Modern slavery is a crime and a violation of fundamental human rights. It takes various forms, such as slavery, servitude, forced and compulsory labour and human trafficking, all of which have in common the deprivation of a person’s liberty by another in order to exploit them for personal or commercial gain. Whilst Nesta is not legally required to publish a modern slavery statement, we have a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery and are committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business dealings and relationships and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in our own business or in any of our supply chains.

Nesta is a registered charity (charity number: 1144091) and a company limited by guarantee (company number: 07706036).

The Nesta Group is comprised of:

• Nesta
• The Nesta Trust - a charitable trust of which Nesta is trustee, which holds all the investment assets invested to fund the charitable activities of Nesta
• Subsidiaries established to manage Nesta’s investing and fund management-related activities: Nesta GP Limited, Nesta PRI Limited, Cultural Impact Development Loans Limited, Nesta Impact Investments Limited 1 Partnership, Nesta Investment Management LLP, NII GP2 Limited, NII2 Special Partner LLP, Nesta Arts and Culture Impact LLP and Nesta Partners Limited
• Nesta Enterprises Limited – a trading subsidiary for non-primary purpose trading
• Nesta US Inc
• Behavioural Insights Limited

Nesta is an innovation foundation that uses expertise, skills and funding in areas where there are major challenges facing society. Nesta is based in the UK and is supported by a financial endowment held by the Nesta Trust.

In the usual course of its operations, Nesta procures goods and services in relation to, amongst other things, research, marketing, media and facilities, consultancy services, insurance, HR services, legal services and IT. Nesta does not work directly with any suppliers which are considered to be particularly vulnerable to human trafficking such as construction, agriculture, manufacturing or hospitality.

Nesta is an accredited London Living Wage Employer, which means that Nesta pays a living wage to its staff and all contracted staff who work directly or regularly with Nesta at Nesta’s office.

Nesta has in place the following policies and procedures which form part of our approach to mitigating the risk of modern slavery in our business and supply chains:

• Whistleblowing policy
• Safeguarding policy
• Anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policy

As part of our standard contracting processes, Nesta staff are required to analyse and assess a partner’s standing and operating practices before entering into binding legal arrangements with them. These processes include prohibitions against the use of forced, compulsory or trafficked labour, or anyone held in slavery or servitude (whether adults or children) and we expect that our suppliers will hold their own suppliers to the same high standards. 

As part of our due diligence processes, Nesta:

• requires potential suppliers and partners to complete a due diligence questionnaire which includes questions relating to employment practices
• requires potential suppliers and partners to confirm the existence, application and enforcement of their policies relating to employment practices and human rights
• considers whether potential suppliers are operating ethically within their respective markets.

Nesta’s zero-tolerance approach to the issue of modern slavery in our operations and supply chains is communicated to all suppliers, contractors and business partners at the outset of our relationship with them and reinforced as appropriate thereafter.

In accordance with Nesta’s whistleblowing policy:

• All colleagues are required to notify their line manager as soon as possible if they have any reason to be concerned that modern slavery or human trafficking may be occurring in any part of Nesta’s operations or its supply chain
• Nesta aims to encourage openness and will support anyone who raises genuine concerns, in good faith, relating to modern slavery and human trafficking, even if they turn out to be mistaken. Nesta is committed to ensuring that no one suffers any detrimental treatment as a result of reporting their suspicion in good faith

Training on the risk Nesta’s operations faces from modern slavery in its supply chains, forms part of the induction process for all individuals who work for us, and regular training will be provided as necessary.

This statement was approved by the Nesta board of trustees and is signed on their behalf by the chair of trustees.