Modern Slavery Policy

Introduction

ABGI UK recognises that all businesses have an obligation to prevent slavery and human trafficking and will do all in its power to prevent it within its business and within the supply chains through which it operates.

This statement focuses specifically on ABGI UK's compliance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and highlights the steps we take to ensure there is no slavery or human trafficking occurring within the organisation or its supply chains. One of our company's most valuable assets has always been it reputation for integrity and fairness. Maintaining this reputation within our market is an essential pre-requisite to our continued success.

Organisation's Structure

ABGI UK Ltd, is a subsidiary of the French listed business Visiativ, is a leading professional services firm focused on innovation funding. Visiativ employs over 1,000 people through a subsidiary network in 12 territories.

Our Business

Our business provides expert consultancy across the following specialisms:

• R&D Tax Credits
• Enquiry Defence
• Patent Box
• Grant Funding
• Innovation Strategy
• R&D Cash Advances
• Risk Assurance
• Video Games Tax Relief
• Capital Allowances
• Enabling Technologies

Our Supply Chains

Our supply chains include, but are not limited to, software for managing clients. We expect our suppliers and potential suppliers to aim for high ethical standards and to operate in an ethical, legal compliant and professional manner by adhering to our Supplier Code of Conduct. We also expect our suppliers to promote similar standards in their own supply chain.

Our policies including Slavery and Human Trafficking

Suppliers are expected to adhere to the Modern Slavery Act 2015, and should have in place a policy recognising, respecting and protecting the human rights of their employees, those of their suppliers and business partners and the communities affected by the suppliers' operations.

Employees should be free to choose to work for their employer and to leave the company upon reasonable notice. All employees must be provided with a clear contract of employment, which complies with local legislation. All employees must be treated in a fair and equal manner and with dignity and respect.

Any form of discrimination, victimisation or harassment on the grounds of marital or civil partnership status, sex (including gender reassignment), race (including colour, ethnic and national origin, nationality), disability, sexual orientation, having or not having dependents, religious beliefs or political opinion, age, trade union activity and offending background should be prohibited.

All applicable laws and industry standards one employee wages, benefits, working hours and minimum age should be adhered to in all countries of operation, without any unauthorised deductions. Suppliers should observe the provision of the International Labour Organisation such that any young person under the age of 18 should not be employed to work at night or for any hazardous work and their employment should not harm the young person's education, health or physical, mental, moral or social development. No young persons may be employed below the age of 16.

All slavery and human trafficking laws must be complied with including, but not limited to, the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015. Suppliers must ensure their business operations are free from slavery and human trafficking practices whether in the UK or elsewhere, both internally and within their supply chains and other external business relationships. We are committed to ensuring that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in our supply chains or in any part of our business.

Due diligence process for Slavery and Human Trafficking

As part of our commitment to identify and eradicate slavery and human trafficking, we have in place to process to undertake due diligence on our supply chain network to ensure compliance with legislative obligations; such as compliance forms part of our contractual relationship with suppliers.

All ABGI employees have access to dedicated channels through which they may voice concerns, either through local reporting mechanisms or through the global whistleblowing procedure. ABGI is committed to protecting employees when disclosing malpractice and will ensure that all disclosures made in good faith will be treated confidentially and without fear of retaliation.

Training

All staff are expected to comply with all laws and act in accordance with local guidelines and regulations and act with integrity and honesty. We have undertaken to review our policies and procedures to ensure our colleagues have access to any additional information and support they may require with regard to human trafficking, forced labour, servitude and slavery.

Guidance on modern slavery and human trafficking is also available to all employees on the ABGI Academy. This e-learning module is mandatory and forms part of a training package undertaken by new employees

This statement is made pursuant to section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes ABGI-UK Ltd's modern slavery and human trafficking statement for the financial year 1 Jan 2019 to 31 December 2019