Action Sustainability is partnering with ethical consultancy Align to help tackle modern slavery, trafficking, and exploitation across the built environment sector.
Through the partnership, lived experience consultants will be involved in the delivery of modern slavery-related training, advisory, and engagement activities.
This includes work through the Supply Chain Sustainability School, where Align will contribute to the development and delivery of learning content and workshops.
“Through the Supply Chain Sustainability School, we support thousands of professionals across the built environment and infrastructure sectors to better understand and manage modern slavery risks,” said EJ Allen, lead consultant for modern slavery and human rights at Action Sustainability.
“This partnership with Align enables us to bring lived experience directly into that learning, offering deeper, more practical insight that supports real change on the ground.”
The announcement follows recent updates to the Home Office’s Transparency in Supply Chains guidance for businesses.
Section 3.2 of the guidance emphasises the value of engaging with workers and those with lived experience of exploitation, noting that their input can significantly improve an organisation’s understanding of risk and the effectiveness of due diligence.
The guidance also advises that engagement should be trauma-informed and supported by expert non-governmental organisations, to ensure ethical practice and safeguard individuals involved.
“Lived experience improves the quality and effectiveness of modern slavery strategies,” said Phillip Clayton, director of Align. “This partnership provides a route for more organisations to access that insight and apply it meaningfully in their work.”
