UKFT attended the in-person workshop “From Risk to Remedy: Scaling Impactful Solutions to Address Child Labour”, jointly organised by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and The Centre for Child Rights and Business, on 23 January 2026.

During the session, we heard policy updates from Anna Blackmore, Head of Responsible Business Conduct Policy at the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).

Key government commitments highlighted included:

• Reviewing the UK’s approach to responsible business conduct (RBC) in global supply chains
• Strengthening international cooperation through OECD and G7 forums
• Developing options to strengthen UK RBC measures
• Assessing the implications of evolving EU legislation, which has created some divergence, and reviewing potential impacts on UK businesses
• Recognising the cost implications for businesses and the need for support to enable more sustainable supply chains

DBT also acknowledged strong business calls for closer alignment with international frameworks, in particular:

• The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
• The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs)

These frameworks are being promoted as the foundation for more effective supply chain due diligence, alongside a continued focus on trade competitiveness. This work will feed into ongoing discussions at the Forced Labour Roundtable, on which UKFT sits.

The workshop also featured a scene-setting session from Ines Kaempfer, CEO of The Centre for Child Rights and Business, who outlined key labour risks and the importance of collective, cross-sector solutions.

A panel discussion, moderated by Mark Robertson, Senior Vice President at The Centre for Child Rights and Business, explored child labour risks in complex supply chain contexts. Panellists included:

• Anna Blackmore, DBT
• Serena Alonso Garcia, ESG Compliance & Responsible Business Conduct Manager, Dormakaba
• Teniope Adewumi-Gunn, Human Rights Lead, Haleon

UKFT’s member support on supply chain due diligence and social responsibility

UKFT offers practical support to help members to identify, assess and manage environmental and social risks across operations and supply chains. This includes guidance on codes of conduct, audit selection, onboarding suppliers, due diligence processes, modern slavery statements and aligning with recognised international frameworks and best practice initiatives. Including help to understand which initiatives can help you meet related regulations. We help member businesses understand what they mean in practice and how to meet requirements efficiently while supporting wider responsible business goals.

Key UKFT resources to support members include:

• A guide to human rights and environmental due diligence in supply chains
• Code of conduct template
• Modern Slavery Template
• Webinar: Understanding Responsible Supply Chains in Fashion & Textile, with the OECD
• Webinar: Introduction to Human Rights Due Diligence with Intertek and Social & Labor Convergence Program (SLCP)
• Webinar: Understanding Environmental Due Diligence and Tools for Compliance with amfori, Fox Williams and Worldly

Read UKFT’s Responsible UK Fashion and Textile Supply Chains report. The report is a key step in supporting the UK fashion and textile ecosystem’s reshoring efforts. It identifies practical solutions and opportunities to drive positive change for manufacturers, brands and retailers alike. The report aims to strengthen social and ethical compliance practices within UK fashion and textile manufacturing to boost domestic production.

Stay tuned for more activity coming up in 2026 addressing responsible supply chains.

Are you a UKFT member? Contact sustainability@ukft.org

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