Discover the pioneering businesses and individuals leading the charge against modern slavery. Our expert judging panel has carefully selected the following winners for their exceptional commitment, innovation, and impact.
Does your business champion ethical practices? Stand out as an industry leader in the fight against modern slavery.
The Unseen Business Awards seek to recognise the important work, achievements and commitment shown by businesses tackling modern slavery, and to inspire more businesses to join the fight.
Gain industry recognition for your commitment to ethical practices
Network with like-minded businesses driving positive change
Enhance your brand reputation as a leader in social responsibility
Benchmark your progress against industry peers
Attract and retain talent and consumers who value ethical sourcing
All businesses and individuals taking meaningful action to tackle modern slavery are encouraged to enter. We welcome entries from any size or sector, as long as the project or initiative is recent (conducted within the past 2 years). Showcase your comprehensive efforts – apply for multiple awards to highlight your impact!
“Being recognised by such an important organisation in the modern slavery landscape as Unseen is an honour. The Unseen Business Awards were a great opportunity to make connections with organisations and individuals who are working purposefully towards exposing and eradicating this heinous crime.”
“As a guest facing business, the public are more aware of and interested in the social and ethical practices of the businesses they engage with. Winning the Business Impact Award has amplified our commitment to tackling modern slavery at Shiva Hotels with our guests.”
“Winning the Innovation Award was a real morale booster; it was great to receive recognition for the new approaches that we’d been pioneering over the previous few months.”
The Unseen Business Awards celebrate exceptional efforts in the fight against modern slavery across two categories: Business Awards and Individual Awards.
We present five awards in total, acknowledging a range of contributions that drive positive change.
This award recognises a business demonstrating significant progress in eradicating modern slavery from its operations or supply chain.
This award celebrates a business pioneering new approaches to identify and address worker exploitation.
Recognising the power of teamwork, this award celebrates businesses fostering successful partnerships to combat modern slavery.
This award honours individuals who have spearheaded efforts to combat modern slavery within their organisation or with the wider sector.
This prestigious award, presented by Unseen, acknowledges an individual’s exceptional support for Unseen’s mission. The winner is chosen internally by Unseen and its trustees. It is not open to nominations.
Our esteemed judging panel comprises leading experts from various sectors, each with a proven track record in combating modern slavery. Their diverse expertise ensures a rigorous and fair evaluation process.
All nominations will be assessed against four key criteria:
Please see the nomination guidelines below for more information on what the judges will be looking for, and further details on award categories.
Download the nomination guidelines for details on award categories and criteria
Prepare your nomination highlighting an impactful project or achievement from the past two years
Shortlisted nominees will be contacted by the end of August
Winners will be announced at our Unseen Business Awards show on 19 September
Recognise your business’s leadership in ethical practices. Nominate a champion for the Unseen Business Awards and showcase your commitment to ending modern slavery. Gain industry recognition, network with purpose-driven leaders, and inspire others to join the fight.
Nominations close Friday 2 August at 23.59pm.
Unseen is dedicated to ending slavery for good. We support survivors and work collaboratively to tackle exploitation in business operations and supply chains.
Build a stronger business with our expert services. We tailor them to your specific needs, helping you implement ethical practices and ensure a slavery-free supply chain.
Discover the inspiring stories of the 2023 Unseen Business Award winners and the impactful initiatives they’re leading to eradicate modern slavery.
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As I came to understand more about the issue, including through a visit to an Unseen safehouse, I knew I needed to do more to stop this abuse and exploitation.
For the last five years of my Civil Service career, I was the Modern Slavery Senior Policy Advisor in the Home Office and led on development of the Modern Slavery Act, including the transparency in supply chains provision and business guidance.
I joined Unseen to lead the development of the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline, and Unseen’s work with businesses. I am regularly called upon to present at national and international conferences and use my experience of working with Ministers to influence other governments internationally to take action to address modern slavery and, in particular, business supply chain issues.
In my spare time I enjoy keeping fit, music, reading and travelling.
What ultimately compelled me to act was a report on how people from Eastern Europe were being trafficked through Bristol airport to the USA. Kate Garbers, who went on to be an Unseen Director, and I wrote to all the city councillors, MPs and the Police Chief Constable challenging them on the issue. The challenge came back to us: this city needs safe housing for trafficked women. And so Unseen began.
But we never wanted Unseen to be just about safe housing. We wanted to end slavery once and for all, and that remains our driving focus.
I chaired the working group for the Centre for Social Justice’s landmark report “It Happens Here: Equipping the United Kingdom to Fight Modern Slavery”. This is now acknowledged as the catalyst behind the UK’s Modern Slavery Act of 2015. It was a great honour to be awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours that year. On the other hand, I’ve also been described as “the loveliest disrupter you could ever hope to meet”.
This job has taken me from building flat-pack furniture for safehouses, to working with businesses to address slavery in supply chains, to delivering training, raising awareness and advising governments around the world.
When not at work, I enjoy travelling, spending time with my dog Harley, cooking, supporting Liverpool and Yorkshire CC, music (I’m a former DJ) and endurance events such as the Three Peaks Challenge and Tribe Freedom Runs – which I vow never to do again. Until the next time.
