Last updated: March 2026
1. Introduction
This statement is made pursuant to Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and sets out the steps that Rapid Access has taken, and continues to take, to ensure that modern slavery and human trafficking are not taking place within our business or supply chain.
Rapid Access recognises that modern slavery is a crime and a violation of fundamental human rights. It takes various forms, including slavery, servitude, forced and compulsory labour, and human trafficking, all of which involve the deprivation of a person's liberty by another in order to exploit them for personal or commercial gain.
We have a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery in any form and are committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business dealings and relationships.
2. Our Business
Rapid Access is a UK-based manufacturer of fire-rated access panels, riser doors, loft hatches, and meter overboxes. Our manufacturing facility is located in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, where we design, fabricate, and assemble our products for distribution throughout the United Kingdom and beyond.
We employ a dedicated workforce at our Nuneaton facility and operate within the construction products sector, supplying to contractors, housebuilders, local authorities, housing associations, and facilities management companies.
We are tested to ISO 9001 (Quality Management) and ISO 14001 (Environmental Management), which provide structured frameworks that support our commitment to ethical and responsible business practices.
3. Our Supply Chain
Our supply chain primarily consists of:
- Raw material suppliers — providers of steel, galvanised sheet metal, insulation materials, fire-resistant boards, glass, and hardware components
- Component manufacturers — suppliers of hinges, locks, seals, intumescent strips, and other specialist fittings
- Packaging suppliers — providers of cardboard, pallets, and protective packaging materials
- Logistics partners — haulage companies and courier services that deliver our products to customers
- Service providers — IT, facilities management, professional services, and other operational support
The majority of our suppliers are UK-based, which provides a degree of assurance given the UK's established legal framework. However, we recognise that some raw materials may originate from international supply chains and take appropriate steps to assess associated risks.
4. Our Policies
We have implemented the following policies that are relevant to combating modern slavery:
- Anti-Slavery & Human Trafficking Policy — sets out our commitment to preventing modern slavery and the expectations we place on our workforce and supply chain
- Whistleblowing Policy — encourages all employees, workers, and business partners to report any concerns about unethical conduct, including suspected modern slavery, without fear of retaliation
- Recruitment Policy — ensures robust checks are conducted, including verification of identity, right to work in the UK, and employment history, to safeguard against forced labour
- Supplier Code of Conduct — sets minimum standards for ethical behaviour, labour practices, and human rights that suppliers must adhere to as a condition of doing business with us
- Equal Opportunities Policy — promotes fair and ethical treatment of all employees and applicants
5. Due Diligence
We undertake due diligence on new suppliers and regularly review existing suppliers to assess the risk of modern slavery. Our due diligence processes include:
- Supplier assessments — evaluating new suppliers against ethical criteria before engagement, including their own modern slavery policies and practices
- Contractual obligations — incorporating anti-slavery clauses into supplier contracts, requiring compliance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015
- Ongoing monitoring — periodic review of key suppliers to ensure continued compliance with our standards
- Right to audit — reserving the right to audit suppliers' practices where concerns are identified or as part of routine assurance processes
- Incident response — clear procedures for investigating and responding to any concerns or allegations of modern slavery within our operations or supply chain
6. Risk Assessment
We assess the risk of modern slavery occurring within our business and supply chain by considering factors such as:
- Geographic risk — the countries from which raw materials and components are sourced, with higher scrutiny applied to regions with known prevalence of modern slavery
- Sector risk — awareness of modern slavery risks within the construction and manufacturing sectors, including the use of temporary or agency labour
- Labour practices — monitoring of working conditions, pay rates, and employment terms across our operations and those of our direct suppliers
- Business relationships — evaluating the nature and depth of our relationships with suppliers and the level of visibility we have into their operations
As a UK-based manufacturer with a predominantly domestic supply chain, we consider our overall risk level to be low. However, we remain vigilant and continue to strengthen our processes to address any emerging risks.
7. Training
We provide training and awareness programmes to ensure that our employees understand the risks of modern slavery and know how to identify and report concerns. This includes:
- Management briefings — senior management and procurement staff receive training on modern slavery legislation, risk indicators, and due diligence procedures
- Employee awareness — all employees are made aware of our Anti-Slavery Policy, how to recognise the signs of modern slavery, and the channels available for reporting concerns
- Recruitment training — staff involved in hiring are trained on the importance of verifying identity documents, right-to-work checks, and recognising potential indicators of trafficking or coercion
- Supplier engagement — communicating our expectations to suppliers and encouraging them to implement their own training programmes
8. Key Performance Indicators
We measure the effectiveness of our approach to combating modern slavery through the following key performance indicators:
- Supplier compliance rate — percentage of key suppliers who have confirmed adherence to our Supplier Code of Conduct and anti-slavery requirements
- Training completion — percentage of relevant staff who have completed modern slavery awareness training
- Whistleblowing reports — number of concerns raised through our whistleblowing channels and the outcomes of any investigations
- Due diligence coverage — percentage of new and existing suppliers who have undergone modern slavery risk assessment
- Policy reviews — regular review and update of our policies to reflect changes in legislation and best practice
9. Our Commitment
Rapid Access is committed to continually improving our practices to combat modern slavery and human trafficking. We will continue to:
- Review and update — this statement annually, reflecting on our progress and identifying areas for improvement
- Engage with stakeholders — work collaboratively with our suppliers, customers, and industry bodies to promote ethical practices throughout the construction supply chain
- Respond to concerns — investigate all reports of potential modern slavery promptly and thoroughly, taking appropriate remedial action
- Strengthen our processes — continuously enhance our due diligence, risk assessment, and training programmes
This statement has been approved by senior management and will be reviewed and updated annually.
Report a Concern
If you have any concerns about modern slavery in our business or supply chain, or wish to discuss this statement, please contact us confidentially.
