The Institute of Physics (IOP) and its group companies are committed to doing all we reasonably can to combat all forms of slavery and human trafficking in our supply chains. This statement sets out how the entire IOP group has approached these issues during this financial year and how we will continue to do so in the next.
The IOP is a charity registered in England and Wales, and in Scotland, and is incorporated by Royal Charter. We are the professional body and learned society for physics in the UK and Ireland, inspiring people to develop their knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of physics.
The objective of the IOP, as stated in our Royal Charter, is to promote the advancement and dissemination of knowledge and education in the science of physics, pure and applied, for the benefit of the public and the members of the IOP.
We work with a range of partners to support and develop the teaching of physics in schools; we encourage innovation, growth and productivity in business including addressing significant skills shortages; and we provide evidence-based advice and support to governments across the UK and in Ireland.
Our members come from across the physics community whether in industry, academia, the classroom, technician roles or in training programmes as an apprentice or a student. However, our reach goes well beyond our membership to all who have an interest in physics and the contribution it makes to our culture, our society and the economy.
The IOP group of companies is made up of:
The largest subsidiary, IOP Publishing Limited (IOPP), is a world leader in scientific communications publishing journals, ebooks, magazines and websites globally. IOPP has a branch in Japan. The other subsidiaries support the activities of IOP and/or IOPP in the UK and globally.
The IOP group of companies has a diverse supply chain, and we have assessed the risk of slavery occurring across the various sectors. We have highlighted suppliers of IT, print and editorial services, office equipment, catering services, building services, temporary recruitment services, and accommodation and venue facilities as being those which could be seen to be higher risk activities.
These suppliers are located across the globe, with some located in countries which have a higher estimated prevalence of modern slavery as measured by the most recent Global Slavery Index (published in 2023), such as India and Ukraine.
During 2023, we have continued activities on a group-wide basis to identify and mitigate the risk of slavery or human trafficking occurring in the IOP group’s supply chains. These have included:
We confirm our commitment to prohibiting modern slavery and human trafficking in our supply chains and in any part of our businesses. Our Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy reflects our commitment to acting ethically and with integrity in all of our business relationships and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to prohibit slavery and human trafficking in our supply chains and business.
We have a zero-tolerance approach to slavery and human trafficking. To ensure that those companies in our supply chains comply with these values, we require that all relevant suppliers are issued with, and agree to comply with, our Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy and/or that appropriate obligations are included in our contracts with them.
These obligations will allow us to secure assurances that those suppliers 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.
Our KPIs for 2023 were:
1. KPI
For the year ending 31 December 2023, 100% of senior staff in the IOP group with roles managing suppliers in the higher risk areas we have identified will have confirmed that either:
(a) they have not discovered, nor been made aware of, any issues affecting their suppliers which might constitute modern slavery; or
(b) any potential instances of modern slavery have been reported in accordance with our processes.
Outcome
This was fully achieved.
2. KPI
During 2023, training on anti-slavery and human trafficking, either e-learning or in person, will be provided to new employees and refresher training will be provided to existing employees where appropriate.
Outcome
This was fully achieved, with e-learning being rolled out to all IOP group staff and new starters during 2023.
3. KPI
We shall carry out a random check of 5% of our supply contracts signed in 2023 to verify if appropriate contractual obligations have been included with relevant suppliers.
Outcome
This check has been completed.
4. KPI
During 2023 we shall undertake at least three site visits to key suppliers to witness working conditions first hand.
Outcome
These visits were completed during 2023 and positive reports given by the IOP group staff members who undertook them.
To continue to do all we reasonably can to ensure that there is no slavery and human trafficking in our supply chains, we intend to measure our performance against the following KPIs in the forthcoming financial year:
1. For the year ending 31 December 2024, 100% of senior staff in the IOP group with roles managing suppliers in the higher risk areas we have identified will have confirmed that either:
(a) they have not discovered, nor been made aware of, any issues affecting their suppliers which might constitute modern slavery; or
(b) any potential instances of modern slavery have been reported in accordance with our processes.
2. During 2024, training on anti-slavery and human trafficking, either e-learning or in person (as appropriate), will be provided to new employees and in-person training will be carried out with all staff working with suppliers in our identified higher risk areas, including on relevant indicators of forced labour.
3. We shall carry out a random check of 5% of our supply contracts signed in 2024 to verify if appropriate contractual obligations have been included with relevant suppliers.
4. During 2024 we shall undertake at least three site visits to key suppliers to witness working conditions first hand.
These indicators will be reviewed annually.
This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes the IOP group’s anti-slavery and human trafficking statement for the financial year ending 31 December 2023.
Professor Sir Keith Burnett CBE
President
The Institute of Physics
Tom Grinyer
Group Chief Executive Officer
The Institute of Physics
The above statement was approved by the IOP Council of Trustees on 29 February 2024. It has been endorsed by the IOP Executive Board and by the IOPP Executive Board.