Statement on slavery and human trafficking
This statement is made in accordance with section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and sets out the way FremantleMedia Group Limited and FremantleMedia Limited (“Fremantle”, “Company” and “we”) ensures that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in any part of our business or supply chain.
There were no specific modern slavery concerns raised across our business or our supply chain for the financial year ending 31 December 2024.
Our Structure and Values
Fremantle is a private limited company and is part of RTL Group SA, a leader across broadcast, content and digital, and ultimately owned by Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA, a global media giant comprising of the world’s largest book publisher Penguin Random House and leading music company, BMG. Our operations are managed through various subsidiary companies, joint venture partnerships and minority stake holdings in several independent television production companies.
As an independent group of talents, studios, producers, content makers, creative incubators, culture shapers and game changers operating in 28 territories, our business is wide-ranging including TV sales and distribution, channels, production, live events, and licensed consumer products. We have been creating, producing, distributing, and investing in scripted and non-scripted content across a range of genres for over 100 years. We consistently reach audiences in 180 countries globally via both traditional TV and digital platforms. We are a world leader in digital and branded entertainment, with more than 495 million subscribers across 2,000 social channels and over 300 billion views across all platforms.
Our people are at the heart of what we do. The Fremantle group in the UK employs 551 people. The group has a global workforce of 1,583 undertaking a range of roles. Our ethos of creativity, curiosity and connectivity is embedded throughout the Company and our culture, globally. We are committed to upholding the human rights of those who work with us.
Business, Supply Chain and Supplier Commitments
Entrepreneurial responsibility, integrity and acting responsibly in our business dealings and relationships are fundamental to our corporate culture. We strive for commercial success whilst holding the highest ethical standards and ensuring full compliance with all relevant legislation and regulation by working together.
Our relationships with our employees, suppliers and business partners are built on mutual respect and trust. Being a reputable and safe business to work with is a core value at Fremantle, and we pride ourselves on maintaining strong, honest, and flexible relationships with our consumers, investors and suppliers. This remains a key focus.
During this financial year, Fremantle undertook several secure procurement initiatives to safeguard the business from potential issues. To protect Fremantle, its suppliers and customers and other stakeholders, this effort continues globally through Fremantle’s commitment to secure administrative practices, internal audit and continuous monitoring risk and compliance across the business.
Fremantle recognises the importance of remaining vigilant to the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking. It is vital that all parties within our supply chain share this responsibility. To this end, we have implemented a robust supplier onboarding process when engaging with new suppliers, contractors, or business partners, to ensure they are aware of these risks and that they uphold the same core values and standards as we do. We also require our business partners to have appropriate Modern Slavery Act compliance terms and conditions in place within their own supply chains.
Our Policies
We have a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery and human trafficking. Our Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy is approved by the Board and applies to all persons working for us, or on our behalf, in any capacity, including employees at all levels, directors, officers, agency workers, seconded workers, volunteers, interns, agents, contractors, external consultants, third-party representatives and business partners. Other policies, such as our Code of Conduct, reflect support our commitment to implementing and enforcing effective systems, due diligence, and controls to ensure modern slavery and human trafficking do not occur anywhere in our businesses operations or within our supply chain.
Good governance remains a key priority for the Directors to ensure that the business, including all UK and overseas subsidiaries, complies with local legislative requirements and best practice through their respective policies. We have robust systems in place to identify and assess potential risk areas, which include measures to monitor and mitigate any instances of or risks of non-compliance within our supply chain. The Directors conduct an annual review of all policies, continuously improving accountability and transparency, and strengthening the governance, compliance, and risk management teams across the business.
Raising Concerns
Our whistleblowing procedures provide a process for employees, freelancers and third parties carrying out work for Fremantle to raise and escalate concerns confidentially to senior management. All concerns raised through this procedure are closely monitored and are addressed appropriately.
Training
We provide employees, freelancers and management with induction and ongoing training on a range of compliance matters, including our Code of Conduct, which supports ethical decision-making in day-to-day operations. The training covers key obligations under the Modern Slavery Act 2015, with a focus on mitigating risks within supply chains. Fremantle also ensures that such training is provided to employees of subsidiary companies. Training completion rates are monitored closely.
Risk Assessment
Fremantle carries out an annual risk assessment relating to modern slavery and human trafficking. The results of the risk assessment, which are shared with the Fremantle Risk and Compliance Committee, demonstrate that the business does not operate in a high-risk industry or in a high-risk jurisdiction. Together with our well-developed practices, procedures and due diligence checks ensure a very low risk of slavery and human trafficking occurring within both our sector and business operations.
Due Diligence
To prevent slavery and trafficking in our business and supply chain, we continue to improve our supplier due diligence process and remain alert in identifying and assessing potential risk areas. This includes measures to monitor and mitigate the risk of slavery and human trafficking from materialising. The risk of slavery and human trafficking is a key factor in our decision to engage with suppliers. Our suppliers must agree to robust terms and conditions regarding compliance with anti-slavery legislation to work with us.
Board approval
Fremantle is committed to ongoing review of its policies, procedures, and operational practices in relation to modern slavey and human trafficking and will update this statement on an annual basis. We will continue to raise awareness of modern slavery risks and monitor the effectiveness of our controls of preventing modern slavery within our business operations and supply chains.
This statement has been approved by the Board of Directors on 28 June 2025.
Jennifer Mullin
Chief Executive Officer