Corporate Responsibility

Responsible Business Practice Statement

Our Business

CME is one of the UK’s leading importers and wholesalers we source high-quality, non-branded sterling silver and 9ct gold jewellery from the UK and across the globe. CME has been owned and run by the same family for over 40 years. The CME team aim to offer jewellery that is well designed and high quality at an honest affordable price whilst maintaining the highest standards of responsible business practice and customer service.

Responsible Business Practice

The Company directors are committed to integrating ethical, human rights, social and environmental considerations into the day-to-day operations, business planning activities and decision-making processes of CME. Debbie Hunt, general manager, takes the lead in promoting responsible business practice across all aspects of the business.

CME is aware of the ethical, moral and environmental impact that surrounds the jewellery supply chain and therefore makes every effort to ensure that they are purchased through approved sources.

CME commits to promoting ethical, responsible, human rights, social and environmental practices throughout our business, our employment practices and our business partners including our supply chain. We aim to conduct our business in a manner which is honest and ethical. The Company makes every effort to work with both its customers and suppliers ensuring that the company’s expectations and quality standards meet national and international laws and regulations.

CME is a member of The National Association of Jewellers. This is the national trade association which promotes and protects the growth and prosperity of over 2000 members whose business operate in every aspect of the jewellery industry. The organisation aims to inspire consumer confidence to purchase from their members through a Code of Practice setting the highest standards of professionalism, honesty and ethical business practice.

CME Leicester Limited is a member of the Responsible Jewellery Council and we are delighted to say that CME Leicester Limited was granted full membership in February 2020 following a third party audit. The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) is a not-for-profit organisation that has been established to promote responsible ethical, social and environmental practices, which respect human rights, throughout the Diamond and Gold, silver and Precious gemstones supply chain, from mine to retail. The RJC has developed a common platform of standards for the jewellery supply chain and credible mechanisms for verifying responsible business practices through third party auditing. In undertaking to be a member of this organisation and to undergo audit CME commit to comply with the RJC Principles and Code of Practices.

Consequently, we undertake to integrate ethical, human rights, social and environmental considerations into our day-to-day operations, business planning activities and decision. As members we will commit to refraining from any action which contributed to

• Torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment;
• Forced or compulsory labour;
• Any form of abusive child labour;
• Human rights violations and abuses;
• War crimes, violations of international humanitarian law, crimes against humanity

We are committed to identifying, preventing and mitigating adverse human rights impacts resulting from or caused by our business activities.

Supplier Compliance

The company does not knowingly purchase materials (precious stones, precious metal) from conflict areas and makes every effort to ensure that all products are purchased through approved sources.

We undertake to establish that our suppliers comply with responsible and ethical sourcing and business practice and seek to encourage and influence them to communicate these standards to their suppliers, and where reasonably practical, to trace raw materials back to their origin.

We have developed a Code of Practice which is communicated to suppliers.

Due Diligence Processes:

As part of our initiative to identify and mitigate risk, we undertake due diligence when taking on new suppliers and regularly review existing suppliers. This includes:

• Mapping the supply chain to evaluate the ethical sourcing and responsible business practice of each new supplier via a prequalification questionnaire and reviewing on a regular basis all aspects of the supply chain based on the supply chain mapping.
• Where necessary external suppliers are visited and independent audits are conducted to ensure that they confirm to the standards stipulated by the Responsible Jewellery Council.
• We will not deal with, and will immediately discontinue engagement with suppliers where we identify a reasonable risk that they are committing, or are sourcing from or linked to any party committing, abuses described above and who are unable to carry out corrective action

This underlines our commitment to ensuring that our products are sourced in the most ethical manner possible in a transparent and accountable manner.

Company Employment

The company is mindful of its rights of employees and customers. It makes every effort to ensure these rights are not breached or in conflict with UN legislation and various process and procedures are used to implement and monitor them. The welfare of the company’s employees is taken seriously and the company handbook details employment, benefits, codes of conduct and policies and procedures. The company employs an external expert company to monitor employment practices and Health and Safety obligations. Our employee handbook includes policies on diversity, health and safety, grievance procedures and whistleblowing. We believe in equality in the workplace and do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, colour, national or social origin, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, political opinion or any other status protected by applicable law. We recruit based on qualifications, performance, skills and experience. Harassment is unacceptable in the workplace and in any work-related circumstance outside the workplace. These principles apply to company employees and any subcontractors and business partners we work with. The whistleblowing policy ensures that all employees know that they can raise concerns without fear of reprisals.

In 2019 the company introduced an Employee Assistance Programme which provides advice and support for employees and their families.

Slavery and Human Trafficking

This statement is made in pursuance of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 - to ensure that modern slavery and human trafficking is not taking place within our business or supply chain

Due Diligence Processes

We utilise a number of methods in order to identify and mitigate risks:

• Ensure employees are treated are treated fairly and with dignity.
• Ensure that we are rigorous in our employment practice, including recruitment
• Have systems in place to identify, mitigate and monitor the risk of slavery and/or human trafficking in our supply chains. This may include registration to, or to follow the principles of, particular operating standards or codes of practice.

