This statement is made by Ridgemount Public Relations Limited in accordance with section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. It sets out the steps taken by Ridgemount to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking in its business and in its supply chains.

Our Policies

To further our organisation’s commitment to combating slavery and trafficking, we have taken or begun the following policy steps.

We have identified a number of existing policy areas which contain related to combating modern slavery or trafficking including:

• Anti-Bribery
• Fraud and Corruption
• Investment
• Whistleblowing
• Environmental
• Travel
• Financial Regulations
• Procurement Regulations
• Supplier Code of Conduct

Ridgemount periodically reviews its robustness in relation to the operation of a policy that ensures we are adequately and effectively provisioned to support the requirements of the Modern Slavery Act and that they integrate effectively.

Our Risk Assessment processes

Our due diligence activities to combat slavery and trafficking are risk-based.

We undertake risk assessment processes to inform our due diligence approach:

• We review suppliers to check that they comply with the Modern Slavery Act and that they have investigated their own supply chains to make sure they are free from slavery, servitude, forced and compulsory labour and human trafficking.
• Our selection process ensures robust controls are in place whereby we can test new suppliers and review existing suppliers during a competitive tender process.

Our Due Diligence processes

In order to prevent slavery and trafficking in our business and supply chains, we operate a due diligence process that includes integrating and acting upon the findings of our risk assessment processes and taking action to embed zero tolerance of modern slavery and trafficking.

Steps undertaken include:

• We review our suppliers. Any supplier who is reluctant to provide the necessary evidence of compliance will ultimately cease to be a supplier.
• Supply contracts are only awarded where suppliers demonstrate an appropriate and complementary position to our own
• We include our staff, students, business partners and suppliers in the efforts to eradicate practices and issues arising from and affecting Environment, Sustainability, Ethical Business Practices and Slavery and Human Trafficking.
• Our procurement function provides control of suppliers, enabling us to procure from suppliers in a more ethical and sustainable way.
• We have adopted an approach that contributes to driving significant change across our stakeholder communities.
• Where we buy from a third-party supplier, we expect that they will ensure their goods, materials and labour-related supply chains are fully compliant, transparent, accountable and auditable, free from ethical ambiguities

Measuring effectiveness – performance indicators

To monitor the effectiveness of the steps we have taken to stop slavery and trafficking taking place in our business and supply chains, performance indicators focus on the following areas:

• Training: numbers of staff provided with awareness training with specific training and support to staff involved in procurement and contract management
• Number of suppliers assessed or declared as compliant
• Changes to policies and procedures to address slavery and trafficking
• Number of related grievances

We will monitor our progress periodically and use the information to drive improvements and corrective actions where appropriate to do so.

This statement has been approved by Ridgemount’s Senior Management Team and will be reviewed an updated annually.

Last updated: 3 February 2023