SHARE PRICE: 274.00 p INVESTORS CONTACT Quick search Secure portal log in Open menu CURTIS BANKS MODERN SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING STATEMENT This Statement is made on behalf of Curtis Banks Group Plc (‘the Group’) pursuant to section 54 (1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (the ‘Act’) and constitutes our Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement for the Financial Year ending December 2020. Our statement This statement sets out the steps that the Curtis Banks Group has taken, and continues to take to ensure modern slavery and human trafficking does not take place within our business, supply chain, or within our own business practices. The Curtis Banks Group has a zero tolerance approach to any form of modern slavery and human trafficking. Our commitment We are committed to working to the highest professional standards and comply with all laws and regulations relevant to our business practices. We are committed to acting in an ethical manner with integrity and transparency in all business dealings, and in implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to combat Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking. Organisational structure The Group is a UK-leading administrator and provider of self-invested pension products, principally SIPP’s and SSAS’s, operating across the UK within the financial services sector. The Group has its Head Office in Bristol, and over 800 employees based across offices in England and Scotland. The Group includes Curtis Banks Limited, Suffolk Life Annuities Limited, Suffolk Life Pensions Limited, Talbot and Muir Limited, the Dunstan Thomas Group and associated companies. Our business The Group and our business is organised into key business units and trade under: 1) Curtis Banks Limited (Company Registration Number: 06758825) 2) Suffolk Life Pensions Limited (Company Registration Number: 01180742) 3) Suffolk Life Annuities (Company Registration Number: 01011674) 4) Rivergate Legal Ltd (Company Registration Number 10485616) 5) Templemead Property Solutions Limited (Company Registration Number: 11216858) 6) Talbot and Muir Limited (Company Registration Number 02869547) 7) Dunstan Thomas Group (Company Registration Number 08160246) Both Curtis Banks Limited, Suffolk Life Pensions Limited and Talbot and Muir Limited are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority to provide trust-based SIPP products. Suffolk Life Annuities Limited is regulated by the Prudential Regulatory Authority, and the Financial Conduct Authority to provide insurance-based SIPP products through non-participating individual insurance contracts. Rivergate Legal Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority – Number: 643754. Dunstan Thomas Group is a non-regulated retirement solutions innovator and IT outsourcer. Our policy and conduct We have in place a Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy, which reflects our commitment to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships, and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure modern slavery and human trafficking is not taking place anywhere in our supply chains or our business. We also operate a number of other internal Policies/Processes to ensure we are conducting business in an ethical and transparent manner, these include: Our Whistleblowing Policy ensures all employees can raise concerns about how colleagues are being treated, or about practices within our business or supply chain, without fear of reprisals. Our Recruitment Process sets out the pre-employment control to verify employee eligibility to work in the UK as a safeguard against human trafficking, or individuals being forced to work against their will. Our Third Party Supplier Letters stipulate our zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery and our commitment to acting ethically and with integrity in our business dealings/ relationships by explaining to our contractors, suppliers and other business partners as part of our contracting processes, our specific prohibitions against the use of forced, compulsory or trafficked labour or anyone held in slavery or servitude, adults or children. Our Employee (Code of Conduct) Handbook explains the manner in which we behave as an organisation, and how we expect our employees to act. Our Fit & Proper Framework identifies the procedures required to assess the fitness and propriety of our key employees within the business. Our supply chains The Group are also committed to ensuring that there is transparency in our own business and in our approach to tackling modern slavery & human trafficking throughout our supply chains. In return we expect the same very high standards from all our contractors, suppliers and other business partners, in the expectation that our contractors, suppliers and other business partners will hold their own suppliers to the very same high standards (including specific prohibitions against the use of forced, compulsory or trafficked labour, or anyone held in slavery or servitude, whether adults or children). Our due diligence The United Nations