has been working in collaboration with DCMS and other DCMS arm length bodies to implement a new risk monitoring system which is now live. Alongside our collaboration with DCMS, we have engaged as well with Cabinet Office to identify and implement Supplier Relationship Management processes enabling us to closely monitor supplier performance and risk. We will continue to use Government Commercial Function guidance and tools to map our supply chain and identify any risks regarding modern slavery and human trafficking.

This statement was approved by the BTA Board and signed on its behalf by the Chief Executive Officer of VisitBritain/VisitEngland:

Patricia Yates

Chief Executive Officer, VisitBritain/VisitEngland

October 2023