Birkin Group achieves top 4-star Stamp Out Slavery rating for third consecutive year

We’re proud to have achieved our third consecutive 4-star Modern Slavery Certification from Stamp Out Slavery (SOS), the highest possible rating under the certification scheme, following our latest independent review in June 2026.

Having been the first cleaning company to achieve the Stamp Out Slavery certification, retaining the highest possible rating for a third consecutive year is an important milestone for Birkin. But this recognition is about much more than achieving a standard, it reflects an ongoing commitment to protecting people, promoting fair employment practices and ensuring our values are visible in the way we operate every day.

As a people-focused business employing a large and diverse frontline workforce, we recognise the responsibility we have to remain alert to the risks of exploitation and modern slavery, and to make sure our people know what to look for and what to do when something doesn’t feel right.

Three consecutive 4-star certifications

Stamp Out Slavery provides independent scrutiny of the processes and practices organisations have in place to help identify and reduce the risk of modern slavery and labour exploitation.

Birkin was the first organisation to sign up to the certification scheme, working with SOS during its early development and achieving our first certification in 2024. Since then, we have continued to subject our approach to external review, achieving a 4-star rating for three consecutive years.

The assessment looks beyond policies on paper, considering areas including recruitment, payroll, training, employee support and the controls organisations have in place across their labour supply chains.

For us, that external challenge is an important part of continually improving.

Laura Phillips, Head of People and Culture at Birkin Group, explains:

“Our work with Stamp Out Slavery is about much more than meeting our legal and compliance responsibilities. It is about creating a culture where people are treated fairly, concerns are listened to, and everyone has the confidence to speak up if something doesn’t feel right - values are fundamental to who we are as a business.”

Our responsibility starts before someone joins Birkin

Tackling the risk of exploitation isn’t something that begins on an employee’s first day with us. Our responsibility starts much earlier.

When Birkin takes on a new contract, our mobilisation process includes careful due diligence around the people who may transfer to us under TUPE. We review the information available around recruitment, right-to-work documentation, pay and employment arrangements so that we can understand the workforce we are welcoming into Birkin and identify anything that may need further attention.

Mobilisation can be an important opportunity to spot inconsistencies or circumstances that warrant a closer look. The indicators of exploitation are not always obvious, and changes to employment or payroll arrangements can sometimes bring information to light that needs to be explored carefully and sensitively.

For Birkin, this isn’t simply a theoretical risk.

Through our experience of mobilising contracts and employing frontline teams, there have been occasions where information or circumstances have indicated potential vulnerability or exploitation. In those situations, the ability of our people to recognise that something may not be right, ask appropriate questions and know where to escalate a concern is critical.

That experience has reinforced why awareness and education must sit alongside strong processes.

Creating a culture where people feel able to speak up

Policies and procedures matter, but they can only go so far.

Our approach is therefore also about creating an environment where people feel respected, supported and confident enough to raise a concern – whether it relates to themselves, a colleague or something they have observed.

Modern slavery and labour exploitation can be deliberately difficult to detect. Someone experiencing exploitation may be reluctant or unable to talk openly about their circumstances, which makes awareness across an organisation particularly important.

That is why ongoing training and support form an important part of our approach. We want our teams to understand that identifying a concern does not mean they need to have all the answers. What matters is noticing when something doesn’t look or feel right, knowing when to ask questions and understanding how to report or escalate concerns appropriately.

More than a certification

Achieving our third consecutive 4-star SOS certification is something we are extremely proud of, but we don’t see it as an endpoint.

Independent assessment gives us an opportunity to test our approach, learn from external expertise and identify where we can continue to strengthen our practices.

But ultimately, this is about people. It is about making responsible employment practices part of the way Birkin operates, protecting the people who work with us and remaining vigilant to risks that can too easily remain hidden.

Our latest 4-star certification gives us confidence that we continue to move in the right direction – while reminding us why we must never become complacent.

If you are concerned that someone may be experiencing modern slavery or exploitation, you can contact the UK Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline confidentially on 08000 121 700.