International Labour Organization, the ILO, estimates that in the past five years, 89 million people will have experienced some form of Modern Slavery for a period of time ranging from a few days to an extended period of time. In order to deepen our understanding of human rights and the potential impacts which are most salient to our business operations, and supply chain, we have considered the nature of the Group, the sector we operate in, and our geographical context, to determine key risk areas of our business. We have identified our supply chain as an area for ongoing focus, and have, as a consequence, conducted a number of ongoing risk mitigation measures with regards to our supply chain. We will continue to work with our suppliers to ensure that our approach to slavery and human trafficking is reflected in all our purchases of goods and services so that neither we, nor they, are involved in any way, either directly or indirectly, in slavery and human trafficking. To ensure our suppliers share our commitment to combating modern slavery and human trafficking, the Group operate ongoing due diligence procedures (as part of our supply chain), on all current and new suppliers during the initial on-boarding process. In addition, we have refreshed our existing due diligence and have updated our modern slavery and human trafficking statement, and any applicable internal policies, detailing our approach to combating modern slavery and human trafficking to any newly acquired Group business acquisitions. Risk & Compliance The prevention, detection and reporting of Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking, in any part of our business or supply chains, is the responsibility of all Group employees, individuals or businesses under our control. The Risk & Compliance Team are required to be familiar with all aspects of the current regulatory regime and guidance, as well as keeping abreast of new legislation and regulatory regime changes, as well as ensuring that: Regulatory and Legislative changes are reviewed and any necessary amendments communicated to, and/or implemented within the relevant business areas. Compliance Policies and Processes are reviewed annually, or (where applicable), on an ad-hoc basis where there are relevant regulatory/legislative changes. An effective risk management framework is implemented across the business. The Risk & Compliance Team operate as an effective second line of defence in mitigating risk exposure. We also encourage openness and support to anyone who raises genuine concerns in good faith and to ensure no one suffers any detrimental treatment as a result of reporting suspicions of modern slavery or human trafficking in whatever form, may be taking place in any part of our own business, or in any of our supply chains. The Risk & Compliance Team along with the involvement of the Curtis Banks Group Board, support the business: Our 2021 targets are as follows: To continue to ensure applicable med/high risk suppliers have been subject to the appropriate due diligence procedures. To evidence and further enhance employee training to help mitigate the risk of modern slavery. To continue to address risk or actual instances of modern slavery & human trafficking. To continue to ensure a culture of respect for human rights and zero tolerance of modern slavery & human trafficking is respected throughout the Group. To evidence and further enhance business level grievance mechanisms and whistle-blowing procedures currently in place to address the risk of modern slavery for employees. Training and awareness To ensure a high level of training, understanding, and awareness of the risks of Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking in our supply chains, and our business, we provide new and existing employees with: An overview and awareness of Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking during the initial Induction Programme. Compulsory, annual Computer Based Training (CBT) Modules and Tests on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking, and Bribery & Corruption. A whistleblowing process as part of our Bribery & Corruption Policy to ensure all employees can raise concerns about how colleagues are being treated, or about practices within our business or supply chain, without fear of reprisals. Approval This modern slavery and human trafficking statement was approved by the Curtis Banks Group Board of Directors on 18/06/2021, and was further reviewed, signed off, on the 18/06/2021 by Jane Ridgley – Chief Operating Officer. Jane Ridgley – Chief Operating Officer 18/06/2021 Download a copy of the statement as PDF here. CAREERS INVESTORS PRIVACY MODERN SLAVERY STATEMENT LEGAL ACCESSIBILITY Curtis Banks Twitter Curtis Banks Linkedin © 2019 Curtis Banks Group. All rights reserved. This website is aimed at professional advisers and firms rather than consumers. We do not offer advice on - or judge the suitability of – SIPPs or their investments. If you are a consumer interested in a SIPP you should seek the advice of a financial adviser. Site by Mr B & Friends HOW CAN I HELP YOU TODAY? Cookie Control Icon