Modern Slavery Statement
Statement of eStar Truck and Van Ltd Pursuant to the Modern Slavery Act 2015
Introduction
The Modern Slavery Act 2015 came into effect on 29th October 2015. This law requires businesses supplying goods or services and with an annual turnover exceeding £36 million to disclose information regarding their policies to eradicate slavery and human trafficking from their supply chain and within their business.
The Company is committed to running its business responsibly, striving to maintain high ethical principles and having respect for human rights. One of our core values is to behave with integrity.
We are aware of our legal and moral obligations towards combatting forced, bonded or compulsory labour, human trafficking and other kinds of slavery.
We do not knowingly conduct business with individuals, agencies, or companies that conduct, support, condone or facilitate human trafficking or slavery.
Our business
eStar Truck and Van Limited (“eStar”) is a franchised Mercedes-Benz and Daimler Truck dealer across the North-West and North Wales with dealerships at Knowsley, Deeside, Stoke-on-Trent and Trafford Park. We ell Mercedes-Benz and FUSO commercial vehicles and supply Mercedes-Benz parts. We maintain and repair Mercedes-Benz, Fuso and Maxus vehicles. eStar also operates out of sites in Uttoxeter and Skelmersdale.
We employ around 300 staff across our operation, working predominantly in North-West England and North Wales.
Our supply chain
With regards to national or international supply chains, our main points of contact are with Mercedes Benz UK Companies which include Daimler Truck UK Ltd, Mercedes-Benz Vans UK Ltd, Mercedes-Benz Parts Logistics UK Ltd and Mercedes-Benz Financial Services UK Ltd.
The Mercedes-Benz UK Companies are proud of the integrity measures they take in this regard.
The Mercedes-Benz UK Companies’ efforts to eradicate slavery and human trafficking in their supply chains and own businesses include publication of brochures entitled “Ethical Business – Our Shared Responsibility” and “Daimler Business Partner Standards” which set out their ethical principles and associated expectations in their supply chain. Their supplier code of conduct requires all suppliers to the Mercedes-Benz UK Companies to sign up to a sustainability clause which details all requirements around forced labour, slavery and human trafficking.
As part of our initiative to identify and mitigate risk, where possible, we build long standing relationships with local suppliers and customers. We ask all new suppliers to confirm to us that they have a fair worker policy.
In general, eStar considers its exposure to slavery/human trafficking to be relatively limited.
Written policies and procedures
We operate several internal policies to ensure that we are conducting business in an ethical and transparent manner. These include Modern Day Slavery, Working Time Regulations, Recruitment and Selection, Equal Pay Policy, Whistle Blowing, Ethics, Dignity at Work, and Criminal Offences Committed by Staff. These are available on our intranet.
Employees and training
All new employees are subject to pre-employment checks to confirm their identity and eligibility to work in the UK prior to their starting work within the Group. Information is provided to all employees on their statutory rights including sick pay, holiday pay and any other benefits they may be entitled to by virtue of their employment. We pay all directly employed labour at least the living or minimum wage, as relevant. Where recruitment agencies are used, we ensure they comply with all legal requirements. These procedures collectively help to address our on-going commitment to protect our employees’ human rights and the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour.
To ensure a high level of understanding of the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking in our supply chains and our business, we have mandatory online training for ALL colleagues. They are encouraged to identify and report any potential or actual wrongdoing that they consider to be negligent, improper or illegal to a manager, in line with our Whistleblowing procedure.
The Company disciplinary policies permit the termination of colleagues found to be involved in any breach of the law banning forced labour, slavery and human trafficking.
Measuring effectiveness
We regularly monitor completion of relevant online training courses. eStar commits to audit a sample of suppliers over the course of 2026 to verify they have a fair worker policy, and where required, they have published a Modern Slavery Statement.
The Company has not, to its knowledge, conducted any business with another organisation which has been found to have involved itself with modern slavery.
We will continue to update policies and procedures as required to ensure we maintain appropriate safeguards against mistreatment of persons involved in our supply chain or own business.
Approval by the Directors
This statement is made pursuant to section 54 (1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and was approved by the eStar Board of Directors on 27th January 2026 and signed on its behalf by:
Steve Bridge
Managing Director
eStar Truck and Van Limited