Why the benchmark matters
CCLA’s benchmark remains one of the most influential tools for assessing how companies address modern slavery. It evaluates organisations on their compliance with the Modern Slavery Act, alignment with Home Office guidance, and the steps they take to identify, address, and prevent exploitation in their operations and supply chains.
Rather than simply checking for the existence of policies, the benchmark looks at how well companies are putting commitments into action. This makes it a valuable source of insight for businesses seeking to understand where they stand.
How Unseen's clients are performing
Within the 2025 results, a few findings stand out in relation to companies working with us at Unseen:
- Five of the top 10 most improved companies are Unseen partners.
- Investec, one of our clients, was the most improved company for 2025 and of all time.
- All Unseen membership clients from 2024 are positioned in Tier 2 or above.
- 92% of companies that worked with Unseen in 2024 improved their benchmark score.
- 100% either moved up a Tier or stayed in the same Tier.
These outcomes demonstrate that organisations that proactively engage with experts make faster and more meaningful progress in addressing modern slavery.
This will be even more significant in the 2026 benchmark, as the updated TISC (Transparency in Supply Chains) guidance places greater emphasis on collaboration with NGOs such as Unseen. The outcomes also reflect the growing maturity of companies committed to going beyond mere compliance. At Unseen, we are incredibly proud of these findings. They are a testament to the dedication of our Business Services team and the outstanding engagement we receive from our clients.
Unseen was pleased to see specific case studies of our work with businesses featured in the report.
Our collaborations with Lloyds Banking Group (p.66) and British Land (p.75) showcase practical ways to amplify worker voice in corporate supply chains. These initiatives demonstrate how organisations can create safe, effective channels for raising concerns, aligning with TISC guidance on the critical role of worker input in identifying risks, preventing exploitation, and ensuring responsible supply chain practices.
The CCLA benchmark webinar also highlighted the complexities of safely engaging with survivors, a core focus of Unseen’s work. We help corporates integrate survivor voice into modern slavery strategies in ways that are meaningful, actionable, and never tokenistic, ensuring these perspectives genuinely shape business practice, as emphasised by Dame Sara Thornton in the 2025 benchmark presentation.
What the 2025 benchmark shows about UK business performance
Although there are encouraging developments, the benchmark also reveals ongoing challenges across the corporate landscape.
Policies are common, implementation less so
Most companies now have policies relating to modern slavery, but many continue to focus on documentation rather than embedding robust, practical processes.
Disclosure of modern slavery cases remains rare
Only a limited number of organisations were reported identifying cases of modern slavery. Considering the scale of global exploitation, this suggests that companies may not be engaging their supply chains effectively or may not yet feel equipped to report transparently.
In 2024, all of Unseen’s clients who were given a Tier 1 rating published potential cases they received through multiple channels, including Unseen’s Business Portal. A unique service providing anonymised data from the Modern Slavery and Exploitation Helpline.
With Unseen’s support, clients were able to manage these allegations effectively, translating reporting into meaningful change.
Worker voice and grievance mechanisms lack transparency
While many businesses refer to channels such as whistleblowing lines, few disclose how frequently these systems are actually used. Without this information, it is difficult to assess whether workers feel able to speak up specifically about modern slavery related concerns or whether mechanisms are truly accessible.
Remediation is still the weakest area
Support for survivors remains the least developed aspect of company responses. Clear procedures, meaningful remediation pathways, and transparent reporting are still lacking across most sectors.
Prevention efforts are strengthening but slowly…
Companies are gradually strengthening preventive approaches, particularly in governance and procurement practices. However, for many, prevention is still evolving from intention into consistent practice.
Sector highlights and areas for improvement
During the webinar presenting the 2025 benchmark, CCLA specifically called out the construction and finance sectors as needing to do more. These sectors were identified as underperforming in key areas such as risk detection, remediation, and transparency, and were encouraged to strengthen both governance and practical implementation of anti-slavery measures.
At the same time, the finance sector also showed some of the biggest improvements compared with previous benchmarks, demonstrating that meaningful progress is possible when companies invest in stronger processes and governance.
Overall reflection
The 2025 CCLA benchmark highlights both progress and ongoing gaps in corporate responses to modern slavery. It shows that some companies are improving through meaningful engagement, while also underscoring the need for greater transparency, stronger remediation processes, and more comprehensive risk management.
During the webinar, it was also interesting to hear Martin Buttle, Better Work Lead at CCLA, specifically emphasise that businesses not aligning with the TISC (Transparency in Supply Chains) guidance will risk falling behind next year, reinforcing the value of services like our TISC readiness workshop, which gives organisations a fast, focused way to assess compliance readiness, align internal teams, and build a clear roadmap toward ethical, transparent operations.
The benchmark also demonstrates that continuous improvement is vital. Modern slavery risks and supply chain complexities are constantly evolving, and companies need to embed ongoing learning, regular review of processes, and proactive updates to policies and practices.
This is highlighted by the fact that all Unseen’s 2024 membership clients are in Tier 1 or 2, showing the long-term impact of consistent engagement and support.
Organisations that commit to continuous improvement are better positioned to respond to emerging risks, strengthen governance, and translate commitments into meaningful, lasting action.
Congratulations to the CCLA Team on this great publication.