Management School researchers investigate modern slavery in the Liverpool City Region
Dr Jo Meehan, Senior Lecturer, and Olly Kennedy, PhD student, have been carrying out an investigation, in partnership with the Liverpool Combined Authority and the Heseltine Institute, to uncover the attitudes and awareness to modern slavery in the Liverpool City Region.
Building upon their larger programme of work with the UK Home Office and Crown Commercial Service, the latest research project examines whether there is an opportunity for a place-based approach to modern slavery, where regional policy can support the national legislation of the modern slavery act.
The pair were invited to presented their research to members of the Liverpool Combined Authority and the Fairness and Social Justice Advisory Board (FASJAB) - a group of selected leaders within the city region who champion the regional equality agenda, and provide independent oversight of every local strategy and policy.
Following the presentation, Jo and Olly have been invited to work with policy leaders to co-design a regional procurement charter that encourages firms to look for, and tackle, modern slavery across their supply chains. The research highlights the opportunities for collective action and sharing knowledge in developing responsible procurement approaches, under the region’s ‘Build Back Better’ strategy.
The charter will play a pivotal role in ensuring the £8.8 billion economic plan to rebuild the regional economy recently unveiled by Steve Rotheram, the city’s Metro Mayor, puts modern slavery and vulnerable work at the heart of procurement decision making. The economic plan includes the creation of an estimated 28,000 construction jobs, an area which is high-risk for modern slavery.
Olly commented: “This is beginning of a conversation that must continue, and we are encouraged that the region is committed to real action to tackling modern slavery in corporate supply chains. The Liverpool City Region is leading the way on exploring regional approaches to modern slavery. From our perspective, the value of the research is its impact in driving change. This study, and our larger programme of work, highlights that many firms view modern slavery as a regulatory issue rather than a human issue. We want to challenge this through sharing evidence, working with businesses, running campaigns, changing hearts and minds. We would be delighted to hear from people who want to be involved."