Modern Slavery Act Statement

Modern Slavery Act Statement

D.C Thomson Modern Slavery Statement 2024/2025

INTRODUCTION FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF DC THOMSON & COMPANY LIMITED

The DC Thomson group takes its legal and social responsibilities very seriously and holds itself to the highest professional and ethical standards. Business practices can always be improved, and we are therefore committed to continuous learning about modern slavery and improving our practices to ensure that slavery and human trafficking are not present in our business or supply chain.

MEANING OF SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING

For the purposes of this statement, the definitions of slavery and human trafficking are based on those set out in the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (the Act). We recognise that slavery and human trafficking can occur in many forms, such as forced labour, child labour, domestic servitude, sex trafficking and workplace abuse and that it can include the restriction of a person’s freedom of movement whether that be physical, non-physical or, for example, by the withholding of a worker’s identity papers.

GROUP ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

DC Thomson is a private company that heads up one of the leading media organisations in the UK operating under a portfolio of well-known brands. It is headquartered in Dundee, Scotland, with group trading companies located across the UK and in the USA, Singapore and Australia. The Group produces high quality print and digital publications that are distributed around the world, as well as offering cloud hosting facilities and technological solution services, entertainment and retail services.

This statement is made on behalf of the following UK-based group operations: DC Thomson and Company Limited, Aberdeen Journals Limited, The Stylist Group Limited, Puzzler Media Limited, Findmypast Limited, Brightsolid Online Technology Limited, Beano Studios Limited, Emanata Studios Limited, Fifth Ring Limited, Kingdom FM Radio Limited, Original Aberdeen FM Limited and PSP Media Group Limited.

OUR SUPPLY CHAINS

Given the diverse nature of our business, we have third party product suppliers and service providers throughout the world who supply goods and services to the Group. Our third-party suppliers include, but are not limited to, printing and publishing suppliers; advertising and marketing agents and consultants; information technology providers; product manufacturers and importers; distribution and logistics providers; and events and hospitality services.

We are committed to continually assessing and improving our processes in order to ensure that slavery and human trafficking are not present in our business or supply chain. As part of this commitment, we have undertaken the following actions:

DEVELOPING RELEVANT POLICIES

In our commitment to ensure that modern slavery is not present in our business or supply chains, DC Thomson has a number of relevant internal policies and procedures in place which our employees must adhere to. Our anti-corruption and bribery policy sets out our expectations that our employees will be vigilant against high-risk behaviours, and our whistleblowing policy is designed to support our employees with raising concerns where they have suspicions of any issues relating to modern slavery, human trafficking, corruption or bribery.

REAL LIVING WAGE EMPLOYERS

DC Thomson is committed to paying employees the Real Living Wage. In 2017, the company became an accredited Real Living Wage employer. As such an employer, we require that any 3rd party suppliers’ employees working on our premises also receive the real Living Wage.

SUPPLIER DUE DILIGENCE

RISK ASSESSMENT

With the closure in 2020 of a group business that sourced product primarily from Asia, the Group’s risk in this area has been materially reduced. However, as long as we continue to conduct business in areas where there is a higher risk of modern slavery or trafficking, we will continue to apply a robust due diligence risk assessment process that includes, where appropriate, conducting site visits and inspections of key suppliers.

TRAINING AND AWARENESS

DC Thomson is committed to ensuring that staff are fully trained to recognise the signs of slavery and human trafficking. We have replaced our mandatory training package for the group to ensure we have content that is comprehensive and up to date in all applicable compliance areas, including modern slavery.

This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes our slavery and human trafficking statement for the financial year ending 31 March 2025.