An ethically and socially responsible university
We're a leading global university focused on Education, Research, and Knowledge Exchange and Enterprise – our "triple helix." We are made up of a diverse community and we are committed to acting ethically and responsibly in everything we do.
Our values are outlined in our University Strategy, supported by a sustainability plan developed with the Students' Union. This plan helps us align our work with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Organisational structure
The University of Southampton is a large, interdisciplinary institution and a founding member of the Russell Group. Established in 1862 as the Hartley Institute, we received our Royal Charter from Queen Elizabeth II in 1952. We operate campuses in Southampton, Winchester, Malaysia, and India.
Overview
Our Commitment to the Modern Slavery Act
We take active steps to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking:
- Ensuring all staff have the legal right to work in the UK through our recruitment policy and processes.
- Promoting a safe, inclusive workplace free from abuse or coercion and safeguarding employees.
- Training staff to identify and report risks of modern slavery.
- Monitoring our operations and supply chains for potential risks of modern slavery.
Key Actions Taken
- Raising awareness of modern slavery in our supply chain.
- Strengthening responsible procurement through an internal framework, embedding best practice in tenders and contract management.
- Segmenting our supply chain by category to understand high risk areas for targeted action.
- Offering anonymous reporting via Report+Support.
- Paying above the Living Wage Foundation rate for over a decade.
- Launching Inclusive Recruitment Champions to promote diversity.
- Upholding ethical, legal and professional standards through our research integrity framework.
- Ensuring ethical investments through our Treasury Management Policy and excluding links to modern slavery.
Employment policy and practices
We embed our principles through People-Focused policies and ensure ethical and inclusive employment through:
1: Robust recruitment practices
- Face-to-face or live video interviews to confirm voluntary participation.
- Pre-employment checks (e.g. right to work, references, qualifications, DBS).
- Clear employment contracts outlining pay, benefits, and conditions.
- Salary paid directly to the employee's bank account.
2: Casual work oversight
UniWorkforce ensures casual workers have the right to work, are paid fairly, and processed through payroll.
3: Agency and apprenticeship oversight
External recruitment partners are vetted through our procurement and contract management processes.
4: Manager support and training:
Guidance and training are available for all levels of recruitment experience.
5: Southampton behaviours
Promote trust, respect, compassion, and collaboration across the University.
6: Grievance and whistleblowing
Clear procedures for raising concerns,, including modern slavery, with updated policies in place since March 2025.
7: Staff support services
- Report+ Support: Anonymous or named reporting of bullying, harassment, or abuse
- Harassment Contacts: Confidential support
- Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 wellbeing support
- Occupational Health: Health advice and support
- Equality Staff Networks: Community and representation
- Faith and Reflection Centre: Independent listening service for all beliefs
8: Supporting policies
- Ethics Policy
- Inclusion and Respectful Behaviour Policy
- Whistleblowing Policy
- Anti-Corruption, Fraud & Bribery Policy
- Conflict of Interest Policy
- Health and Safety Policy
Procurement and the supply chain
Ethical supply chain commitment
We expect our suppliers to uphold the same high standards as the University. With over
£200m spent annually across 5,500+ UK and international suppliers, we embed ethical practices throughout our procurement processes to combat modern slavery and human trafficking. This is central to our five-year Procurement Strategy under the theme of Responsible Procurement.
Key actions
1: Understanding our supply chains
We categorise suppliers to identify high-risk areas-such as ICT hardware, construction, lab consumables, and furniture-and apply focused due diligence during tendering and contract management. A Responsible Procurement Risk Assessment helps flag potential modern slavery risks.
2: Due diligence
- Tender documents include modern slavery checks and rejection criteria.
- High-risk tenders include extra questions and KPls to monitor supplier compliance.
- Contracts include clauses for legal compliance and termination for breaches.
- Strategic suppliers are reviewed regularly, with anti-modern slavery policies required.
- ICT hardware is sourced via the LUPC framework, monitored by Electronics Watch,
an independent organisation that oversees factory working conditions. - Through SUPC, we are an affiliate member of Electronics Watch and use vetted national frameworks.
3: Supplier code of conduct
Published on our website and included in high-risk tenders, this outlines our expectations for ethical supplier behaviour.
4: Training and awareness
Procurement and contract teams receive modern slavery training, including sector-specific modules and workshops. We also engage with UKUPC and other sector groups to share best practices.
Active Bystander workshops help staff challenge poor behaviours.
Future plans: 2025 and beyond
We aim to strengthen our efforts through the following actions:
- Refine supply chain categorisation to better identify high-risk areas.
- Expand our responsible procurement framework to capture and track activity through tendering and contract management phases.
- Continue collaboration with UKUPC and sector groups to share best practices.
- Raise awareness across the University via internal web pages and communications.
- Explore new initiatives through the Sustainability and Resilience Institute.
- Deliver the Reducing Casualisation project to promote fair employment by reducing reliance on non-permanent contracts.
- Increase awareness of the Modern Slavery Act through our Inclusive Recruitment Champions and training programmes.
This statement was endorsed by the University Executive Board on 7 October 2025, and approved by the University's Council on 25 November 2025.
Signed by: Professor Mark E. Smith
President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Southampton