CIPS supports development of Modern Slavery Helpline

CIPS 28 February 2025

The modern slavery charity, Unseen, will boost the data analysis and supply chain intelligence capabilities of its Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline after receiving a £60,000 grant from the CIPS Foundation, a linked charity to the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS).  

Modern slavery remains widespread in supply chains, affecting vulnerable workers and posing significant risks to businesses. The CIPS Foundation has backed the project in recognition of the vital role procurement professionals play in identifying and addressing these risks.

Ben Farrell CEO of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) said: “Being able to support Unseen through the CIPS Foundation is core to our mission of promoting ethical procurement throughout the supply chain. 

“Modern Slavery needs to be eradicated and businesses need the tools and support to ensure they are equipped to combat this. By strengthening the Helpline and working closely with Unseen we aim to help the most at risk individuals from being exploited further.”

Unseen, who runs the helpline, provides free, year-round confidential support to potential victims and collects crucial data points from incoming contacts. In 2023, the service received 11,700 contacts and is projected to handle over 40,000 contacts by 2027. 

The funding for the year-long project will enable the Helpline to boost its data analysis capabilities with new technology. This will help provide businesses with more timely and accurate intelligence on labour exploitation cases within their supply chains.

Tackling modern slavery through data

The data gathered by the Helpline provides invaluable insights into types of exploitation, recruitment tactics, methods of control, and victim demographics. Key improvements will include:

• Emerging pattern detection: Identifying new trends in exploitation cases that were previously undetectable
• Linking related cases: Highlighting connections between exploitation cases to provide a deeper understanding of potential issues
• Automated reporting: Anonymised data reports and trends will be automatically generated and visualized. This will offer quick access to actionable data through the Business Portal – an online platform for businesses to receive critical updates on modern slavery risks in their supply chains.

Andrew Wallis OBE, CEO of Unseen, said: "Identifying emerging patterns quickly is critical for effective interventions on modern slavery. With this funding, we can strengthen our Helpline’s data capabilities, empowering businesses to build ethical, resilient supply chains. The initiative will also deliver benefits to the broader procurement sector, anti-slavery organisations, and stakeholders like law enforcement and policymakers by providing access to more actionable data for coordinated, effective responses. 

Furthermore, Unseen will continue to share anonymised Helpline data insights and trends through sector-specific roundtables, events, and targeted reports, fostering cross-sector collaboration in tackling exploitation.

Each year, the CIPS Foundation offers funding opportunities to charities that are committed to improving supply chains and ethical and sustainable standards around the world.

Find out more about Unseen’s Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline