Jessie Greenhalgh, our Responsible Sourcing Manager, takes us behind the scenes on what Currys are doing to ensure we're using our scale and expertise as a force for good, particularly when it comes to Modern Slavery.
What's your role within Currys?
I play a key role in the development of the annual modern slavery statement. This task is detailed, and requires liaison with teams from all around the Group to source insights and data. Not only do I compile the narrative, but also set out future goals and I have to update the business on progress, including to some of our most senior leaders.
For me, a role in responsible sourcing and sustainability has been a long-standing goal. My interest was sparked in a business studies class, and grew through my studies in environmental management and sustainable business. Now, at Currys, I really enjoy looking beyond the business itself, considering supplier practices and the broader impact of our sourcing decisions across the supply chain.
What's the most rewarding part of your role?
One of the most rewarding yet challenging parts of my work on the statement is defining new commitments for the upcoming year. This requires me to map risk, to reflect on past achievements and reassess targets as priorities shift. Setting these goals involves balancing ambition with practicality, especially with a small team, and is supported by input from expert partners, like the Slave-Free Alliance (SFA), to ensure priorities align with the latest best practices in tackling modern slavery.
What's worth highlighting from this year's statement?
Two aspects of this year’s statement stand out to me. The first is the story of Eric, LINK, one of six survivors of modern slavery whom Currys has helped secure safe, stable employment through our partnership with Bright Future. For me, knowing that these individuals are building sustainable independence is a powerful reminder of the impact Bright Future and Currys can make together, thanks to the support from dedicated managers across the company who go above and beyond to make the programme a success.
The second highlight is our project with SFA to review recruitment practices at our Nordic Distribution Centre in Sweden. Given the size and multinational workforce at this site, it was essential to gain SFA’s critical perspective.
Read here >> A-strategic-and-operational-partnership-Slave-Free-Alliance-and-Currys.pdf (slavefreeall.wpenginepowered.com)
Can you tell us a little more about the SFA x Currys partnership?
Collaboration with SFA has been integral to our progress since Currys became a member in 2018. For the review in Sweden, Sofie, Head of Risk & Compliance at Elkjøp, and I worked closely with the Nordic Distribution Centre, ensuring that SFA had everything they needed and that site teams were kept informed. During the two day review we toured the facility, spoke to site managers to understand recruitment practices, and SFA conducted interviews with workers in their native language to gain a firsthand understanding of their experiences. We then met with Elkjøp’s third-party recruitment agency to understand how the agency mitigates the risk of modern slavery within its own practices.
What’s next in the plan for you and the team?
This year we have committed to review and republish our modern slavery, child labour remediation and conflict minerals policies. The first drafts are ready, and I’m really pleased with the improvements made to strengthen them. We’re also working with SFA again to review our cleaning and security providers in the UK & Ireland. The assessment will involve asking them all to complete a questionnaire around workers rights and recruitment practices and then following up with some interviews and site visits.
Read our latest statement here >> Modern Slavery Statement | Currys PLC
