Modern Slavery Statement

Introduction

Waddington Brown is committed to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking in our business and in the work we do for clients.

We aren't required to publish this statement under section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, as our turnover is below the threshold. We've chosen to publish it voluntarily because, as recruiters, we play a direct part in how people find and enter work. We think that brings a responsibility to be open about how we protect them.

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Our business and supply chain

We're a specialist HR recruitment and consultancy firm, working across Suffolk, Essex, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire since 2007. We place HR professionals in permanent, interim and fractional roles, and provide HR consultancy and training.

We're a remote-first team, supported by a network of freelance HR Associates. Our supply chain is small and mostly UK-based: software and cloud services, IT equipment, professional advisers, event venues and marketing suppliers.

We consider the risk of modern slavery in our own operations to be low. The area where we can have the most influence is how candidates are treated during recruitment and placement.

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Our role as recruiters

The signs of exploitation often appear at the point someone is recruited: fees charged for finding work, documents held by a third party, or someone else controlling contact and pay. Our recruitment practices are designed to guard against this.

How we treat candidates

• We never charge candidates a fee for finding them work.

• We speak to candidates directly, not through third parties, and are alert to signs that someone else is controlling their applications, communications or decisions.

• We give candidates clear, accurate information about every role, including pay, hours, location and the hiring organisation.

• We carry out right to work checks in line with Home Office guidance, and we never retain candidates' original identity documents.

• We only work with candidates who choose freely to apply, and they can withdraw at any stage.

Interim and fractional placements

• We make sure the terms of each assignment are agreed in writing and understood by the candidate before they start.

• We check how and when they'll be paid, and act promptly on any concern about late or missing pay.

• We keep in touch during assignments, giving candidates a direct route to raise any concerns about their treatment.

 

Associates, suppliers and clients

• Associates: our freelance HR Associates agree to work in line with this statement, and we expect them to report any concerns they come across in their work.

• Suppliers: we favour reputable, mostly UK-based suppliers and will ask about their approach to modern slavery when choosing or renewing them.

• Clients: if we have concerns about how a client treats the people we place, or about practices we see during consultancy work, we'll raise them. We won't continue to place candidates with a client where we believe they're at risk.

 

Training, reporting and review

Training: everyone in our team understands the signs of modern slavery and labour exploitation, and what to do if they spot them. We'll refresh this awareness each year.

Reporting concerns: anyone can raise a concern with us in confidence by contacting the Managing Director at enquiries@waddingtonbrown.co.uk. We'll take every concern seriously and, where appropriate, refer it to the police or the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline (08000 121 700). In an emergency, call 999.

Review: we'll review this statement every year and update it to reflect any changes in our business or practices. This statement applies to year ending 31st December 2026.