Bribery and Money Laundering

We comply with the existing UK legislation; Money Laundering Regulations 2007, Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, and the Terrorism Act 2000.

We will support efforts and contribute to the effective elimination of money laundering where we identify a reasonable risk of money-laundering resulting from, or connected to, the extraction, trade, handling, transport or export of precious metals and diamonds

Never solicit or accept money for personal benefit from any business partner or competitor.

Never accept from any business associate or competitor, gifts, services or anything in kind, if it has a negative influence on the performance of CME, or if these gifts, or other services are seen to be excessive.

Product Disclosure

We commit to providing truthful, reliable and relevant information about all our products. We make clear when items are plated and if stones are natural, synthetic or treated. We comply with the Hallmarking Act 1973.

Grievance Mechanism/ Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblowing)

Individuals are able bring to our attention any genuine concern in relation to any topic identified under this Responsible Business Statement. Please contact Debbie Hunt, Manager CME e-mail address assist@cmejewellery.co.uk or write to 549 Aylestone Road, Leicester LE2 8TD or telephone 0116 2832240. Concerns raised will be dealt with in confidence and without fear of reprisal.

Sustainability/Environmental Policy

As a company we also understand the impact we have on the environment. We make every attempt to use resources carefully by re-using or recycling material including our scrap metal. We have installed solar panels onto our main building, introduced electric cars into our fleet and provide electric charging for customers and staff.

We are working with our suppliers to establish ranges of recycled silver. We will only advertise this from suppliers who come from a fully audited CoC (Chain of Custody) supplier. This means they can provide evidence and certificates to prove that the silver has come from fully recycled sources.

We continue to search for better ways of doing things to minimize the impact our processes have on the environment and using the correct recycling and disposal methods.

Community Support

We donate to Charity. During Covid we donated to our local NHS and in 2022 to the Red Cross to offer support to the Ukrainian people.

In 2022 we made contributions to Save the Children and Leicestershire and Rutland and Derbyshire Wildlife Trusts.

Progress Report

We are committed to monitoring our business practices in alignment with this policy and publicly reporting on our progress and from this determine priority areas to improve and/or monitor. Please contact Debbie Hunt/ Alison Clay at assist@cmejewellery.co.uk for a progress report against our Responsible Business Practice aims for 2022.

Updated 30.06.23

Code Of Conduct

CME is a family run company, founded in 1978. We aim to conduct our business in a manner which is honest and ethical. We have work with a large number of suppliers from the UK and across the globe, most of whom have supplied us for many years. We expect all of our Suppliers to adhere to the Responsible Business practice standards outlined below. We also expect that our Suppliers will communicate these requirements to all of their Suppliers.

1. Business Practices

• Comply with all applicable laws and regulations relating to their activities in the countries in which they operate.
• Engage in responsible business and not engage in, or condone corrupt practices, which would include fraud, bribery, tax evasion and money laundering.

2. Human and Labour Rights

Ensure the following:

• No use of child labour under the age of 15 and no hazardous work for children under 18.
• No forced, compulsory, trafficked or bonded labour (including the retention of identity or travel documents).
• No discrimination based on race, caste, national origin, religion, age, disability, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, union membership or political affiliation.
• No harsh or inhumane treatment of workers.
• Ensure working conditions are safe and hygienic.
• Employees are compensated with a living wage.
• Working hours comply with national laws and collective agreements.
• Overtime is voluntary
• The rights of employees to freedom of association and collective bargaining are recognised and respected.

3. Environmental Protection

• Comply with all environmental laws and regulations relating to their activities in the countries in which they operate.
• Identify any environmental risks resulting from their activities and take steps to implement environmental protections, management systems and remediation procedures where needed (e.g. addressing water, waste and energy).

4. Sourcing

Diamond Suppliers

• Adhere to the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) and the World Diamond Council system for warranties.
• Purchase from legitimate sources, and ensure purchases are not funding conflict and are in compliance with UN Resolutions.
• Confirm that all diamonds supplied have been sufficiently tested to be natural, not synthetic and untreated or free from enhancements unless otherwise stated.

Gold, Silver and Precious Gemstone Suppliers

Make best endeavours to ensure:

• The material is purchased from legitimate sources.
• The material is extracted from conflict-free regions.
• The trade of the material is not funding conflict.
• Recycled gold and silver is used wherever possible

Gold suppliers should apply the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas Supplement on Gold.

Please note CME Leicester Limited does not ban the use gold and silver that originate in conflict-affected and high-risk areas when they are sourced in accordance with existing international standards. Avoiding the sourcing of all gold and silver from these areas would cause a de facto embargo with serious adverse impact on the living conditions of local populations.

5. Product Disclosure

That all products offered for sale to CME are offered with a complete and accurate disclosure of all relevant information about jewellery products, including the types of treatments used to alter the products appearance. The information must be disclosed for gold, silver, diamonds, treated diamonds, synthetic diamonds and diamond simulants; coloured gemstones and synthetic, imitation, treated, artificial, reconstructed or composite-coloured gemstones. The information must be disclosed for the composition of semi-precious stones and natural substances such as amber, turquoise, etc.

updated 10/08/22

Andrew Hunt

Howard Pessall

Directors