Congratulations to the Winners of the 2024 Unseen Business Awards!
These awards have once again highlighted the extraordinary achievements of businesses and individuals in combating modern slavery.
The 2024 Unseen Business Awards took place at London’s Kia Oval on 19 September, drawing participants from various sectors to celebrate remarkable initiatives. From creating sustainable livelihoods for survivors to developing cutting-edge technology to disrupt human trafficking networks, this year’s winners are truly leading the charge.
Discover their inspiring stories and the incredible impact they’re making below.
Business Impact Award Winner - Manumit Coffee Roasters
Manumit Coffee Roasters, founded by Dai Hankey and Nick Davis, has been recognised with the Business Impact Award for its transformative approach to tackling modern slavery. More than just producing exceptional coffee, Manumit creates sustainable livelihoods for survivors, enabling them to rebuild their lives. Over the past seven years, the company has provided stable employment to over 13 survivors of modern slavery.
At the heart of Manumit’s mission is ethical sourcing and transparency. Dai and Nick have implemented stringent supply chain policies, including supplier audits and fair trade practices, to ensure their operations are free from exploitation. Nick personally spends several months each year in Uganda, establishing direct trade relationships with farmers and ensuring ethical standards are maintained. This approach guarantees traceability from farm to cup, with fair wages and safe working conditions for all involved.
In addition to ethical sourcing, Manumit offers survivors employment in its roastery, alongside comprehensive training programmes that equip them with valuable skills. Survivors also receive ongoing support and counselling services to aid in their holistic rehabilitation.
Through their work with Red Community, a Christian anti-slavery charity in Wales, Dai and Nick have raised awareness and fostered collaborations with local organisations, further amplifying the fight against exploitation.
Manumit’s commitment to ethical practices and its wider social impact make it a worthy recipient of the Business Impact Award, setting a strong example for other businesses to follow.
Partnership Award Winner - Lloyds Banking Group
Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) has been awarded the Unseen Business Awards Partnership Award for its innovative approach to combating exploitation. By forming strategic alliances with NGOs, taskforces, law enforcement, and industry partners, LBG has become a force in the fight against modern slavery, embedding ethical practices at the core of its operations.
One standout example of this commitment is LBG’s work within the construction sector—a high-risk area for labour exploitation. Over the past year, LBG has overseen more than 1.1 million construction hours across 500 projects, working with seven major construction firms to raise awareness of modern slavery and ensure ethical management of labour practices.
In collaboration with Unseen, LBG conducted rigorous risk assessments of high-risk suppliers. This led to the facilitation of a virtual roundtable with their construction partners, providing a platform to share common challenges and discuss best practices to mitigate risks.
Following this, LBG introduced two key initiatives: conducting a worker wellbeing visit in partnership with Unseen and incorporating modern slavery risk management into quarterly reviews with construction partners. These measures have fostered collaboration and enhanced best practices across the sector.
By training over 40 suppliers and internal managers, LBG ensures that ethical vigilance is not just a policy but part of its culture. Their collaborative and proactive approach underscores the power of partnership in the fight against modern slavery.
Individual Impact Award Winner - Euan Chan (Value Match)
Euan Chan has been recognised with the Unseen Business Awards Individual Impact Award for his remarkable dedication to human rights and the fight against modern slavery. His journey began during the 2019-2020 Hong Kong protests, where he witnessed first-hand the devastating impact of state-sanctioned violence. This experience fuelled his passion to protect the vulnerable and confront exploitation head-on.
From 2021 to 2023, Euan made a significant impact at STOP THE TRAFFIK, where he advised on anti-slavery strategies and assessed risks across £1.5 billion in procurement. Now, as Lead Consultant for Sustainability, Human Rights, and Social Impact at consultancy firm, Value Match, he has turned his focus to the small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector, with impressive results.
Euan authored the Value Match’s 2023/4 Modern Slavery Review, setting out the company’s strategies and key performance indicators for tackling modern slavery. His role-specific training programmes have led to a 37% increase in awareness and an 88% satisfaction rate among staff. Additionally, he has initiated collaboration with suppliers to support and compensate victims of exploitation.
One of Euan’s notable achievements is the development of Value Match’s publicly available supply chain risk mapping methodology, which has set a new standard for transparency in the SME sector. Euan’s work also extends to the Sustainable Schools Assessment, helping UK schools evaluate their human rights and sustainability practices. His tireless efforts exemplify how individual commitment can inspire broader change, advancing ethical business practices and championing human rights across industries.
Innovation Award Winner - RedCompass Labs
RedCompass Labs, a leader in consulting and technology with over 20 years in the payments industry, has been awarded the Unseen Business Awards Innovation Award for its pioneering work in tackling financial crime. In response to the growing misuse of payment systems for human trafficking and modern slavery, RedCompass Labs has leveraged its deep expertise to develop a powerful solution: the RedFlag Accelerator
With nearly 50 million people trapped in modern slavery, the RedFlag Accelerator uses AI, advanced payment data analytics, and cutting-edge methodologies to disrupt the financial networks that fuel these crimes. This innovative tool allows banks to identify, track, and dismantle the financial infrastructure behind human trafficking—a $150 billion industry.
What sets the RedFlag Accelerator apart is its ability to go beyond tracking suspicious payments. It analyses intricate payment behaviours and patterns, allowing banks to detect traffickers with an unprecedented level of precision. RedCompass has partnered with over 60 global banks, AML vendors, and organisations like the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC) to amplify its impact.
Through its innovative approach and global partnerships, RedCompass Labs is setting a new standard in the fight against financial crime, driving progress in the battle against human exploitation.
Unseen Star of the Year Winner - Nishma Shah (Legal & General)
Nishma Shah, Senior Sustainability Manager at Legal & General (L&G), has been recognised as Unseen’s Star of the Year, for her exemplary work in combating modern slavery within the financial sector. Since L&G joined Unseen’s Business Hub in September 2023, Nishma has played a pivotal role in reshaping the company’s approach to human rights and transparency.
Nishma has spearheaded several key initiatives, from developing L&G’s forthcoming escalation and remediation approach to launching a project aimed at engaging SMEs in the construction sector. She has also conducted bespoke training across various business operations, including facilities management and their investment portfolio, embedding modern slavery awareness into the company’s core practices.
One of her notable achievements includes implementing key performance indicators in L&G’s Modern Slavery Statement for the first time—marking a significant step toward transparency and accountability in an industry where this has often been a challenge.
Nishma’s leadership reflects a broader vision for continuous improvement and corporate accountability, ensuring L&G remains at the forefront of ethical business.
Finally, we extend our sincere thanks to all nominees, guest speakers, sponsors, and those who attended the awards ceremony. Your participation and support were crucial to making the event a success.
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Feeling inspired to join this community of forward-thinking businesses? At Unseen, we work with businesses of all sizes and sectors on their approach to modern slavery. Learn more about how Unseen Business can help you make a difference. Contact us today.
