Laker 
Anti-Slavery Policy
This statement is made pursuant to s.54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, and sets out the steps that Laker Builders Merchant has executed and completed, to ensure that modern slavery or human trafficking is not taking place within our business or supply chain.
| Our BusinessLaker Builders Merchant is a proud independent Timber Supplier and Builders Merchant, operating with family values and a strong customer service ethic. We serve Builders and DIY customers across the south east, serving and delivering across Sussex, Surrey, Kent, Hants and South London. Laker procure a wide range of products and services from approximately 280 suppliers. Being a proud member of the h&b buying group, the majority of all our purchases are therefore made through approved h&b suppliers. |
Our Policies
We operate a number of internal policies and practises to ensure that we are conducting business in an ethical and transparent manner. These include:
Anti-Slavery
Our organisational stance on modern slavery is that this encompasses slavery, servitude, human trafficking and forced labour. Laker Builders Merchant has a zero tolerance approach to any form of modern slavery. We are committed to acting ethically, and with integrity and transparency in all business dealings, and to putting effective systems and controls in place to safeguard against any form of modern slavery taking place.
Recruitment Policy - We operate a robust recruitment policy, including conducting eligibility to work in the UK checks for all employees, to safeguard against human trafficking, or individuals being forced to work against their will.
Whistleblowing Policy - We operate a whistleblowing policy so that all employees have confidence that they can raise concerns about how colleagues are being treated, or practices within our business or supply chain, without fear of reprisal.
Our Suppliers
Laker Builders Merchant operates a strict supplier policy and maintains a preferred supplier list. While we conduct due diligence on all suppliers before allowing them to become a preferred supplier, we now heavily look into all supplier environmental policies too. This due diligence ensures our chosen suppliers are subject to our Scope 3 environmental policy and each supplier therefore must now individually be doing enough to satisfy us there is a serious commitment to sustainability, both to reduce their own carbon footprint, including the supply chain and to protecting the environment. Furthermore all suppliers must satisfy Laker Builders Merchant that they or any associated organisations have never been convicted of offences relating to modern slavery. As a member of the h&b buying group, the majority of all purchases are made through approved h&b suppliers. h&b have their own Supplier Code of Conduct which involves carrying out a due diligence program with the aim of ensuring all approved suppliers operating in compliance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
Training
We conduct training for our procurement/buying teams to ensure that they understand the signs of modern slavery, and what to do if they suspect that it is taking place within our supply chain.
