GLAA delivers training to University of Nottingham on Anti-Slavery Day

The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) has delivered training on how to spot the signs of labour exploitation for frontline employees at the University of Nottingham to mark Anti-Slavery Day (October 18).

Attendees listened to a one-hour presentation covering everything from an introduction to the GLAA, the ways in which slavery and exploitation may manifest on campus, and how to respond to potential cases.

A question and answer session was held at the end of the event and all participants received handouts containing further information on some of the indicators of exploitation and contact details to report suspicions.

Further webinars will be delivered to frontline staff in areas such as security, catering and estates in the run up to the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery on December 2.

The sessions support ongoing work by the university to create a campus free from slavery and exploitation.

In July 2021, the University of Nottingham’s Rights Lab launched its Slavery-Free Campus report, offering a blueprint for how higher education institutions can do more to lead the fight against modern slavery.

The research highlighted three key areas where universities are most vulnerable to modern slavery:

• Staff working in unskilled jobs, and where HR procedures are not robust (e.g. right to work checks, payment of minimum wage)
• Students at risk – particularly those who are struggling financially
• Purchasing goods that may have risks of modern slavery in their supply chains

A Slavery-Free Campus Framework was produced alongside the report, suggesting how universities can build long-term institutional responses to the problem through:

• Prevention: creating an environment where slavery cannot flourish
• Discovery: responding to any ongoing issues within universities
• Sustainable resilience: ensuring that universities maintain their commitment and engagement, evolving their response as modern slavery itself evolves

GLAA Head of Prevention and Partnerships Frank Hanson said: “We are delighted to provide this training to ensure that frontline staff at the University of Nottingham are aware of their rights and can spot and report the signs of modern slavery.

“Universities are directly affected by the issue of modern slavery. The academic research produced by the Rights Lab has offered a blueprint for how they can rise to the challenge and become leaders in taking action against modern slavery and labour exploitation.  

“The practical steps suggested in the report in terms of education, awareness-raising and community engagement are ones that can be easily replicated on campuses across the country and we would encourage all universities to play their part in preventing the exploitation of vulnerable workers.”

Dr Lisa Carroll, Commercial Director at the University of Nottingham, said: “Our research behind the Blueprint highlighted a need to educate staff and students on the signs to look out for in identifying potential cases of modern slavery and labour exploitation. We are home to the world's leading modern slavery experts in the Rights Lab, who have excellent links to the sector and global anti-slavery community, and through partnering with the GLAA, we are delivering the highest quality training to improve staff and student awareness.

“We are committed to a fundamental analysis of the university’s operations and supply chain and the university will report each year on our systematic progress against this Blueprint in its Modern Slavery Statement.”

Professor Zoe Trodd, Director of the Rights Lab, said: “We greatly value our long-standing partnership with the GLAA, including work on exploitation in hand car washes, and on a new Level 1 Award in labour exploitation.

“We are thrilled that the GLAA is providing this important training to colleagues across our university, as part of the journey to becoming a Slavery-Free Campus, and are excited to continue working with Dr Carroll and the university’s Modern Slavery Act Working Group to deliver the Blueprint as a model for the higher education sector and beyond.”