Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement

From the TÜV SÜD UK Board of Management

“The TÜV SÜD UK Group understands the fundamental importance of ethical business and supply chain operations. We continue to monitor, review and take reasonable steps to ensure that slavery and human trafficking do not prevail in any aspect of our trading. We acknowledge our continued responsibilities under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and, accordingly, have produced this Statement with respect to the prevention of modern slavery for the financial year ending 31 December 2019.”

TÜV SÜD Group Structure and Business

In the UK, TÜV SÜD provides testing, certification, consultancy and training services to both UK and international markets, operating under four UK legal entities; TUV SUD (UK) Limited, TUV SUD Ltd, TUV SUD BABT Unlimited and TUV SUD Services (UK) Ltd. We employ around 600 employees across the UK and beyond, generating annual turnover of almost £57m across a wide range of industries covering Aerospace, Defence, Medical, Nuclear, Oil & Gas, Real Estate and Telecommunications. The UK entities are wholly-owned subsidiaries of parent organisation TÜV SÜD AG, which is headquartered in Munich.

Supply Chains

As a service provider, our supply chains are primarily related to the procurement of support services and materials to deliver our specialist technical services. We expect our suppliers to adhere to our standard procurement terms and conditions which ensure that our supply chains are contractually obligated to comply with the Modern Slavery Act 2015. We continue to engage with our suppliers regularly to collaboratively ensure compliance.

Group Policies

TÜV SÜD’s Code of Ethics describes the values and principles which employees and suppliers are expected to uphold. All employees receive training on the Code of Ethics and a refresher programme was implemented in 2018. This is complemented by a robust Compliance organisational structure with representation at Local, Regional and Global level, culminating in an independent Ombudsman to whom ethics breaches may be reported. These ethics are addressed in greater detail through specific local HR policies. For example, our commitment to the prevention and eradication of Modern Slavery is manifest in our Public Interest Disclosures Policy statement.

Our recruitment practices ensure, through comprehensive identity checks, that individuals are free to work in the UK. All workers benefit from working conditions and terms and conditions of employment that meet or exceed all applicable UK, EU and other legislation on areas including working hours, holiday, pay and equality. All offers of work made by TUV SUD (UK) Limited are accepted on an entirely voluntary basis.

Due Diligence

Since publishing its first Statement, the Company has made progress in standardising vendor questionnaires and ensuring these are fit for purpose in meeting its obligations under the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Employee Awareness

UK Senior Management is fully conversant with the Company’s obligations arising under, and the measures taken to comply with, the Modern Slavery Act. All employees are briefed on their individual and collective responsibilities under the Act with this forming part of the induction programme for all new hires.

Chris Guy
CEO TUV SUD (UK) Limited
January 2020