Pork producer Tulip Ltd has joined nine other UK businesses in signing up to Bright Future, a jobs scheme for victims of modern slavery.
Created by the Co-op, and in conjunction with the anti-slavery charity City Hearts, Tulip has become a Bright Future business partner, pledging to provide employment for people rescued from enslavement.
Under the scheme, victims are offered a four-week paid work placement at one of Tulip’s UK sites, leading to an interview; if successful the candidate will be offered a permanent job with the firm.
Tulip, which joins the likes of Dixons and The Body Shop in signing up to the scheme, will now work with a host of victim support charities to identify suitable applicants.
Rachel Baldwin, vice president of human resources at Tulip, said: “We’re committed to working in local communities and providing a workplace where people feel valued, trust each other and work together.
“We are pleased that through the Bright Future programme we are able to offer this support to victims of modern slavery and help them towards a better quality of life.”
More than 30 victims have so far been given a chance to rebuild their lives by the Co-op and it’s hoped up to 300 people will secure placements through the scheme by 2020.
Pippa Wicks, deputy CEO of the Co-op, added: “We think of slavery as something from the history books but it is happening in the UK at this very moment.
“Having heard at first hand the harrowing stories of people who have been caught up in this heinous crime, I am proud that we are working to help eliminate it and that others are now joining us in providing job opportunities.
“It is clear that victims need to be supported while they rebuild their lives and central to that is the dignity that paid, freely chosen employment provides.”
This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.
