Policies

The purpose of this Policy is to establish a consistent approach to the development of University policies and procedures to ensure that members of the University community and other users have ready access to well-developed and clear policies.

• Policy on establishing policies and procedures
• Policy approval flowchart (.pdf)

Bath Spa University Statement on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking for the year ended on 31 July 2023

Bath Spa University is proud of its vision to be a leading university in creativity, culture and enterprise and, through the delivery of Strategy 2030, the University’s purpose is to “challenge our students and staff to realise their talent and thrive, for their own benefit and for the wider good. By doing this we will think and make the world better”. Underpinning this vision is a principle to act ethically; the University is therefore committed to establishing practices to combat slavery and human trafficking.

The University is a Fairtrade University. Increasing the range of products bearing the Fairtrade Mark that are sold by the University ensures that the relevant parts of its supply chain are more likely to meet Fairtrade standards that protect workers' rights and guarantee payment of a minimum price.

Our structure

Bath Spa University is a higher education corporation established pursuant to the Education Reform Act 1988. It is also an exempt charity, registered with and regulated by the Office for Students. The University's principal place of business is at Newton Park, Newton St Loe, Bath BA2 9BN. The University has approximately 1000 employees, the majority of which are based in the United Kingdom.
The University has a subsidiary company, Bath Spa U Limited. The annual turnover of the consolidated accounts of the University is in the region of £145.8m.

The University comprises of seven academic schools: Bath Business School; Bath School of Art, Film and Media; Bath School of Design; School of Education; School of Writing, Publishing and the Humanities; Bath School of Music and Performing Arts; School of Sciences. In addition, the University operates the delivery of academic programmes at Bath Spa University London.

Several professional services departments exist to provide services to the students and the University as a whole. These include Human Resources, Academic Planning, Centre for Educational Partnerships, Student Experience, Finance, IT Services), Estates, External Affairs; Governance, Legal & Compliance; Research and Enterprise.

Within the Finance department, the procurement function supports academic schools and departments in helping to ensure the University obtains value for money in all the goods and services it purchases, in-line with the University's Financial Regulations and The Public Contract Regulations.

Our policies

We have a zero tolerance to slavery and human trafficking. The University maintains policies relating to procurement, sustainability, equality, wellbeing and diversity which together form a robust institutional effort to combat slavery and human trafficking.  Where relevant, our policies extend to our suppliers in expectations of adherence to external regulations and University principles. 
The University’s procurement policies are concerned with adherence to the conditions outlined elsewhere in this statement and in ensuring due diligence, and include a sustainable procurement policy.

The University is committed to conducting its business with honesty and integrity, and it expects all staff to maintain high standards. Staff are encouraged to raise concerns of a public interest or make a public interest disclosure as part of the Whistleblowing Policy which is designed to allow concerns of a public interest arising in relation to the University to be raised, investigated and where appropriate, acted upon.

Our supply chains

To ensure all those in our supply chain and contractors comply with our policies, we have in place a supply chain compliance programme; wherever possible our supply chain is made up of suppliers who are registered under framework agreements from public sector purchasing consortia such as UKUPC (as members of the Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium), Crescent Purchasing Consortium, Crown Commercial Services, and Health Trust Europe. Consultancies and construction work are also lodged under framework agreements to ensure compliancy with legislation.

Due diligence processes for slavery and human trafficking

Supply chain management from the consortia is routine throughout the contractual term and staff are required to manage contracts throughout the term to ensure value for money.  On the occasions where a framework agreement cannot be used the University carries out due diligence on all new suppliers prior to placing a purchase order, as standard, this includes a question pertaining to modern slavery compliance. Further engagement with suppliers, including with the University’s educational partners, is subject to review dependent on this confirmation step and the University’s standard contractual clauses explicitly require adherence by all suppliers to the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

The University works to identify and assess potential risk areas within its supply chains, monitor and mitigate any identified risk and to protect whistle-blowers raising concerns. The University takes a risk-based approach to better understand its supply chains and to prioritise and target actions accordingly.

Supplier adherence to Bath Spa University values and ethics

To ensure all those in the University and its supply chain and its contractors comply with our policies and procedures the University has put in place a supply chain compliance programme. This normally consists of procurement procedures, contract reviews and renewal of due diligence at the point of any renewal.

The University is committed to sustainable procurement and plans to implement ISO 20400 by 2025; a key part of this is the undertaking of a review of the University's current procurement framework.

