Modern Slavery Act Statement for the Financial Year Ending 31 March 2025
Introduction
Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (“the Act”) requires organisations with an annual turnover above £36 million to publish an annual slavery and human trafficking statement. UKNNL’s annual turnover exceeds this threshold.
This statement outlines the actions taken by UKNNL during the financial year ending 31 March 2025to ensure slavery and human trafficking is not taking place in any of UKNNL’s business or supply chains. It also considers what further steps UKNNL can put in place to continually improve.
UKNNL is committed to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking. UKNNL will not tolerate the abuse of anyone and strives for total transparency right through its own business and supply chains.
Accountability for compliance with the Act has been delegated to UKNNL’s Chief Financial Officer, with the Procurement team undertaking day to day management.
UKNNL’s background
UKNNL is a wholly owned subsidiary of NNL Holdings Limited, which in turn is owned by the UK Government through UK Government Investments. UKNNL’s sponsoring department in Government is the Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero. UKNNL is the only trading company within the group which meets the requirements of Section 54(1) of the Act.
As the UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory, UKNNL offers a breadth of technical advice, solutions, products and services supporting the complete nuclear fuel cycle, from fuel manufacture and power generation to reprocessing, waste treatment and disposal. UKNNL operates from seven sites in Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and London, with active work focused on sites in the North West of England, and it is the second biggest industrial employer in West Cumbria.
UKNNL plays a central role in the co-ordination of UK nuclear research and development and maintains close links with academia and industry. UKNNL supports Government in safeguarding the UK’s nuclear skills and capabilities and provide advice on key strategic decisions.
UKNNL’s Supply Chain
UKNNL will not engage in business with any supplier or individual known to engage in practices which are in breach of the Act and takes a zero-tolerance view to any suppliers who are found in breach of the Act after contract award.
UKNNL carries out due diligence during the tender supplier selection process, including use of the Government’s Standard Selection Questionnaire, which requires suppliers to declare their compliance with the Act. UKNNL uses data analytic resources, such as RapidRatings and Dun & Bradstreet to evaluate the financial stability of our suppliers.
UKNNL’s terms and conditions requires its suppliers, and each of their subcontractors, to comply with the Act and UKNNL has the right to terminate a contract if a supplier is subsequently found to be in breach of the Act or found to have misled UKNNL during the tendering process.
Consideration has been given to UKNNL’s supply chain and due to the geographical nature of its suppliers (see chart) and the types of products/services procured, the risk is considered low.
UKNNL carries out periodic reviews of its suppliers (including utilising Government audited frameworks and suppliers), particularly where multi-year contracts are placed. This allows UKNNL to reassess any of the information, including suppliers’ compliance with the Act, provided at the time of the contract award.
Supplier performance is tracked and reported to the UKNNL Executive Leadership Team each month.
Policies
UKNNL has an Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy which has been endorsed by the UKNNL Executive Leadership Team and communicated to all personnel via UKNNL’s Information Management System.
Training
Members of the Procurement team have completed the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply Ethical Procurement and Supply eLearning and have performance objectives to secure chartership where applicable.
All personnel have access to training and awareness of public procurement processes (including supplier due diligence) through UKNNL’s e-learning platform, intranet and Information Management System.
All personnel have completed mandatory sustainability training.
Developments from UKNNL’s Modern Slavery Act Statement FYE 31 March 2024
UKNNL has reviewed its procurement terms, policies and procedures to bring in line with the Procurement Act 2023.
Further considerations
UKNNL is carrying out further reviews of its procurement terms and conditions, policies and procedures to ensure these reflect the latest Government guidance (including verifying that its assurance activities align with the Government’s modern slavery assessment tools).
This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes UKNNL’s slavery and human trafficking statement for the financial year ending 31 March 2025 and was approved by the UKNNL Board members on 25th July 2025.