WHY COMPLIANCE IS VITAL
Taking compliance seriously is a fundamental part of our values, to make sure we can provide clients with a highly effective service, protect workers and also to support our teams. Furthermore, some may not even be aware that this is a government requirement by law, making you liable to huge fines and potential prison time if you are not compliant. Because of this, we carefully monitor the compliance of our operatives out in the field before and during their projects. Our compliance team supports all divisions within The Shore Group protecting our teams, clients and candidates.
At The Shore Group, the Compliance Team manages our accreditations, policies and worker documentation. The Shore Group has gained and retained 10 accreditations this year which are vital to ensure our processes are robust and effective. Our Compliance Team also monitors company documentation such as data protection, privacy, workplace safety and health and safety to name a few.
Furthermore, the Compliance Team also ensures the training of staff and departments on these policies are kept up to date so employees understand the points of call for situations, such as supporting workers on-site if an incident does occur. This is why compliance is so vital for protecting everyone as covers so many areas of the business and supports all departments.
"Compliance is a reactive team and the chain of checks ensures non-compliant workers don't slip through the line. We actively train our employees within the company and with apprentices working within our compliance team, it brings a fresh energy to the frontline. It really is so essential these days to have a comprehensive due diligence process in place to avoid legislative headaches, especially in a company such as TSG who have such a large workforce."
Lisa Norton, Risk and Compliance Manager
WHAT THE TEAM PREVENTS
Consistent checks are put in place at The Shore Group, involving checking documentation to make sure fake credentials are not being produced – which unfortunately is more common than you would expect. This isn’t solely right-to-work documentation, this includes fraudulent CSCS cards, essentially faking qualifications in a plea to get a job role they are not actually qualified to do. Our compliance team were able to spot 5 fraudulent CSCS cards in the last few months, showing how very present the risk is, and how vital a compliance team is.
The checks the Compliance Team undertakes are also important steps in the fight against modern slavery, helping to protect vulnerable workers from abuse and forced labour. Modern slavery is a sophisticated crime, often hard to detect and terrifying for vulnerable workers trapped in these situations.
WHAT CHECKS ARE UNDERTAKEN AND SYSTEMS USED
Passport / ID Cards (verified using Trust ID)
Proof of Address & Proof of National Insurance
Share Codes (where applicable)
Skills Card (front & back and verified using checking systems)
Trust ID is the verification tool we use for checking all British passports, Gov UK Share Code Website checks all EU and Non-EU share codes and cards are checked against CITB, ECS and GQA.
CHALLENGES OVERCOME
The Compliance Team has had a handle on new challenges every year. In recent years, the development of mandatory share codes since leaving the EU in 2020 spiked a number of issues. Workers who wanted to stay in the UK were left without a valid right to work, waiting on their status to be determined by the Home Office. This temporarily delayed operatives starting on jobs and was a challenge The Shore Group was able to overcome. This was because of the efficiency of the Compliance Team specifically put in place; we invested a lot of time and money, ensuring the team chosen was the best fit for the role.
COMPLIANCE FIGURES
Around when the Compliance team first started in December 2020, the average compliance was 63%. The team continuously work around the clock to ensure we stay well above this original figure. Following the latest reporting in September 2022 – Average Compliance is now 98.5%. This figure is a clear indication that the team have maintained and continues to maintain a controlled process.
WHAT WE DO DIFFERENTLY
By law recruiting requires due diligence checks to be completed. With our unique Portal system, we can provide an extra level of trust as the application enables you to view the checks completed by the team, to show that workers onsite are compliant.
"The addition of Compliance to The Portal is a game changer from a client’s perspective. Due to the requirement for site inductions and the potential complications that come with it, such as the need to pass on information prior to the induction, clients can benefit greatly from the ability to view and direct operatives early on. This feature allows for early engagement and a more streamlined process overall."
Lewis Yorke-Johnson, Co-Founder
Compliance takes action with identifying, preventing and mitigating modern slavery within operations and supply chains. This is why thorough due diligence checks are completed where applicable the following checks take place:
- VAT Account Activity Statements
- Evidence of Payment to HMRC
- PAYE Statements
- Payslips
- CIS Returns
- Confirmatory Statements from Pension Provider to detail contributions made on behalf of employees
SUPPORTING YOU
If you would like any guidance with your own compliance process,
we can support you with these procedures. If you are currently working with us or would like to contact us and we can provide this assistance taking the stress out of the know-how of essential requirements.