Modern Slavery Statement

The following anti-slavery statement is made regarding Jewellery Quarter Bullion Ltd (Company Number: 06758398) which trades as The Jewellers. It has been approved for publication by the Board of Directors of Jewellery Quarter Bullion Ltd as of 10/05/2021.

The statement is published following the conclusion of the financial year 2020/21 in line with Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, which requires organisations above a specified turnover to declare what steps are taken on an annual basis to avoid enabling modern slavery – either within their business or within their supply chain.

What is Modern Slavery?

The UK Government defines modern slavery as “…a crime resulting in an abhorrent abuse of human rights. It is constituted in the Modern Slavery Act 2015 by the offences of ‘slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour’ and ‘human trafficking’.”

Speaking at the time of the law being passed, former Home Secretary Amber Rudd said: “It is simply not acceptable that anyone should be profiting, however indirectly, from this appalling abuse and exploitation.”

The purpose of the Modern Slavery Act is to tackle the issue of big business exploiting workers – often in poorer regions – in order to maximise profits.

How we challenge Modern Slavery

The Jewellers has an ongoing zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery and is committed to acting ethically and with integrity and transparency in all of its business dealings and relationships. The company continues to implement and enforce effective systems and controls to ensure that modern slavery and human trafficking are not taking place anywhere within its business, consistent with its obligations under the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Suppliers

The Jewellers expects the same high standards from its suppliers, contractors and other business partners and expects that its suppliers will in turn hold their own suppliers to the same standards.

All suppliers are required to operate in an ethical and responsible manner, respecting all applicable laws and such laws relating to the Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking. They are required to treat their employees fairly throughout the supply chain; offering good working conditions and reasonable rates of pay.

The Jewellers will only purchase from reputable suppliers who can guarantee the materials are ethically sourced. We will always try to work with suppliers who are members of the Responsible Jewellery Council and our diamond suppliers are required to state the diamonds are conflict free and that they abide by the Kimberly Process before we proceed in any business.

National Association of Jewellers

As a member of the National Association of Jewellers (NAJ), the trade body governing the jewellery industry, we meet the highest standards of professionalism, honesty and ethical business practices.

Founded in 2015, the NAJ was formed through the unification of the British Jewellers’ Association (BJA) and the National Association of Goldsmiths (NAG), to lead, serve and represent the jewellery industry. It provides a unified voice for the industry and creates increased confidence in customers when purchasing jewellery.

For more information on the National Association of Jewellers, visit https://www.naj.co.uk/

Ethics in the Workplace

It is not just ethics in our supply chain that matter to us. Jewellery Quarter Bullion has a code of conduct set out in every employee’s contract. This covers the expected behaviours as an employee, but also explains worker rights and human rights, as well as JQB’s commitment to be an equal opportunity employer and to crack down on any form of discrimination in the workplace. Employees can report concerns or complaints to the appropriate line manager or, if necessary, report directly and confidentially to our HR team.

Collaboration

As with many corporations, we realise that our greatest exposure to modern slavery implications isn't within our own company but rather within our supply chains. We believe only if corporations and business communities work together can we effectively combat modern slavery and associated risks. If you are interested in collaborating with us or have any queries about our approach please contact us at [email protected].