Training

To ensure a high level of understanding of the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking in University business and its supply chains, the University offers procurement training to all relevant staff.

The process all University staff must follow, in the engagement of a new supplier and inclusion of querying the suppliers' efforts and steps taken to ensure compliance with the Act, acts as an engagement tool to ensure that staff access the resources made available in the provision of compliance.

The publication of this statement and the University's approach to ensuring compliance with the Act is shared with staff via news and updates in line with the publication of the University’s annual report and financial statements.

Further steps

Going forward, the University’s Sustainability Group will renew its efforts to work closely with colleagues across the University including Procurement, Finance, IT, HR, Academic Planning, the Centre for Educational Partnerships, and Estates functions to monitor higher risk areas within the University’s supply chain.

During the 2023-24 financial year, we aim to focus on the following areas:

• Continue to work towards obtaining ISO20400 sustainable procurement certification by 2025. The certification process includes supply chain due diligence and contract conditions to be further enhanced.
• Move to a ‘Responsible Procurement’ approach that will consider the impact of the Goods and Services we choose, reduce the risks from suppliers, and enhance the monitoring and reporting of its supplier’s sustainability actions, including Modern Slavery. 
• We will continue working closely with our key suppliers, HEPA, and SUPC Responsible Procurement Group and organisations such as Electronics Watch. 
• To develop a specific Modern Slavery Policy, and further develop the University’s approach to training staff on the subject, prioritising the procurement department.
• Consider our approach to supply chain mapping and commodity coding to ensure a risk-based approach, as well as engagement with our supply base and partners including their approach to subcontracting.

This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes the University's slavery and human trafficking statement for the financial year ending 31 July 2023. It was approved by the Board of Governors of Bath Spa University on 13 December 2023.

Download a copy of this statement.

We value diversity and we recognise that different people bring different ideas, knowledge and culture, and that difference can bring strength, creativity and innovation.

We believe that discrimination or exclusion based on individual characteristics and circumstances, such as the below, represents a waste of talent and a denial of opportunity for self-fulfilment:

• age
• disability
• caring or dependency responsibilities
• gender or gender identity
• marriage and civil partnership status
• political opinion
• pregnancy and maternity
• race
• colour
• caste
• nationality
• ethnic or national origin
• religion or belief
• sexual orientation
• socio-economic background
• trade union membership status or other distinctions.

We recognise that patterns of under-representation and differences in outcomes at Bath Spa University can be challenged through positive action programmes.

We respect the rights of individuals, including the right to hold different views and beliefs. We will not allow these differences to be manifested in a way that is hostile or degrading to others.

We expect commitment and involvement from all our staff, students, partners and providers of goods and services in working towards the achievement of our vision.

Read the full Equality policy.

The Vice-Chancellor has responsibility and accountability for Equality throughout the institution and is also responsible implementing and monitoring this policy through the Equality and Diversity Steering Group. However, all members of the University, both staff and students, have a duty to ensure that individuals do not suffer from any form of harassment and that if they do, they are supported in seeking to eliminate it and in pursuing any legitimate complaint about the harassment.

Read the full Harassment policy.

We are committed to being a menopause-friendly university. Our menopause policy aims to foster an environment in which staff and students can openly speak about the menopause and ask for any support and reasonable adjustments that they may need.

Read the full Menopause Policy.

As part of the UK Government's strategy to reduce terrorism, the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 introduced a statutory duty on Higher Education Institutions to have "due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism". This legislation is called the Prevent Duty and applies to all forms of extremism, including the Far Right, Islamist groups and animal rights groups. Prevent is one of the Government's four strands of counter-terrorism strategy (CONTEST) and aims to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

Read the full Prevent Duty policy.

Safeguarding is about protecting a person’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. It’s about working together to protect those most at risk of, or currently experiencing, abuse or neglect.

The Safeguarding Framework details how staff and students can report concerns, suspicions or allegations of harm.

Read the full Safeguarding policy.

The University is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all its students and staff. The following policies set out how the University will deal with incidents and allegations of Sexual Violence and Misconduct against members of the student and staff communities.

• Sexual Violence and Misconduct Procedure for Students
• Sexual Violence and Misconduct Procedure for Staff

Trans, non-binary, and gender diverse staff, students and visitors are a valued part of the Bath Spa University community, and we are committed to creating a fair and inclusive environment where all members feel included, respected and safe. Bath Spa University views harassment or discrimination against any student or employee on any grounds as a serious disciplinary offence.

Read the full Trans and Non-Binary Inclusion Policy.