Modern Slavery Statement

This Financial Year 2023/2024 statement sets out DPDgroup UK's actions and commitments

Introduction and Organisation Structure

This statement sets out DPDgroup UK's actions and commitments to understand all potential modern slavery risks related to its business and to put in place steps to ensure that there is no slavery or human trafficking in its business or supply chains.

DPDgroup UK recognises that it has a responsibility to take a robust approach to slavery and human trafficking and it is absolutely committed to preventing slavery and human trafficking in its corporate activities, and to ensuring that its supply chains are free from slavery and human trafficking.

DPDgroup UK is an international parcel delivery service which is wholly owned by the international delivery network operated by the French state-owned postal service, La Poste.

Our Values and Code of Business Conduct & Ethics

DPDgroup UK is committed to acting with integrity in all of its business dealings. Our Code of Conduct outlines the standards and behaviours that DPDgroup UK upholds as a company, and that we expect wherever we conduct business, to ensure that the highest standards of honesty and integrity are maintained. DPDgroup UK also encourages employees to speak up by reporting any modern slavery concerns they have via the independent Whistleblowing alert line.

DPDgroup UK has company wide policies that support its values and expectations. The following are relevant to Modern Slavery:

Anti-Slavery & Human Trafficking Policy
Whistleblowing Policy
Code of Conduct
Sustainable Procurement Charter

Employees

All new DPDgroup UK employees are subject to full pre-employment checks to confirm their identity and right to work in the UK. All employees are paid above the National Living Wage and are provided with all statutory rights and benefits in line with our legal obligations.

The Chief Compliance Officer has overall responsibility for the organisation's anti-slavery policies and initiatives. Communication of our Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy outlines the responsibilities of all employees to comply with the Act and encourages all employees to report any concerns or suspicions of modern slavery in any parts of the DPD business or supply chains.

Training

Mandatory face-to-face and e-learning training sessions on modern slavery are being delivered to our high risk functions by the Ethics and Compliance department. This training session covers the current legislation on Modern Slavery in the UK, any upcoming changes to the law, the impact on the business and the steps we need to take to monitor any risks in our supply chains.

Training on modern slavery is also available to all employees via an online training module. The modern slavery training covers:

What modern slavery is;
Who can become a victim of it;
The effects of technology; and
How everyone can help

Supply Chains

DPDgroup UK provides services internationally and domestically. The organisation has a large global supply chain with many arrangements in place with our suppliers across different countries.

Risk Management

DPDgroup UK aims to purchase goods and services which are produced and delivered in circumstances which do not involve exploitation or abuse of any persons or the environment. We expect our suppliers to support and demonstrate our values and this includes standards across a broad spectrum of working conditions including fair pay, working hours, no child labour, non-discrimination and satisfactory health, safety and wellbeing.

The organisation's Sustainable Procurement Charter forms part of the evaluation and selection criteria for all goods and services purchased by DPDgroup UK. Suppliers must commit to all areas of this policy and any serious breach of the policy may result in the termination of any business relationship. Where possible DPDgroup UK expect's all suppliers to have suitable anti-slavery and human trafficking policies within their businesses and to communicate those policies to their suppliers.

Due diligence

DPDgroup UK undertakes due diligence when considering taking on new suppliers, and regularly reviews its existing suppliers. The risk of slavery and human trafficking within our organisation is significantly mitigated as a result of its cultural values and commitment to ethical behaviour supported by its policies and procedures.

The DPDgroup UK purchasing teams have been made aware of the requirements under the Act.

DPDgroup UK carry out risk assessments on our top suppliers by sending out a Modern Slavery questionnaire which asks them about their policies and procedures in respect of modern slavery within their businesses and supply chains.

Next Steps

DPDgroup UK will take the following steps:

Continue to only use suppliers that comply with the Modern Slavery Act.
Continue to provide mandatory face-to-face and e-learning training to our high risk functions and identify any other functions which may require this training going forwards.
Increase the number of suppliers who receive the Modern Slavery questionnaire for our risk assessment each year.
Spread awareness of Modern Slavery to the business by sending Communications out and displaying posters at all of our locations.

Board approval

This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes our Group's slavery and human trafficking statement for the financial year ending 1 January 2024.

This statement has been approved by the organisation's board of directors and is signed on behalf of the Board by:

Justin Pegg
COO
DPD UK

30.05.2024