CONTENTS
1. Introduction
2. Approach to Modern Slavery
3. External Resources
1. Introduction
1.1 The Modern Slavery Act 2015 requires businesses in the UK (having annual turnover of £36m or more) to disclose information regarding the steps they have taken to eradicate slavery and human trafficking from their business and supply chain.
1.2 The Advertising Association (AA) is committed to acting ethically and with integrity and although our turnover is below the £36m threshold, we have taken steps to ensure that modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in our organisation or within our wider supply chain.
1.3 The AA is a tripartite trade association that represents the interests of advertisers, agencies and the media. Our main sources of revenue are membership subscriptions, events and royalties. We are a company limited by guarantee, politically neutral and independent, with 30+ employees based in the UK in both its London office and remotely.
1.4 In terms of corporate governance, operational and strategic issues are the responsibility of the AA Board, chaired by the AA Chair and AA CEO and supported by AA Council led by the AA President.Day–to–day running of the AA is led by the CEO, currently Stephen Woodford, and the senior leadership team. For more information regarding the members of our Board and Council, please visit our website.
1.5 This policy is reviewed and updated annually.Please check this policy annually to ensure that you stay current with our latest Modern Slavery Policy.
2. Approach to Modern Slavery
2.1 It is estimated that all our active suppliers are low risk given the country and context of operation, the type of organisation, our knowledge of our suppliersand our level of spend.
2.2 As a trade association our largest suppliers are engaged in the provision of services to support our staff and offices. Staff services include both direct costs (HR services, and employee benefits) and indirect costs (such as IT provision, recruitment agencies, and office costs such as rent, rates, cleaning and catering). The other significant type of supplier is for our events, such as large hotels or venues, and digital platforms.
2.3 The AA is committed to managing procurement responsibly and we commit to a robust due diligence process to identify and mitigate modern slavery risks in our supply chain. We do ask, and reserve the right to ask, any of our suppliers for:
a. Evidence of their own modern slavery policies and procedures
b. Confirmation of workforce payment practices
2.4 The AA maintains clear and accessible channels for whistleblowers who report modern slavery concerns, ensuring all reports are treated with strict confidentiality and those reporting are protected from retribution or retaliation. Concerns can be reported by emailing the AA’s dedicated HR mailbox HRsupport@adassoc.org.uk.
2.5 The AA can confirm that all suppliers to our London, Aldwych, office pay their staff, at minimum, the National Living Wage.
2.6 The AA can confirm that it pays all its employees, at a minimum, the National Living Wage.
2.7 The AA can confirm that it pays all its employees, at a minimum, the London Living Wage.
2.8 Our recruitment processes are transparent and reviewed regularly. We communicate directly with candidates to discuss job opportunities and to confirm the details of any offer made. We have robust procedures in place for the vetting of new employees and ensure that we can confirm their identities and that they are paid directly into an appropriate, personal bank account. We have policies and procedures in place to ensure compliance with all human rights laws and UK employment laws. We are satisfied that our employees are not exploited in any way.
3. External Resources
3.1 The AA recognises the importance of partnership and collaboration in combating modern slavery. We provide access to the following external resources:
Government Resources
Local Support
• Metropolitan Police Modern Slavery Unit: 101 (non-emergency)
These resources are available to all employees, suppliers, and stakeholders.
This policy was last reviewed and updated on 4 February 2025
