Modern slavery statement

Introduction

This statement covers the activities of FCDO Services and sets out the actions taken to understand and mitigate all modern slavery risks to the business and supply chains. This statement relates to actions and activities during the financial year 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.

As part of central government, FCDO Services recognise that it has a responsibility to take a robust approach to modern slavery. It is committed to preventing modern slavery in its corporate activities, and to ensure supply chains are free from modern slavery.

Organisational structure and supply chains

FCDO Services is a Trading Fund of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). FCDO Services provide a range of integrated, secure services worldwide to the FCDO and other UK government departments, supporting the delivery of government agendas. FCDO Services also provide services to foreign governments and international organisations closely linked to the UK.

Operating worldwide, FCDO Services’ security cleared people design and deliver secure services that meet the demands of its customers in more than 250 diplomatic offices, across 160 countries. These services include protective security, estates and construction, cloud computing, communications and monitoring, logistics, and translation and interpreting. FCDO Services is also home to the UK National Authority for Counter Eavesdropping (UK NACE).

Further details can be found here FCDO Services

FCDO Services predominately use UK based suppliers but also use local organisations where appropriate. Whenever possible FCDO Services utilise contracts and framework agreements set up by Government Commercial Agency (GCA), part of the Cabinet Office.

Relevant policies

FCDO Services operate the following policies that assist in its approach to identify modern slavery risks:

• Ethical Code – This ensures FCDO Services’ people, permanent or contracted, understand and abide by the corporate ethical standards. They must carry out their duties ethically, with integrity and in strict accordance with the code. The Ethical Code covers:
  • Code of Conduct
  • Gifts, Hospitality and Conflicts of Interest
  • Working with colleagues
  • Handling information
• Procurement Code of Ethics, Conduct and Professionalism – The core values applied in a procurement contex It is a mandatory requirement for all individuals involved in any element of the procurement and engagement with the supply chain and includes eradication of unethical practices.
• Dignity at Work Policy – Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and tolerance at work. The Dignity at Work Policy explains how FCDO Services ensure its people receive fair treatment and respect, no matter their background, ensuring they fulfil their potential and avoid discrimination in the workplace
• Use of Agency Workers – FCDO Services use only specified, reputable employment agencies to source contract labour using a GCA framework agreement where the practices of any new agency have already been verified

Risk assessment

FCDO Services appreciate that there is a risk of modern slavery in all parts of its global business and supply chain and takes these steps to assess and manage that risk:

• mapping the supply chain broadly to assess product or geographical risks of modern slavery.
• evaluating the modern slavery and human trafficking risks of each new supplier.
• providing guidance and training to staff on modern slavery and human trafficking and how to recognise it within our organisation and across our supply chains.
• ensuring all suppliers with an annual turnover of £36m or more publish a modern slavery statement and follow through with their promises.

Staff and training

Raising a Concern – FCDO Services is committed to ensuring high standards of conduct in all that it does. For civil servants, these standards are reinforced by the Civil Service Code  and in Diplomatic Service Regulations (DSR) and Home Service Regulations (HSR). The Raising a Concern and Whistleblowing Policy is designed to make it easy for workers to make disclosures, without fear of retaliation.

In 2016 FCDO Services became the first central government organisation to be awarded the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) Corporate Ethics Mark. To retain this mark, procurement staff undertake annual training in ethical procurement and supply, including combating modern slavery and other human rights abuses. They then complete an examination, requiring a pass mark exceeding 80%.

In addition, the Procurement team undertook relevant training to understand the legal obligation under the Procurement Act 2023.

Goals and key performance indicators (KPIs)

To continue the commitment to eradicating modern slavery in its supply chains, FCDO Services, have completed and will undertake:

• wherever possible, use contracted suppliers who have been through robust due diligence, including modern slavery. This ensures the use of suppliers that comply with the requirements of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
• ensure compliance with PPN009 ‘Tackling Modern Slavery in Government Supply Chain’ guidance to ensure good practice, identifying risks in supply chains and taking appropriate action.
• undertook the Government Commercial Function Commercial Capability Assessment in 25/26 to evaluate current practices against government commercial standards.
• regularly review terms and conditions to ensure that they are relevant and in line with current legislation.
• assessed 59 suppliers in 25/26 to ascertain the risk of modern slavery and acted where necessary.
• continue to request, where appropriate, that new suppliers sign and return the Ethics Policy Statement to ensure that they declare that their working practices meet the minimum standards.
• continue to ensure that the statement is based upon the Ethical Trade Initiative (ETI) Base Code which is founded on the conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and is an internationally recognised code of labour practice.
• continue to utilise independent data which reports on supplier’s ethical practices. The result of these reports provides support in determining if FCDO Services would engage with or continue trading with suppliers who do not meet the core principles as set out in the Ethics Policy Statement.
• where appropriate, work with colleagues across the UK government to identify and eradicate modern slavery in the supply chain
• continue to identify improvements in processes to eliminate modern slavery in the organisation and supply chains.

Board approval

This statement has been approved by FCDO Services’ Executive Committee, a sub-committee of the FCDO Services Board, and it will be reviewed and updated annually.