EDI & Modern Slavery
Equality, diversity and inclusion policy plus a Modern Slavery statement backed by a real supply-chain audit.
What leaving HR and social value alone costs you
Without current HR and employment documentation, a buyer assumes weak or absent EDI commitment, unaudited, higher-risk supply chain on modern slavery, IR35 and worker classification exposure, generic, unsubstantiated wellbeing claims and social value answers that won't survive scrutiny.
None of that may be true of you. It does not matter. In a tender, the assumption is what gets scored.
The HR and social value point most manufacturers miss
Most manufacturers have decent practice and no documentation. To an evaluator, undocumented good practice scores identically to having no practice at all.
This is not HR administration. It is operational risk control, and buyers score it that way.
What HR and social value support covers
Contracts & Classification
Employment contract review and IR35 worker classification that holds up to scrutiny.
Pay & Wellbeing
Real Living Wage accreditation and wellbeing programmes with substance behind them, not slogans.
Governance
TUPE readiness, right-to-work checks, grievance procedures and whistleblowing policy.
What good HR and social value look like inside a manufacturer
- EDI policy exists, is current, and has a genuine action plan behind it.
- Modern Slavery statement is published and reflects an actual supply chain audit.
- Employment contracts are compliant and worker classification is defensible.
- Wellbeing initiatives are real and can be described with specifics, not slogans.
- TUPE processes are understood and ready before a contract requires them.
- Right-to-work checks are consistent and recorded.
- Grievance processes are documented and followed when used.
- HR documentation is reviewed annually, not written once and forgotten.
How HR and social value affect your tender score
| Tender criterion | What this service contributes | Score effect |
|---|---|---|
| ESG | EDI, wellbeing and pay policy score directly as social value | Major |
| Compliance | Modern Slavery statement is often a stated requirement | Major |
| Risk | Employment law exposure reads as operational risk | Moderate |
| Quality | Workforce governance supports process maturity claims | Moderate |
| Experience | Retention and wellbeing evidence strengthens capability | Moderate |