We updated and improved our Procurement Policy in June 2026 which sets out our principles, including that we will always take into account the ethical and social impacts of the goods and services which we purchase.
We have further embedded our Supplier Due Diligence Questionnaires into an automatic onboarding system which mandates relevant businesses to supply their own anti-slavery and human trafficking policy. Where suppliers operate in multiple countries and/or recruit workers from overseas, we require that they also complete a ‘Supplier Labour Force Questionnaire’ which requires a detailed response on all areas of slavery and human trafficking risk within their business.
To confirm, 95 suppliers were successfully onboarded through this due diligence process in the previous 12 months. These actions build on our processes to identify and mitigate modern slavery risks via:
• The maintenance of long-standing relationships with reputable suppliers.
• Prioritising suppliers that have a point of contact within the UK so that they are legally bound by the Modern Slavery Act.
• Where entities in our supply chain operate with a turnover greater than £36 million, we expect them to undertake appropriate due diligence within their own supply chains. Unfortunately, it is not viable for CVS to have a direct relationship with all links in the chain, but we actively encourage and expect transparency where possible.
• Our centralised HR function ensures that all our employees receive remuneration appropriately and in compliance with their written contract. The department has salary review guidelines as well as appropriate and clear Right to Work in the UK and other general HR policies.
• CVS actively encourages whistleblowing and the reporting of concerns, whether anonymously or identifiable. This provides CVS with the opportunity to fully investigate matters and, where relevant, to work with those who have raised concerns to ensure procedures are implemented to prevent further breaches of our expected standards. We also ensure protection is in place to all whistle blowers. CVS previously launched an externally operated Whistleblowing Line for employees to utilise to facilitate reporting and compliance throughout the company. Since its introduction in Autumn 2025, no reports relating to Modern Slavery have been received through the Whistleblowing Line.
• Our Group Human Resources Director and Group Procurement Director oversee our Anti-Slavery procedures and the implementation of any appropriate policies. They are jointly responsible for reviewing the effectiveness and implementing of amendments where necessary.