Modern Slavery Statement 2020

This statement has been published in accordance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and sets out the steps that Brightside Group Ltd take in committing to ensure modern slavery or human trafficking is not taking place within our business or supply chain.

Modern slavery encompasses slavery, servitude, human trafficking and forced labour. Brightside Group Ltd has a zero tolerance approach to any form of modern slavery. We are committed to acting ethically and with integrity and transparency in all business dealings and to putting effective systems and controls in place to safeguard against any form of modern slavery taking place within the business or our supply chain.

Our Business
Brightside Group Ltd. is an established insurance broker based in the UK. We are regulated by the FCA and are working in a heavily regulated financial services industry. We have been operating for over 17 years and work with a panel of insurers to ensure we get the best rates available for our customers, whether they are looking for car, bike, van, home or business insurance. Brightside operate from 3 locations within the United Kingdom, with around 500 employees and work with a number of regulated insurers, system providers and other third parties. We are careful to ensure we do not breach and do not knowingly trade with any companies or individuals that breach the Modern Slavery Act.

Potential Risk
Given the nature of our business, our board and management teams consider that there is minimal risk approximating to no risk that, either within the Brightside Group Ltd or the very limited supply chains which support our business activities, that we are in any way involved in or even tangentially supportive of, or complicit in, slavery and human trafficking or any other activities that may lead us to be in breach of the Modern Slavery Act.

Our Policies
Brightside Group Ltd are committed to the operation of a number of internal policies to ensure that we are conducting business in an ethical, compliant and transparent manner. These include:

1. Recruitment Policy - We operate a robust recruitment policy, including ensuring that we have individual face-to-face interviews and conducting eligibility to work in the UK checks for all employees, to safeguard against human trafficking or individuals being forced to work against their will.

2. Whistleblowing Policy-We operate a whistle blowing policy so that all employees know that they can raise concerns about how colleagues are being treated, or practices within our business or supply chain, without fear of reprisals.

3. Code of Ethics - This code explains the manner in which we behave as an organisation and how we expect our employees and suppliers to act

Our Suppliers
Brightside Group Ltd maintains a preferred supplier list. We conduct due diligence on all new suppliers before allowing them to become a member of our preferred supplier list. This due diligence includes verification of the identity of the companies and directors that we are contracting with and careful checks that the companies themselves comply with our mutual regulator's requirements.

We have strict processes in place for colleagues who are authorised to enter into any form of negotiation/ contractual relationships with new suppliers and third parties, to certify that no individual may enter into a new business relationship without the appropriate checks being completed. For 2020, Brightside are committed to reviewing the due diligence completed on suppliers to ensure that this continues to suitably mitigate the risk of exposure to modern slavery.

Training
Annual training forms part of the mandatory modules for all employees to ensure an understanding of the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking within our business. The training sets out the organisation's zero tolerance stance on having any involvement in modern slavery and explains how employees can identify any instances of this, who may be vulnerable and where those affected can go for help.

This statement was reviewed by the Board of Directors in February 2020 in conjunction with the end of our financial year (31 December 2019).

Brendan McCafferty, CEO