Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement For the financial year ending 31 December 2026
Introduction
Modern slavery is a serious crime and a breach of fundamental human rights. It takes various forms, including slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour and human trafficking. These practices share a common feature: the deprivation of a person’s liberty in order to exploit them for personal or commercial gain.
Waylands Automotive Limited has a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery. We are committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all business dealings and relationships, and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to help ensure that modern slavery does not occur within our business or our supply chains.
Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (the “Act”) requires qualifying organisations to publish an annual slavery and human trafficking statement describing the steps taken to help prevent modern slavery within their business and supply chains. This statement sets out the steps taken during the financial year ending 31 December 2025, and the actions we continue to take, to help ensure that slavery and human trafficking are not taking place in our business or supply chains.
The Group’s trading operations are undertaken through Waylands Automotive Limited. This statement also applies to the Group’s subsidiaries listed in the Appendix.
Legal and regulatory developments
During 2025 and 2026, expectations regarding transparency, governance and supply chain risk management in relation to modern slavery have continued to evolve, including through the following developments:
UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 (section 54) – updated statutory guidance
The Home Office published updated statutory guidance on Transparency in Supply Chains in March 2025 (with further updates in December 2025). While the statutory requirement to publish an annual statement remains unchanged, the guidance sets clearer expectations on the content and quality of disclosures and encourages organisations to describe actions taken, implementation and outcomes (including the “Level 1” and “Level 2” disclosure recommendations).
UK public procurement
The Procurement Act 2023 introduced a reformed exclusions and debarment regime for public contracts, including grounds relating to serious misconduct and certain offences (including modern slavery-related offences). Although the Group does not participate in public sector contracts, these developments may continue to influence broader market expectations and due diligence standards across supply chains.
Group Structure
The Group is an independent, family-owned automotive retailer representing a number of franchised brands. We aim to provide brand-specific retail environments for customers and colleagues.
The Group’s principal activities include the sale of passenger cars, vehicle servicing and associated activities. All of the Group’s operations are based in the United Kingdom and the Group employs approximately 525 colleagues across its businesses.
Our Supply Chains
The Group’s principal suppliers are global vehicle manufacturers that supply vehicles and parts for onward sale to customers and under whose franchise arrangements the Group operates its motor dealership businesses.
The Group also has commercial arrangements with vehicle finance and insurance providers that offer finance and insurance products to the Group’s customers. In addition, the Group engages a range of other providers of goods and ancillary services (including oil and consumables suppliers, and valeting services).
Our Policies on Slavery and Human Trafficking
We are committed to ensuring that modern slavery and human trafficking have no place in our business or supply chains. We have adopted an Anti-Slavery Policy that reflects our commitment to acting ethically and with integrity in all business relationships, supported by systems and controls designed to help prevent slavery and human trafficking.
Due Diligence Processes for Slavery and Human Trafficking
As part of our approach to identifying and mitigating risk, we continue to maintain and enhance systems and controls to:
- Identify and assess potential modern slavery risk areas within our business and supply chains.
- Implement proportionate controls to mitigate identified risks, focusing on higher-risk areas.
- Maintain and promote effective reporting channels (including our Whistleblowing Policy) and protect whistleblowers.
- Maintain and communicate relevant internal policies and procedures that support ethical conduct and compliance.
The Group communicates employee rights and benefits through the employee intranet and individual contracts of employment. The Group does not engage individuals through off-payroll working arrangements.
Supplier Adherence to Our Values
We have a zero-tolerance approach to slavery and human trafficking. We continue to review and strengthen our supply chain management practices to help ensure that suppliers and contractors operate in line with our values and meet their legal obligations.
This includes, where appropriate, seeking confirmation from key suppliers that they have implemented contractual provisions prohibiting modern slavery and human trafficking and that they have adopted relevant internal policies. Key commercial agreements are reviewed at director level.
A number of key commercial arrangements already include specific provisions addressing slavery and human trafficking. Contractual arrangements will be updated where appropriate, including on renewal.
Effectiveness in Combating Slavery and Human Trafficking
During the reporting period, we have not identified any confirmed instances of slavery or human trafficking within our business or supply chains. We recognise that modern slavery risks can be complex and may be hidden; accordingly, we keep our approach under review and will continue to strengthen our controls where appropriate. At this stage, we have not adopted formal key performance indicators, but we will continue to consider suitable measures as our programme develops.
Further Steps
We will continue to take proportionate steps to help prevent modern slavery and human trafficking in our business and supply chains, including keeping our policies, supplier engagement and internal controls under ongoing review.
Approval
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 December 2025.
Waylands Automotive Limited
Date: 15 April 2026
Appendix
Companies to which this Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement applies
Waylands Automotive Limited
Fawcetts Garage (Newbury) Limited
Cambridge Garages Portsmouth Limited
Cambridge Garage Holdings Limited