Introduction
This is the Modern Slavery Statement pursuant to Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
This further updated statement sets out Numatic International Ltd’s outright opposition to all such practices and emphasises our commitment to constantly auditing our activities and suppliers in order ensure that all forms of modern slavery are eliminated from our business and supply chains.
The Business Operating Model
Our Director of Supply Chain has overall responsibility for monitoring our suppliers within our Supply Chain Management Process. The team works with suppliers at every point of contact to ensure that our stringent standards are met.
In addition, all staff have a responsibility to be alert to the risks in our business and in the wider supply chain. A mandatory reporting process has been developed, and all concerns - however small - are reported up the line. Management at all levels will commit to acting on those concerns.
This statement relates to actions and activities during the financial year 2025.
Our Structure
We are a manufacturer of domestic and industrial vacuum cleaners, janitorial and cleaning trollies and floor care machines. Numatic International has its head office and sole manufacturing plant in the United Kingdom and has subsidiaries in France, South Africa, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Portugal, Germany, Italy and Spain. Our subsidiaries do not manufacture or assemble goods, providing a distribution channel only.
Our UK business – based in Chard in Somerset – is organised into business units: Operations including Mould Shop, Assembly and Warehouse, UK & International Sales and Customer Engagement teams, Research & Development, IT&DS, HR, Marketing & Communications, Administration, Product Management and Purchasing & Supply Chain.
Our manufacturing plant operates three different shift patterns, from dayshift to double days and continental. Our overall annual sales volumes do generally experience two peak periods; however, our manufacturing and inventory policies support a balanced operation where possible throughout the year.
Supply Chains
We work with companies from all over the world in bringing our diverse range of products to the consumer. Our supply chains are predicated on our requirement to source raw and processed materials principally related to the manufacture of parts, which are subsequently assembled into final product at our UK site. Our suppliers range from small local manufacturers and service companies to multinational businesses, and we demand the highest standards from them all, not only in the quality of the products and services they deliver to us but also in the conditions that they are made in.
During 2025 we launched a new Environmental Social and Governance program (ESG) with our direct suppliers. We have partnered with SEDEX on a three-year programme to ensure systematic compliance and visibility across the total supply chain. (SEDEX website | Sedex Dashboard) All new vendors must complete a questionnaire to confirm their activities, that they and their supply base undertake, meet levels of performance that we require and are requested to join SEDEX.
We review to ensure all our requirements are met and they continue verification throughout their own supply chain. Sedex provides a methodology to ensure standard reporting, risk assessment, trusted audit options including SMETA and remediation. According to the Global Slavery Index, we do not deal with any country stated as high risk.
Chart 1 - Reviewed % spend for 2025 by country trading relationship for component deliveries
A further 30%+ of our expenditure is for Indirect suppliers and our total spend by country can be seen in Chart 2.
ESG programme - since launch Chart 3 shows the current adoption by our direct suppliers across the globe, with the target for the end of 2026 to be 100% adoption of an acceptable ESG monitoring process in each organisation. The next phase of the programme will be to start focusing on the Indirect suppliers.
Controlling and Identifying Risks
Within our own operations, the risk of slavery and human trafficking is controlled because of our strict policies and procedures, the oversight built into our operations and the knowledge and skills of our staff.
Externally, our Supply Chain Management Process ensures risk assessment based on a number of factors including risk indices pertaining to human rights, the level of supply chain control, external governance factors, and levels of political stability and now supported by the SEDEX audit methodology being rolled out.
Without exception, we expect all our suppliers to commit to the highest possible standards in their employment practices, including:
- Zero tolerance of child labour.
- Appropriate / lawful rates of pay.
- Satisfactory working conditions.
- Fair, reasonable and lawful terms and conditions.
- Demonstrate that employment practices meet the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 or similar legislation.
If they are found to be failing then we will challenge them, and if they are then still unable to meet our stringent standards, we will stop sourcing products and services from them.
Our Policies on Slavery and Human Trafficking
We are committed to ensuring that modern slavery and human trafficking are not tolerated in our supply chains or in any part of our business. Our modern slavery policy sits alongside our corporate responsibility policy and reflects our commitment to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships.
We have a solid structure of existing policies and procedures which support our commitment, including:
- Supply Chain Management Process (updated 2025)
- Employee Handbook (Sections 1 & 2)
- Whistleblowing policy
- Equality policy
- Anti-Bullying & Harassment policy
- Prevention of Sexual Harassment policy
- Grievance procedure
- Disciplinary procedure
- Code of Conduct
- Anti-Bribery policy
- Recruitment & Selection policy
- Health & Wellbeing policy
- Probation policy
We also have an active Works Council and agreement with the GMB trade union who are available to represent and assist workers in our business.
High Risk Activities
The main risk to the implementation of this policy is geographical. To minimise this, we have implemented the ESG programme and the Supply Chain Team maintains consistent contact with suppliers who are aware that they may be challenged at any time.
Our Effectiveness
Modern slavery is a regular agenda item at our senior management team meetings. Any breach of this policy will be treated as non-compliance and will remain as an agenda item until it has been fully dealt with. Any learning points will be fed back to the supply chain team and incorporated into their processes.
During the financial year 2025 we:
- Included a section on Modern Slavery in our Corporate Induction programme.
- Ensured all new colleagues with supply chain contact complete modern slavery training.
- Regularly challenged all suppliers to ensure they meet our standards.
- Maintained our commitment to zero tolerance of modern slavery through regular communications.
- Provided all employees with the confidential Employee Assistance Programme contact number.
- Ensured all employees are aware of our whistleblowing policy.
- Provided training and refresher training to all levels of management on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking.
This statement has been approved by the Senior Management Team and is duly signed by the Managing Director.
Signed:
Position: Managing Director
Date: 01 June 2026