Ambition
To ensure Topps Group is an inclusive, inspiring and successful, great place to work for all colleagues.
Achievements
The supply chain that supports Topps Group is diverse and complex and we are committed to working with our suppliers to ensure that the highest standard of ethics is adhered to and all workers throughout the supply chain are treated with dignity and respect.
We strive to build and maintain strong, collaborative partnerships with our extended network of global manufacturers spread across 25 countries. As such, it is a core expectation that workers in our supply chain are provided with safe and legal working conditions.
This year we have continued to monitor our existing countries of supply as global political situations develop. Our list of countries that we will not source from as a business and existing risk level for all other countries has not changed this year.
The Topps Responsible Sourcing Code applies to all suppliers across the Topps Group, irrespective of their global location or where in the Group they supply. It utilises the Ethical Trading Initiative (‘ETI’) base code as its starting point and is fully aligned with the internationally recognised good labour standards. All suppliers must confirm, adhere and comply to the provisions within this code as well as any applicable national laws and regulations. This compliance to our sourcing code is a contractual condition of business for all suppliers providing goods and services to all parts of Topps Group.
In geographical regions, identified as high-risk, factory approval and monitoring are conducted in partnership with Verisio, a UK-based firm specialising in supply chain transparency, ESG risk management and social compliance auditing.
Partnering with Verisio has strengthened our ability to manage supplier risk and uphold our sourcing standards. Verisio oversees the closure of non-compliances through their Optimus platform, where facilities are graded across five risk levels. These live performance scores play a key role in our commercial decision-making.
To minimise audit fatigue, we accept third-party audits such as SMETA (SEDEX Members Ethical Trade Audits) and BSCI audits, provided they are conducted by APSER-certified auditors. In addition to third-party audits, our Sustainability Manager has conducted surveillance visits to high-risk suppliers to support performance improvement and resolve outstanding issues.
For suppliers scoring consistently high-risk ratings, audits are conducted on a semi-announced basis with increased frequency. Equally, suppliers demonstrating sustained low-risk reports may benefit from reduced audit frequency.
Audits assess compliance across key areas:
- Labour: child labour, forced labour, discrimination, disciplinary practices, harassment, abuse, freedom of association and employment contracts.
- Wages and Hours: fair wages, working hours and benefits.
- Health and Safety: workplace conditions, emergency preparedness, injury prevention, machine safety, hazardous materials and chemicals, dormitories and canteen facilities.
- Environment: environmental systems, procedures and certifications.
We work closely with suppliers to ensure that any non-compliances are resolved within the timelines set out in the auditor’s Corrective Action Plan. Our approach is rooted in continuous improvement; this collaborative model helps drive positive change within facilities and for their workforce. We do not engage with suppliers who fail to participate in this process.
Where no geographical risks are identified, suppliers are required to complete the Topps Group Self-Assessment Questionnaire, which is reviewed and graded by our Sustainability Team.
Topps Group remains fully compliant with the 2015 Modern Slavery Act and is committed to preventing any form of modern slavery within our business and supply chains.
* Our Responsible Sourcing Code of Conduct and Modern-Day Slavery Statement can be found on our website at www.toppstilesplc.com under Corporate Responsibility
We have continued our focus on well-being, where the priority continues to be that of the mental health of our colleagues. We have done this by continuing to raise awareness via specific campaigns where we share information and advice, including appropriate signposting pathways, for World Mental Health Day, Mental Health Awareness Week, Dementia Action Week (working with our charity partner Alzheimer’s Society) and World Menopause Day.
Our colleagues and their families can also access our Employee Assistance Programme provided via Health Assured.
We continue to support colleagues through our mental health first aiders (‘MHFAs’), all of which are accredited via Mental Health First Aid England. We have a community of 46 MHFAs across the Group. Our ratio of MHFAs to colleagues is approx. 1:41 MHFAs, which is above the recommended starting ratio. This community also has access to the latest guidance and support via the accredited MHFA England portal.
In addition, we have continued to focus on financial wellbeing and have been communicating information around the financial support colleagues have access to via the Health Assured EAP and through our Hardship Fund.
Our Hapi benefits app has seen its highest annual usage since partnering with Personal Group and, via campaigns and offers, we have seen it used 1606 times in the year, with a total saving of £6,222 on a total spend of nearly £116,000, with the average user saving at least £38 on their purchases.
Words from our partners
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Topps Group for their continued support and incredible dedication to Alzheimer’s Society. Our partnership has gone from strength to strength this year, and we are proud to announce that Topps Group has reached the incredible milestone of £500,000 raised for Alzheimer’s Society! We were thrilled to see remarkable growth through customer donations via Pennies the Digital Money Box and the unwavering commitment from Topps Group colleagues in their fundraising efforts. This continued generosity and hard work shows that dementia is a cause that remains close to the hearts of colleagues and customers and has enabled Alzheimer’s Society to continue our mission of providing life-changing services to people affected by dementia, campaigning the government to make dementia the priority it should be and driving forward ground-breaking research. We are immensely grateful for all that you do, your incredible commitment and generosity and look forward to building on this year’s success. With your help, we will change the devastating reality of dementia. Here’s to our continued partnership and providing help and hope to everyone affected by dementia.
KATE LEE OBE
CEO Alzheimer’s Society
We’re thrilled to celebrate nine years in partnership with Topps Tiles this year. The last few years have posed challenges for charities, and consumers, but Topps Tiles’ customers have remained incredibly generous when it comes to micro-donations. Since January 2022, when the partnership with Alzheimer’s Society launched, customers have made more than 800,000 donations with Pennies, when paying in stores and online, to support people living with dementia. Topps Tiles’ continued support of Pennies since the change of payments technology in store last year has resulted in a sustained increase in donations. Topps Tiles colleagues remain excellent ambassadors for Pennies too, sharing with customers how quickly donations add up for Alzheimer’s Society. These conversations help drive greater impact for charity every single year, and we continue to be both proud and grateful for this partnership. Pennies is a charity too, and it’s thanks to our wonderful partners, like Topps Tiles, that we’re able to grow the microdonation movement and support even more charities.
ALISON HUTCHINSON CBE
CEO, Pennies
Our Charity Partnerships
