Source: www.glos.ac.uk. All Rights Reserved. 2026 University of Gloucestershire
The University Executive Committee is responsible for all matters associated with the development and management of the university.
1.1 The University of Gloucestershire is a higher education establishment that employs
approximately 1,200 staff members, teaches in the region of 10,000 students and
purchases approximately £24m per annum of goods, services and works through various
supply chain arrangements. The University is registered as a company, no: 06023243.
1.2 The University is committed to employing staff, engaging with and supporting our students,
acquiring goods, services and works for its requirements, and otherwise conducting its
business without causing harm to others. In so doing, we are committed to supporting the
UK Government’s goal of ending forced labour, modern slavery, and human trafficking by
2030, as outlined in the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner’s Strategic Plan.
1.3 The University have a zero-tolerance policy in relation to modern slavery and human
trafficking and is committed to continuing to work with the multi-agency Gloucestershire
Anti-Slavery Partnership, as it has for a number of years, to keep addressing areas of
higher risk and concern.
2.1 This Statement is designed to satisfy the requirements of Part 6 of the Modern Slavery Act
2015, by informing our Members, students, staff, and other stakeholders about the
University and its policy with respect to modern slavery, human trafficking, forced and
bonded labour and labour rights violations in its supply chains.
Direct employment of staff
3.1 The University and its subsidiaries mitigate the risk of the occurrence of modern slavery in
its teams of directly employed staff through strict adherence to its robust HR recruitment
and candidate selection policies. Additionally, the University has a whistle blowing policy
through which staff can raise concerns.
Employment of staff through recruitment agencies and other sources
3.2 Temporary staff and other staff recruited indirectly by the University are only recruited
through established and accredited sources who can provide assurance that they fully
comply with the requirements of all legislation relating to the rights and welfare of their
candidates and employees.
Students
3.3 Although the risks of students experiencing occurrences of modern slavery or human
trafficking through direct contact with the University are extremely low, it is appreciated that
whilst living within Cheltenham and Gloucester and the surrounding area, they may become
aware of such instances or on very rare occasions be entrapped into adopting the lifestyle
of a modern slave. To mitigate these circumstances, the University has easily accessible
and well-known channels through which students can report any concerns, as well as being
able to obtain assistance, support and advice on their wellbeing.
3.4 Student support staff within the Student Experience Directorate, as well as key staff
members within the University’s Students’ Union, receive training briefings on the issues
related to modern slavery, and how students can be supported should they present with
related concerns.
Supply chain
3.5 The University’s supply chain has been identified as the area of highest risk in terms of
possible occurrences of modern slavery. To mitigate this the following action has been
taken:
3.6 The University’s Commercial and Procurement function is supported by a published and
implemented Sustainability Strategy: Sustainability strategy 2022 to 2027 and
Commercial and Procurement Strategy: Commercial and Procurement Strategy 2026 to
2030, to which we are fully committed. These strategies contain steps within the supplier
selection process to ensure that slavery and human trafficking are not taking place in the
supply chain.
3.7 The University is a member of the Southern Universities Procurement Consortium (SUPC),
which works with the other UK higher education procurement consortia to deliver and
manage large joint purchasing, developmental and improvement projects for collaborative
procurement within the sector. Together, the purchasing consortia have published a shared
Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement which can be found here: Our Commitment –
SUPC to which all member consortia are committed. This policy contains steps that form
part of the supplier selection for the major contract procurement processes that are
conducted for the consortium members and supports ensuring that slavery and human
trafficking are not taking place in the supply chain.
3.8 The following procurement categories have been identified as higher risk in terms of finding modern slavery and human trafficking occurrences in the supply chain:
3.9 When procuring goods, works and services in the higher risk categories the University
ensures that suppliers are required to prove a high level of corporate social responsibility
during the tendering and selection process and are subject to the University’s Ethical
Review process.
4.1 The University of Gloucestershire continues to commit to better understanding its supply
chains and working towards greater transparency and responsibility towards people
working within them.
4.2 The supply chains which represent a high risk of modern slavery, human trafficking, forced
and bonded labour, and labour rights violations are continually monitored and we will take
appropriate action if necessary.
4.3 The University is aware of modern slavery and human trafficking considerations within
specific procurement categories and incorporates these into supplier selection
processes during procurement and as part of ongoing contract management.
4.4 Our suppliers in the higher risk areas are encouraged to commit to the Base Code of the
Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI). The ETI Base Code is founded on the conventions of the
International Labour Organisation (ILO) and is an internationally recognised code of labour
practice, requiring that:
4.5 The University is a member of The Gloucestershire Anti-Slavery Partnership (GASP) and
university staff can access online training aimed at raising awareness of the risks of
modern slavery in the local community via the ASP website.
4.6 The University complies with Home Office registration and publication of modern slavery
statements and our previous statements can be viewed here.
4.7 The University’s Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Guidance is published on the
University’s website and internal Staffnet and guides readers to a number of key sources
of information relating to modern slavery and human trafficking. This will be further
developed in 2026/27 through work with GASP.
4.8 This Statement has been approved and published by the University Council and will be
reviewed at least once annually.
Nicola de longh
Chair of Council