Unseen is awarded new funding from the CIPS Foundation to turn Helpline intelligence into action

Modern slavery charity Unseen, is awarded new funding from the CIPS Foundation to turn Helpline intelligence into action

CIPS Foundation is delighted to be funding UK modern slavery charity Unseen for a second year. The first phase of Unseen’s funded prorgramme is now transitioning, and phase two begins with a new focus on developing unique insights from The Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline and Business data to equip supply chain professionals with intelligence to drive behaviour change and build ethical procurement practices. 

Through new funding and advancements made during the first phase of this partnership, Unseen is now equipped for phase two, where the focus turns from strengthening systems to maximising the impact of the intelligence they generate. By analysing emerging trends, identifying recurring risk factors, and translating this into practical guidance, the charity aims to help procurement professionals take informed, proactive steps to protect workers and promote ethical supply chain culture.  

What happened during phase one

Thanks to £60K of funding from the CIPS Foundation, Unseen has been able to strengthen and automate the Helpline’s technological foundations, improving how quickly supply chain risk intelligence is shared with key stakeholders. 

These developments have already made a significant difference. New systems have reduced the Helpline’s webform backlog by around 50%, meaning people are receiving support faster and cases can be prioritised more effectively. Enhanced data collection, management and sharing have also made it easier to spot patterns, flag risks, and turn frontline intelligence into insight. 

Alongside technical improvements, Unseen invested in upskilling the data team, strengthening organisation wide capability in data analysis and insight. Phase one also strengthened links between the Helpline and business services, helping businesses and procurement professionals better understand and respond to supply chain risks. 

Emma Scott, CIPS Foundation Lead says: 

“Being able to support Unseen through the CIPS Foundation is core to our mission of promoting ethical procurement throughout the supply chain. 

“Modern slavery needs to be eradicated and businesses need the tools and support to ensure they are equipped to combat this. By strengthening the Helpline and working closely with Unseen we aim to help the most at risk individuals from being exploited further.” 

Seeing the impacts  

Unseen’s recent hospitality report, Service not servitude, highlights the importance of this technology. New automated reporting has increased Helpline efficiency and enabled deeper insight into the hospitality sector, revealing a growing trend of exploitation among workers on skilled worker visas. Findings like these strengthen the response to modern slavery and help target intervention more effectively.  

Using gathered insight to fuel change  

A second grant of £60k has enabled a phase two of the 

 project. The funding will be used to help Unseen build proven data methods, deepen collaboration with businesses, strengthen data capability, and use Helpline intelligence to drive real change in supply chains. 

With the new technology developed in phase one, Unseen’s focus will be on turning Helpline intelligence into even more powerful insight. AI tools will be introduced to structure previously unstructured case data, allowing supply chain risks to be identified, analysed, and shared more quickly. Alongside this, the business services team will be developing new ways of bringing supply chain insights together to inform a clearer understanding of risk. 

The aim is simple but ambitious: to improve ethical procurement and supply chain practices by equipping businesses, law enforcement, and policymakers with clear, evidence-based intelligence that drives behaviour change towards more ethical and transparent supply chain processes.  

On the Helpline, this will mean greater operational efficiency, deeper analysis, and faster reporting of emerging trends. For businesses, it will provide a clearer view of worker-related risks, helping to map supplier vulnerabilities, identify patterns of exploitation, and build safer, more sustainable supply chains that protect both workers and organisations. 

Using data to protect human rights and abolish modern slavery 

Together, these developments mark a shift in how modern slavery intelligence is used.  

By connecting frontline Helpline intelligence with business data and worker voice, Unseen is strengthening the link between identification and prevention. The result is a more informed, proactive approach to tackling modern slavery, one that actively protects people at risk while supporting organisations to build supply chains can stand behind.  

Each year, the CIPS Foundation offers funding opportunities to charities that are committed to improving supply chains and ethical and sustainable standards around the world. This is one of six funded projects for 2026, look out for further updates coming soon. 

Find out more about the work of Unseen.

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