This statement is produced on behalf of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) Group.
We are committed to respecting and supporting human rights throughout our operations. We firmly adhere to the principles of this document as reflected in the conduct of our business dealings and relationships with our business partners. We are committed to taking steps to ensure that slavery and human trafficking does not occur within our business or partners in accordance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
Group Structure
The RSC is a theatre in the performing arts sector and the RSC Group includes the Royal Shakespeare Company (a Royal Charter charity registered with the Charity Commission in England and Wales), RSC Enterprise Limited, RSC Estates Limited, RSC Pre-Productions Limited, RSC Matilda US Limited, RSC Productions Limited, RSC Matilda Australasia Limited and RSC Touring Limited.
We are a National Portfolio Organisation and are supported by Arts Council England.
Our Policies on Slavery and Human Trafficking
We have appropriate policies in place that underpin our commitment to take steps to ensure that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in our supply chains or in any part of our business. We regularly review and update all our policies and, in 2024, we are undertaking a review of our Fraud, Bribery and Corruption Prevention Policy to ensure that it remains appropriate and fit for purpose.
Our Fraud, Bribery and Corruption Prevention Policy reflects our commitment to acting transparently, respectfully, ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships. We do not tolerate slavery or human trafficking in any part of our business and are committed to taking steps to ensure that it does not take place in our supply chains.
Other policies which support the prevention of slavery and human trafficking include our Respect Values of value, listen, consider and support, our Speaking Up Policy, Safeguarding Children Policy and Safeguarding Adults at Risk Policy, Recruitment and Selection Policy, Equal Opportunities Policy and Health and Safety Policy.
Risk Assessment and Due Diligence Processes for Slavery and Human Trafficking
To mitigate any risk of slavery and human trafficking occurring, we have systems in place to identify and assess any potential risks and we then apply enhanced checks where higher-risk areas are identified.
Our Staff
We employ staff to work in the UK and engage with freelance personnel, both in the UK and overseas, particularly in our artistic, creative, digital, and creative learning and engagement teams.
Our policies and practices include the following measures to address any risks of modern slavery or human trafficking:
- We check the eligibility of all staff to work in the UK;
- We pay a minimum of Real Living Wage rates to all staff and where appropriate also seek to enforce this through long term supplier contracts;
- We have recognition agreements with relevant trade unions;
- We have key policies in place which all staff are required to comply with and which are all made known to staff and are available on our intranet; and
- Through our Speaking Up Policy and our ‘Vault’ Speaking Up Platform, we enable all staff to report any concerns of inappropriate behaviour, including bribery, conflicts of interest, fraud or financial malpractice, and safeguarding concerns.
Our Supply Chain
We monitor suppliers, ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to mitigate any risks of modern slavery and human trafficking depending on the nature of the supplier, the contract and the nature of the goods or services supplied.
We then undertake additional due diligence before engaging with any new supplier.
We also apply a higher risk factor to contracts involving suppliers from identified countries or industries where there is a known increased risk of modern slavery.
Measures taken to address risks of modern slavery and human trafficking in our supply chain include, in each case as appropriate:
- Review of the supplier’s own published policies on modern slavery to ensure that they have appropriate measures in place in relation to their own business and supply chains and commit to complying with all relevant legislation and codes of practice;
- Inclusion of appropriate contractual obligations including compliance with our Fraud, Bribery and Corruption Prevention Policy; and
- Declarations from suppliers of compliance with all required working practices.
Looking Forward
We confirm our commitment to prohibiting modern slavery and human trafficking in our supply chains and in any part of our businesses.
We will continue to identify and assess potential risk areas in our supply chains, in particular for those suppliers in countries and industries with a higher prevalence of modern slavery.
We will continue to undertake appropriate due diligence on both current and future suppliers, ensuring that appropriate controls are in place to address the risk of modern slavery in any of those relationships.
We will monitor our staff arrangements, including training, to ensure that they remain fit for purpose and appropriate.
We will promote awareness with staff of modern slavery risks and due diligence processes.
Declaration
This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes the RSC group’s Modern Slavery Act statement for the financial year ending 31 March 2024.
The statement was approved by the Board of Trustees on 10 September 2024.
Shriti Vadera
Chair of the Board of Trustees
Andrew Leveson
Executive Director
