Modern Slavery Statement

‘The Group’

This statement applies to all companies within and associated to the Improve International Group (referred to in this statement as ‘The Group’). The information included in the statement refers to the financial year ending September 2024.

‘The Group’s Organisational Structure

Improve International was established in 1998 by a group of veterinary surgeons from across the UK. We run Continuous Professional Development training from veterinary professionals to help develop the skills and knowledge required in practice.

Our programmes utilise a combination of review lectures, case-based discussion and, where applicable, hands-on practical sessions. Within Improve International we also have the function of ‘The International School of Veterinary Postgraduate Studies (ISVPS)’. This function is dedicated to providing veterinary surgeons, nurses and technicians with high quality, achievable qualifications that are recognised internationally. ‘The Group’ is international, with offices in the UK and Portugal.

We have an Executive Leadership Team consisting of our CEO, Chief Finance Officer, Operations Director, Marketing Director, IT & Technology Director and a Sales Director. ‘The Group’ is controlled by a Board of Directors and they include our CEO, Chief Finance Officer.

Improve International provides post graduate training to vets and vet nurses, globally. We operate directly in UK, Portugal, Spain, Germany, USA, France and we have team members in all of these countries. Some of our employees travel to the above-mentioned countries to conduct work and also to additional countries such as the Nordic region and Italy.

We have two main offices and wet laboratories in the UK, (Swindon and Sheffield) and one in Portugal (Porto) and we also have wet laboratory facilities in Frankfurt and Madrid.

Definitions

‘The Group’ considers that modern slavery encompasses:

• Human trafficking
• Forced work, through mental or physical threat
• Being owned or controlled by an employer through mental or physical abuse or the threat of abuse
• Being dehumanised, treated as a commodity or being bought or sold as property
• Being physically constrained or to have restriction placed on freedom of movement.

Commitment

‘The Group’ acknowledges its responsibilities in relation to tackling modern slavery and commits to complying with the provisions in the Modern Slavery Act 2015. ‘The Group’ understands that this requires an ongoing review of both its internal practices in relation to its labour force and, additionally, its supply chains.

‘The Group’ does not enter into business with any other organisation in the United Kingdom or abroad, which knowingly supports or is found to involve itself in slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour.

No labour provided to ‘The Group’ in the pursuance of the provision of its own services is obtained by means of slavery or human trafficking. ‘The Group’ strictly adheres to the minimum standards required in relation to its responsibilities under relevant employment legislation in the United Kingdom, Portugal, Spain, Germany, France and the United States of America.

Supply Chains

In order to fulfil its activities, the main supply chains of Improve International are our supply chains. Our goods and services are:

• Surgical equipment from countries including the UK and China.
• Cadavers, and these are sourced from Brazil, UK, Europe.

We understand that in some instances our first-tier suppliers are intermediary traders and therefore have further contractual relationships with lower-tier suppliers.

Potential Exposure

‘The Group’ considers its main exposure to the risk of slavery and human trafficking to exist in our surgical equipment supply chains because they may involve the provision of labour in a country where protection against breaches of human rights may be limited.

In general, ‘The Group’ considers its exposure to slavery/human trafficking to be relatively limited.

Steps

‘The Group’ carries out due diligence processes in relation to ensuring slavery and/or human trafficking does not take place in its business or supply chains, including conducting a review of the controls of its suppliers.

‘The Group’ has not, to its knowledge, conducted any business with another business which has been found to have involved itself with modern slavery.

In accordance with section 54(4) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, ‘The Group’ has taken the following steps to ensure that modern slavery is not taking place by:

• Reviewing supplier contracts to include termination powers in the event that the supplier is, or is suspected to be, involved in modern slavery
• Putting measures in place to identify and assess the potential risks in its supply chains
• Undertaking impact assessments of its services upon potential instances of slavery
• Creating action plans to address risk to modern slavery
• Taking actions to embed a zero-tolerance policy towards modern slavery

Key Performance Indicators

‘The Group’ has set the following key performance indicators to measure its effectiveness in ensuring modern slavery is not taking place in ‘The Group’ or its supply chains:

• Train Managers and Employees on what Modern Slavery looks like and to be aware
• Payroll to ensure the employee name matches the bank payment account name
• Supply Chain – Ensure that origin of sourcing of materials and equipment is recorded and assessed

Policies

‘The Group’ have the following policies which further define its stance on modern slavery:

• Modern Slavery Statement
• Recruitment Policy
• Corporate Social Responsibility Policy
• Supplier Code of Conduct Policy

Training

‘The Group’ provides the following training to staff to effectively implement its stance on modern slavery – Mandatory Modern Slavery Awareness Training via Moodle for all new recruits and for current staff.

Slavery Compliance Officer

‘The Group’ has a Slavery Compliance Officer, to whom all concerns regarding modern slavery should be addressed, and who will then undertake relevant action with regard to ‘The Group’s’ obligations.

This statement is made in pursuance of: United Kingdom of England, Wales and Northern Ireland under Section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

This statement will be reviewed for each financial year.