Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking statement

Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking statement

January to December 2024

This statement constitutes the slavery and human trafficking statement for Our Media Limited in respect of the 2024 financial year made pursuant to Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015:

Our story

Our Media Limited (“Our Media”) is a leading special-interest content business, based in the buzzing, creative city of Bristol. We’re home to market-leading brands in craft, cycling, science and nature, homes and music.

We help our audiences pursue their passions through highly trusted, original content – in print, video and online. Our much-loved brands include BBC Science Focus, BBC Wildlife Magazine, YourHome, Gathered.how, BikeRadar and Cycling Plus.

We also have an award-winning content marketing agency, producing results-driven content and consultancy for brands, charities and organisations.

Our Policies on Modern Slavery

Our Media is proud of its commitment to ensuring a high standard of ethical trade practices, including the provision of safe working conditions and the protection of workers’ rights, across its global businesses.

Our business has long conducted its procurement activity in accordance with the provisions of its Ethical Policy, which reflects the international standards set out in the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions. For many years, we have required suppliers to observe the Ethical Policy and the Code of Business Conduct and to demonstrate a similar commitment to an ongoing programme of ensuring (and, where necessary, improving) ethical and compliant corporate and supply practices.

Structure and Supply Chains: Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethical Policy form part of all of our supply contracts and can be found in links at the foot of the homepage of our corporate website. As Our Media has invested in both organic growth and growth by means of acquisition, these fundamental values have been brought into play in all parts of its business. All parts of Our Media’s business are in compliance with the Code of Business Conduct.

Risk Assessment and Due Diligence

Key staff have been identified within our business and tasked with primary responsibility for understanding, assessing and monitoring the risk within our business of modern slavery and human trafficking. Those staff include our Production Director, Group Production and Sustainability Manager, Head of People,  Buying Manager (for our Craft and Sports brands) and our Facilities Manager. We conduct training for all staff to remind them of our ethical policies and our obligations in respect of combating modern slavery.

Many of our key suppliers are subject to regular ethical audit, which includes independent investigations into the protection of workers’ rights and prevention of slavery or human trafficking. These audits allow us to identify and measure the effectiveness of our suppliers’ compliance with our modern slavery policies.

Our actions

Any concerns relating to slavery or human trafficking must be reported promptly to Our Media’s CEO and CFO. You can reach them by emailing legal@ourmedia.co.uk.

Our Media continues to work with its industry peers, through the Professional Publishers’ Association, to remain exponents of best practice.

This statement has been approved by Our Media Limited’s CEO and CFO.

Signed: Andy Marshall, CEO