Anesco Modern Slavery Website Statement
At Anesco we are committed to playing our part in eradicating modern slavery, and to acting ethically and with integrity and transparency in all business dealings. Being responsible is one of Anesco’s core values, and these values, together with our mission to accelerate the transition to a sustainable future, form the basis for behaviour and decisions made across Anesco.
This statement is delivered as of 4 April 2022. It refers to the period from 10 December 2021 and will next be updated following our next financial year end on 31 March 2023. It sets out the steps taken by Anesco Limited and its subsidiaries (which together are referred to in this statement as “Anesco”), to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking in our own operations and supply chains. It is made pursuant to section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
In 2021 we became a signatory to the UK solar industry’s statement supporting the development of a traceability protocol in the global solar supply chain. This is an important issue and we are pleased to support this industry wide initiative. In the year ahead we will continue to develop our approach to managing the risk of modern slavery within our business and supply chains, and evolve our strategy to respond to changing risks.
This statement was approved by the board of directors of Anesco Limited.
Organisation Structure
At Anesco we operate within the UK and Europe to design, construct, operate, maintain and optimise high performing renewable energy projects. We also install energy efficiency measures in residential homes to help lift people in the UK out of fuel poverty.
Our People
Anesco employs approximately 200 people, the vast majority of whom are employed in the UK, with some team members employed in the Netherlands. We also employ contractors in the UK as installation partners for our energy efficiency business, and in the UK and the Netherlands for our renewable energy development, construction and maintenance business. Anesco does not employ seasonal workers.
Anesco conducts robust checks on any new employee, including eligibility to work in the UK or Europe (as applicable), to safeguard against human trafficking or individuals being forced to work against their will. When employing contractors that operate via a business, we contract with UK registered companies only.
Our Policies in relation to Slavery and Human Trafficking
Anesco is committed to ensuring that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in any part of our business or our supply chain. We seek to reflect this in the following internal policies:
- Our Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy, which sets out our commitment to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business dealings and relationships, and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure slavery and human trafficking is not taking place anywhere in our business or our supply chains. Our Anti- Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy encourages employees, contractors, agents and other team members (“Anesco Team Members”) to raise concerns about any issue or suspicion of modern slavery in any parts of our business or supply chains of any supplier at the earliest possible stage.
- Our Staff Handbook, which forms our internal code of conduct. The Staff Handbook makes it clear to Anesco Team Members that Anesco is a company that acts with honesty and integrity, and that they should report any concerns of potentially illegal activities, unethical conduct or anything that might prejudice the business, using our whistleblowing procedure.
- Our Whistleblowing Policy, which reassures Anesco Team Members that they can raise any concerns that they might have without fear of reprisals, and explains how to report a whistleblowing concern.
In addition to the above, all Anesco employees are expected to demonstrate our business values, which include being responsible, safe and green.
Due Diligence Process and risk assessment for Slavery and Human Trafficking
Anesco contracts with up to 300 suppliers in any given year. Our energy efficiency installation business works with a UK based supply chain. In relation to our renewable energy project construction and O&M business lines, we often source component equipment for our solar and battery projects in particular (including, for example, solar PV panels, battery containers, transformers and inverters) from outside the UK and Europe. These items are sometimes procured directly by Anesco from the manufacturer, and sometimes procured through a third party organisation which liaises directly with the relevant manufacturer.
As part of our initiative to identify and mitigate risks relating to slavery and human trafficking in our supply chains, in a questionnaire that is completed by all new suppliers we:
- request a copy of the supplier’s anti-slavery and human trafficking policy; and
- identify potential risk areas in our supply chains, by asking our suppliers to provide information on how they assess risk within their own supply chain.
In addition, our standard procurement documents include prohibitions against the use of forced, compulsory or trafficked labour, or anyone held in slavery or servitude, through a requirement to comply with the requirements of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
Anesco Limited
4th April 2022