Modern Slavery Statement

University of Plymouth (and subsidiary companies) Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Annual Statement

This statement is made pursuant to Section 54 (1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes the University of Plymouth’s slavery and human trafficking statement for the financial year ending 31st July 2025.

Introduction

Modern slavery takes many forms including slavery, servitude, forced and compulsory labour, child exploitation and human trafficking, all of which have in common the deprivation of a person's liberty by another in order to exploit them for personal or commercial gain. 
The University of Plymouth (the “University”) remains committed to continually improving its practices to combat slavery and human trafficking, protecting and respecting human rights.

Structure

The University is renowned for high quality, internationally leading education, research and innovation. The University makes a positive difference to people’s lives and with a truly global outlook, the University is an inclusive and inspiring community.
The University is an independent Higher Education Corporation and an exempt charity under the terms of the Charities Act 2011, with the Office for Students (OfS) acting as the principal regulator.
The University's structure includes six subsidiary companies 1 (the ‘Group’). The Group includes; Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise CIC (PDSE), PDSE Limited (PDSEL), PMS (Facilities) Plymouth Limited, (PMSF), University Commercial Services Plymouth Limited (UCSP), University of Plymouth Enterprise Limited (UPEL) and University of Plymouth Services Limited (UPSL).

Policy on slavery and human trafficking

In pursuit of it’s Mission the University procures a truly diverse range of goods, services and works.
The University recognises that it is possible for instances of modern slavery to occur in any supply chain and is committed to acting ethically and with integrity; and will not tolerate modern slavery or human trafficking in its supply chains.
The University is able to evidence this commitment of acting ethically and with integrity through a number of its policies including (but not limited to):
Direct tendering activity by the University for the purchase of goods, services and works will, by default, use of the University’s standard Terms & Conditions , which contractually require suppliers to comply with all applicable laws in relation to antislavery and human trafficking including the Modern Slavery Act 2015; to establish due diligence procedures for their own suppliers, subcontractors and other participants in their supply chains; and to ensure that there is no slavery or human trafficking in their supply chains.
The University’s tendering processes ensure that there is consideration for modern slavery risks when procuring goods, services and works above the tendering thresholds in our procurement policy. In addition, the supplier on-boarding processes support the University’s anti-slavery and anti-human trafficking values, to ensure the potential for modern slavery and human trafficking are duly considered at the early stages of the contracting cycle.

Training

The University promotes resources and increases awareness to its staff through internal webpages. These include access to internal and external e-learning modules on the following topics:
  • Modern Slavery Awareness for Staff (internal)
  • Guide to Modern Slavery (external); and
  • Protecting Human Rights in the Supply Chain (external).
The University also promotes externally available resources to colleagues such as the .

Supply chains 

The University’s supply chains are truly diverse, with over 2,000 suppliers (domestic and international) supporting the delivery of high-quality teaching and research.
All suppliers are assigned a commodity code helping to identify those who trade in commodities where potential for Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking is considered a higher risk. This insight is used to inform the University’s sourcing activity.
The high-risk commodities areas have been identified by the University as:
  • Audio-Visual, IT & Multimedia Supplies;
  • Catering Supplies & Services;
  • Furniture, Furnishings & textiles;
  • Janitorial & Domestic Supplies & Services;
  • Professional & Bought-in Services including consultancy;
  • Travel & Transport (incl. Vehicle hire & Subsistence);
  • Estates & Buildings;
To inform sourcing decisions across these commodity areas, the University draws reference from market intelligence and insights. This information comes from a range of sources and partnerships for example UKUPC Market Insight Report and through membership with Electronics Watch2.

What the University has done in 2024/25

This statement relates to the University’s financial year from 1 August 2024 to 31 July 2025.
In October 2024, the University raised awareness of the issues surrounding modern slavery and human trafficking with colleagues throughout Anti-Slavery Week 2024, culminating on Anti-Slavery day on the 18th October 2024. Internal communication channels were used including the weekly staff bulletin, to increase awareness and visibility along with a refresh of a dedicated internal website.
The University’s Modern Slavery Statement Working Group has convened, bringing together colleagues from Legal, Procurement, Finance, TIS, HR, Estates, and Risk with agreed terms of reference for the Group.
The Working Group has progressed activity modelled against the British Standard BS 25700 framework. Activity during the period has resulted seen the completion of some initiatives.
Activity in year includes:
  • Training – Championing the uptake by staff of the University’s new internal Modern Slavery eLearning module. Created to improve awareness of modern slavery and human trafficking, as at the 31st of July 2025, 76 members of staff had completed the module. In addition, reporting from this has also helped to identify areas to target where uptake is not well evidenced.
  • Recording & Reporting – Enhancements to the University’s hate, harm and abuse reporting platform Speak Up , are now live and enable staff, students and contractors to report any modern slavery concerns at a local level.
  • Supplier Due Diligence – Activity in support of the British Standard BS 25700 work, has seen a step change being scoped out, to enhance and make more reportable: the University’s Supplier onboarding process with reference to Modern Slavery questioning.
In 2025, the University’s Procurement team was reaccredited with the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) Corporate Ethics Mark. This makes clear, there is a commitment to responsible sourcing and evidences honing of procurement skills and knowledge in support of ethical supply chains practices.
The University continues to recognise those supply chains that represent a risk of modern slavery, human trafficking, forced and bonded labour, and labour rights violations. In this reporting period, the University has not found evidence of labour rights exploitation in any supply chain to the University.
The University’s position should it identify instances of, or be alerted to the risk of modern slavery in its supply chain, then relevant action will be taken, which may include undertaking an investigation, liaising with the supplier and/or informing the police. In such instances and pending an internal review, if the University is unable to secure a positive response to the concerns this may result in the University exercising its right to terminate the relevant contract.

What the University is going to do in the future

The challenge of modern slavery and human trafficking is one that is best addressed through the ongoing and proactive engagement with suppliers, members of the UK Universities Purchasing Consortia (UKUPC) and wider professional networks such as HEPA (Higher Education Procurement Association), through which sharing of experience will establish and maintain best practice.
During the Financial year ending 31st July 2026, the University intends to:
  • Use the Modern Slavery Statement Working Group to drive an increase in staff awareness, by using data and insights from the University’s internal eLearning solution to influence areas of low up take.
  • Maintain the journey of improving internal awareness of modern slavery risks by supporting and promoting the annual event of Anti-Slavery Week.
  • Go-live with enhancements to the supplier onboarding process. For the first time, this should enable reporting against due diligence questions on Modern Slavery. Initially this will be used on newly onboarded suppliers but at a future date, attention will be turned to pre-existing suppliers.

Annual statements

1 University Subsidiaries are detailed on Page 40 of the Financial Statements Year Ended 31 July 2025
2 Electronics Watch: