Modern Slavery Statement
Purpose and Scope
This statement is made in accordance with Section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and covers the financial year 2025/26. It sets out the steps taken by Siddall & Hilton Products Ltd to understand, assess and address the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking in our operations and supply chains.
Siddall & Hilton Products Ltd is a West Yorkshire-based manufacturer of welded wire mesh and perimeter protection products, operating from a single site in Brighouse. We employ approximately a small team across manufacturing, operations, sales and support functions. The business is part of the Van Merksteijn Group.
Our operations are controlled by a Board of Directors. All labour supplied to the business is wholly carried out in the United Kingdom. Demand for our products is consistent throughout the year and is not seasonal.
- Our Supply Chains
To fulfil our manufacturing activities, our primary supply chains include the supply of wire rod and finished wire from suppliers across the United Kingdom, Europe, and internationally. Our principal wire suppliers include businesses in the Netherlands, Turkey, Spain, Italy, the UAE, Germany and the UK.
We understand that our Tier 1 suppliers are typically processors or intermediary traders who have further contractual relationships with Tier 2 suppliers, including primary steel producers. This extends our supply chain exposure and is reflected in our risk assessment approach.
- Our Understanding of Modern Slavery Risk
Modern slavery encompasses human trafficking; forced work through mental or physical threat; ownership or control of workers through abuse or the threat of abuse; dehumanisation or treatment as a commodity; and physical constraint or restriction of freedom of movement.
We consider our principal exposure to modern slavery risk to exist within our wire and steel supply chains, particularly where:
-Suppliers operate in or source from countries or regions where labour protections may be weaker or less consistently enforced.
-Production involves low-skilled or transient labour, including in mining, primary steelmaking and galvanising operations.
-Our Tier 1 suppliers are typically intermediary traders, and may have limited visibility into their own supply chains.
We consider the risk within our direct UK operations to be low, given that all employees are employed in the UK under UK employment law, and are paid at or above the Real Living Wage. However, we do not consider any supply chain to be entirely without risk, and we approach this as an ongoing programme of improvement rather than a one-time assessment.
- Steps Taken in 2025/26
Supplier Engagement and Due Diligence
During 2025/26 we have deepened our supplier engagement programme, primarily through our CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) data collection work and our EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) programme. As part of this programme:
–We issued Supplier Information Request Forms to all active wire suppliers, covering production routes, site-level emissions data and compliance certifications.
-We have begun building a supplier accreditation framework that will incorporate ESG criteria, including human rights and labour standards, alongside environmental data maturity.
–We have reviewed and updated supplier contracts to include termination rights in the event of confirmed involvement in modern slavery.
–We engaged directly with key suppliers on their ISO 14001 and H&S management system status, providing a further indicator of overall management system maturity.
Policies and Governance
During 2025/26 we have adopted a new overarching Sustainability Policy providing the formal governance foundation for our approach to responsible business, including our commitments on modern slavery and human rights.
Recruitment and HR
Our HR Manager leads all permanent, agency and temporary recruitment decisions. We maintain robust right-to-work checks and pay all directly employed workers at or above the Real Living Wage. Agency labour is sourced through reputable agencies with appropriate contractual obligations on labour standards.
Training and Awareness
We are developing a more structured training programme as part of our broader sustainability training, and expect to complete a dedicated modern slavery training programme for relevant colleagues during 2027.
- Statement of Approval
This statement has been approved by the Board of Directors of Siddall & Hilton Products Ltd and will be reviewed annually.
Signed:
Name: Andy Dawson
Position: Managing Director, Siddall & Hilton Products Ltd
Date: June 2026
