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understanding the updated tisc guidance and what it means for your business

Transparency in supply chains isn’t just good ethics – it’s smart business. Learn how the TISC Guidance empowers companies to identify risks and lead with integrity.
Understanding the TISC guidance

Modern slavery remains one of the most pressing global challenges in business today. The UK government’s Transparency in Supply Chains (TISC) Guidance provides practical direction for organisations on how to identify, prevent, and report modern slavery risks across their operations and supply chains.

The guidance is designed to help businesses produce high-quality modern slavery statements and take measurable steps toward eradicating exploitation.

In March 2025, the Home Office released an updated version of this guidance, the most significant refresh since the Modern Slavery Act 2015 came into force. The update signals a clear shift: from ticking compliance boxes to taking meaningful, transparent action that drives real change. 

At Unseen, our Business Services team has worked closely with this guidance to ensure our consultancy and training services fully align with what’s expected of businesses. We go beyond compliance, empowering companies to lead on ethical practice and set new standards for transparency.

Why tackling modern slavery matters

Modern slavery isn’t just a human rights issue, it’s a business integrity issue. Companies that fail to act face significant reputational, financial, and legal risks.

Being open and transparent about working conditions and supply chain risks builds trust and resilience. Identifying exploitation shouldn’t be seen as a negative outcome, but rather as the first positive step toward change, one that brings long-term benefits to your people, partners, and brand.

TISC Readiness Workshop
What’s new in the 2025 TISC guidance?

Two-tier Reporting Framework 

The new guidance introduces Level 1 (foundational) and Level 2 (advanced) disclosure tiers, encouraging organisations to move from compliance to continuous improvement over time. 

Alignment with Global Standards 

TISC now aligns with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Due Diligence Guidance, integrating modern slavery prevention into wider human-rights due diligence. 

Focus on Action and Impact 

Businesses are urged to go beyond describing policies. Modern slavery statements should outline actions taken, outcomes achieved, and lessons learned, demonstrating tangible progress year on year.

Broader Supply Chain Scope 

The definition of “supply chains” now extends beyond direct suppliers to include recruitment agencies and support services. The guidance encourages engagement with workers, unions, and NGOs, not just audits. 

Measuring Effectiveness

Organisations are expected to set key performance indicators (KPIs), monitor their effectiveness, and report openly on impact and improvements. 

How Unseen supports businesses to go further

Unseen’s consultancy services don’t just help organisations comply with legislation, they help them create meaningful, lasting change.

Our approach is shaped by survivor insight and built around the latest government guidance. Through tailored consultancy, training, and membership packages, we help businesses:

  • Develop comprehensive anti-slavery frameworks.
  • Strengthen supply chain transparency.
  • Build employee confidence through targeted training.
  • Track progress and demonstrate measurable impact.

 

Every client partnership is designed for long-term impact. Together, we can make supply chains safer, fairer, and more resilient and play a crucial role in ending exploitation for good.

The first step toward change

It’s not a matter of if exploitation exists somewhere in your supply chain, but when it will be uncovered. Finding it is not a failure, it’s progress.

By working with Unseen, your business can take confident, responsible, and transparent action that makes a real difference.

Ready to take the next step?

Unseen is launching a new, one-off workshop service designed to help large corporations prepare for alignment with the UK Government’s Transparency in Supply Chains (TISC) guidance. This service offers a quick-turnaround, high-impact opportunity to help businesses assess their readiness and build internal momentum toward ethical, transparent operations.

Get in touch with Unseen Business Services to see how we can help your organisation meet TISC guidance and take meaningful steps toward responsible business practices: [email protected] 

Learn more about how Unseen’s services directly align with the TISC guidance:

download information about Unseen's services
book your TISC Readiness Workshop

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Justine Currell

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.

Andrew Wallis

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.