This statement sets out the steps taken by Liquid Lime Ltd, which organises the Tees Valley EDI Awards, to make sure that slavery and human trafficking play no part in our business or our supply chain.
About this statement
Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 requires a formal statement from commercial organisations with a turnover of £36 million or more. Liquid Lime Ltd is below that threshold, so we are not required to publish one. We publish this voluntarily. An organisation whose entire purpose is to advance equality, diversity and inclusion should be able to say plainly where it stands on forced labour, and be held to it.
Our organisation
Liquid Lime Ltd is a small company based in Middlesbrough. We organise the Tees Valley EDI Awards, an annual awards evening that has recognised people and organisations across the Tees Valley since 2010. Our work is delivered by a small team supported by volunteers, judges and sponsors.
Our supply chain
Our supply chain is short and largely local. It consists mainly of an event venue and its catering and hospitality staff, audio-visual and production suppliers, printers producing the awards magazine and signage, photographers and videographers, trophy and merchandise suppliers, and digital services such as website hosting and email.
We consider the areas of highest risk to be hospitality and catering staffing, cleaning services, and the manufacture of printed goods and trophies, where labour may be subcontracted or sourced overseas.
Our policies
We do not tolerate slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour, or human trafficking in any part of our operations or supply chain. We expect the same of everyone we work with. Everyone engaged by us, whether employed, self-employed or volunteering, is paid at or above the National Living Wage where a wage is payable, and is free to leave their engagement with reasonable notice. We do not hold identity documents, and we do not charge anyone a fee for work.
Due diligence
Because we are small, our approach is proportionate rather than bureaucratic. We contract with established suppliers, most of whom we have worked with over several years. When engaging a new supplier in a higher-risk category we ask about their labour practices and, where they are large enough to publish one, we read their own modern slavery statement. We pay our suppliers on the agreed terms, because late payment pushes pressure down the chain onto the people least able to absorb it.
Training and awareness
Our team is briefed on the signs of labour exploitation in event and hospitality settings, and on how to raise a concern. Anyone working at or with the awards who suspects that someone is being exploited should contact us immediately at info@ediawards.co.uk or on 01642 683 055. Concerns can be raised in confidence and will be taken seriously. Where there is an immediate risk to someone, contact the police on 999, or the Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121 700.
Reporting a concern
If you believe someone connected with our event or our suppliers is being exploited, tell us. You do not need to be certain, and you will not be penalised for raising a concern that turns out to be unfounded.
Review
We review this statement each year ahead of the awards, and update it if our suppliers or our practices change. The date at the top of this page shows when it was last reviewed.
