For the financial year ended 30 June 2026
This statement is made pursuant to Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and sets out the steps that Thomas Bell & Sons Ltd has taken during the 2025–2026 financial year, and continues to take, to ensure that modern slavery and human trafficking are not taking place within our business or supply chains.
Modern slavery encompasses slavery, servitude, human trafficking and forced labour. Thomas Bell & Sons Ltd has a zero-tolerance approach to any form of modern slavery. We are committed to acting ethically, with integrity and transparency in all business relationships, and to implementing effective systems and controls to safeguard against any form of modern slavery within our business or supply chain.
Organisational Structure and Supply Chains
Thomas Bell & Sons Ltd imports and manufactures fertiliser and also operates a country store. Fertiliser is imported from a range of international suppliers and distributed throughout the United Kingdom.The company maintains close and long-standing relationships with its suppliers, the majority of whom are established organisations operating across multiple geographical locations. We recognise that parts of the agricultural and manufacturing supply chain can present an increased risk of modern slavery and therefore take a proactive and proportionate approach to supplier engagement and oversight.
Policies and Due Diligence in Relation to Slavery and Human Trafficking
Thomas Bell & Sons Ltd is compliant with the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and is confident that its operations are free from practices covered by the Act. We remain vigilant to potential risks, particularly where small-scale businesses or farms may present a higher risk of unlicensed or informal labour.
Our due diligence processes include:
* Conducting due diligence checks on all new suppliers before approving them as preferred suppliers, including online searches to identify any past convictions or adverse findings relating to modern slavery or human trafficking.
* Reviewing suppliers’ websites and published documentation to confirm compliance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015, including the publication of a modern slavery and human trafficking statement where required.
* Operating robust recruitment and employment procedures, including eligibility-to-work checks for all employees, to safeguard against human trafficking and forced labour.
*Maintaining a whistleblowing policy that enables employees to raise concerns about treatment of individuals or practices within our business or supply chain without fear of retaliation.
Risk Assessment and Management
Where a supplier does not have an appropriate modern slavery and human trafficking statement, we engage directly with them to understand the reasons why. We require confirmation that they are actively working towards publishing a statement and an expected publication date.In such cases, we also request details of any identified risk areas within their operations and the steps they are taking to mitigate those risks. Continued engagement is assessed on a case-by-case basis, with escalation where appropriate.
Key Performance Indicators
The effectiveness of the measures we have in place is monitored through:
* The absence of reports or allegations of modern slavery or human trafficking from employees, suppliers, the public, or law enforcement agencies.
* Ongoing supplier engagement and review processes.
* Internal monitoring of recruitment and employment practices.
Training on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking
Thomas Bell & Sons Ltd provides regular training and awareness to staff to help them understand the indicators of modern slavery and human trafficking and the appropriate actions to take if concerns arise within our business or supply chain.
Continuing Progress
Thomas Bell & Sons Ltd is committed to continuous improvement in line with the recommendations outlined in the UK Home Office guidance on the Modern Slavery Act 2015. We regularly review our policies, procedures and supply chain relationships to identify opportunities to further reduce risk.We welcome comments, feedback and suggestions on how we can continue to strengthen our approach and reduce the risk of modern slavery within our supply chain.
