The board is committed to maintaining high standards of corporate governance. As chairman, it is my role to ensure that these standards are promoted by the board and to ensure that the group is managed in the best interests of shareholders and our broader stakeholder group.
We recognise that a positive culture, together with a robust approach to governance, is key to the success of the organisation. As a professional services consultancy the group’s services are regulated by externally governed codes of practice and ethical behaviour. These regulatory professional standards are reinforced by the board which sets the culture of the group in promoting entrepreneurial growth against the background of sound regulatory compliance and ethical standards and a measured approach to risk taking.
We seek to be a trusted advisor to all of our clients, to act with integrity at all times and to take pride in the advice and solutions we provide.
We have a clear approach to governance and risk management with a highly experienced leadership team in executive and senior management positions together with robust compliance and governance procedures.
We are committed to a culture which ensures that our people enjoy working for the group, can develop their talents and fulfil their potential with us.
The 2024 annual report provides details on our approach to governance and application of the QCA Code, including reports from the audit and remuneration committees. I believe that the framework provided by the QCA Code contributes to our ability to deliver long-term shareholder value and assists the board in managing the business for all of its stakeholders, whilst maintaining a flexible, efficient and effective management framework within an entrepreneurial environment.
Further detail on our compliance with the ten principles of the QCA Code can be accessed by the download below.
Ric Traynor
Executive chairman
8 July 2024
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Begbies Traynor Group plc (the “plc”) and its corporate group (“Group”) is a business recovery, financial advisory and property services consultancy. This statement is published by the plc and by Begbies Traynor (Central) LLP (a member of the Group) pursuant to Section 54 (1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 for the financial year ending 30 April 2024.
Slavery and human trafficking remains a menace to society. Everyone has a responsibility to be alert to the risks of this, particularly in a business and its supply chain. Staff are expected to report concerns and management are expected to act on such concerns as well as taking steps to minimise the risks of slavery and human trafficking when engaging with suppliers.
We are committed to ensuring that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in our supply chains or in any part of our business. Our anti-slavery policy 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 slavery and human trafficking is not taking place anywhere in our supply chain.
Due Diligence Processes for Slavery and Human Trafficking
Supplier Adherence to Our Values
We have a zero tolerance to slavery and human trafficking. To ensure all those in our supply chain and contractors comply with our values, compliance with such values is enforced through our approved supplier contract management process and relationships which relevant commercial departments have with suppliers.
Training
To ensure a high level of understanding of the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking in our supply chains in our business our group legal team educate and advise our group procurement managers who negotiate and contract with suppliers who provide services to the group as part of our approved supplier process. In addition to this all directors of the Group have been briefed on the subject and are updated annually on compliance. As part of our ongoing compliance programme, mandatory training on the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking will be made available to staff at all levels within our business.
Our Effectiveness in Combating Slavery in Human Trafficking
We have risk assessed key suppliers in our relevant supply chains to identify the risk of any slavery and human trafficking occurring and where these risks exist we have supplied specific diligence questionnaires for completion by the supplier, which request specific evidence supporting relevant answers, as part of our approved supplier process to ensure that no slavery or human trafficking is taking place in its supply chain. This is something which is kept under review on an annual basis and which we implement as part of onboarding any new key supplier to the Group.
The Begbies Traynor Group plc board of directors and the Begbies Traynor (Central) LLP designated members approved this statement on Wednesday 3 July 2024.
Signed by Ric Traynor, Group Executive Chairman
As a professional services business, we believe that the group has a low environmental impact when compared to many other industries. However, we are conscious of the impact we do have on the environment and are committed to making positive changes to minimise this where possible.
We believe the measures required to limit the effects of climate change, including meeting the Net Zero Carbon challenge, are fundamental to our long-term business interests and entirely consistent with our vision and values.
Sustainability Group
We have a sustainability group made up of employees from across the business who look to develop and manage our plans to reduce emissions and waste across our office network.
Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) statement
Scope 1 are direct emissions from fuel consumption in either buildings or from company leased or owned vehicles.
Scope 2 are indirect emissions from purchase of electricity in our offices.
Scope 3 are emissions from the use of personal or privately-hired vehicles used for company business where employees are reimbursed based on claims for business mileage.
Emissions which result from train travel, flights and taxi journeys are not included in the emissions table.
The carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions data for 2022 and 2021 has been calculated using the emission factors from the UK Government’s GHG Conversion Factors for Company Reporting 2021 published on 2 June 2021 (2020 using 2019 conversion factors).
During the year, the group’s emissions have increased in absolute terms, reflecting the increase in scale of the group and its operations, but remain below the pre-pandemic year of 2020. The emissions per FTE have remained at 2021 levels reflecting a 33% decrease on pre-pandemic levels in 2020