The Modern Slavery UK Benchmark series, initiated in 2023, assesses the effectiveness of UK-listed companies in tackling modern slavery across their operations and supply chains. The purpose of the benchmark is to provide an objective framework for evaluating corporate performance, based on statutory requirements like the UK Modern Slavery Act, alongside government guidance and international standards related to business and human rights.

The methodology involves analysing public disclosures, including modern slavery statements, annual reports, and ESG data, to assess how companies ‘Find’, ‘Fix’, and ‘Prevent’ modern slavery. Companies are evaluated on compliance with legal frameworks, risk management, supply chain transparency, and their efforts to mitigate and remediate cases of modern slavery.

Finance professionals can use this benchmark to compare company practices, assess risk exposure, and engage with businesses on modern slavery issues. It provides a structured approach to inform investment decisions and strengthen corporate accountability, helping to drive improvements in human rights practices within businesses.