Technical data and register questions come in from time to time and so we've placed our answers here for you:
What is open data?
By the Open Data Institute definition, open data is data that anyone can access, use or share. Our data can be interrogated in many ways by anti-slavery agencies, member organisations wanting to understand their supply chain, or anyone else. We are classified as "open data via public search or via dashboard".
For those wishing to interrogate the data at a deeper level across multiple data sources, a paid-for membership is available, enabling users to achieve much more via live dashboard.
We are ODI-certified to Silver level and are close to Gold certification. You can read more on the ODI site about why open data is a good idea, but our reason for choosing open data as a way to run our register is because Modern Slavery is a global issue, and the data that can help to end it currently exists in silos. By making it easier for organisations to access the data they need to make more informed decisions, we can achieve our end goal far more quickly: to drive slavery out of our supply chains.
Is there data you hold that isn't open?
Yes. Our members can choose to either share their supply chain data publicly or keep it confidential. This data belongs to them and not us, and so we only share what is acquired under an open data licence or publicly available. We also have company turnover data from various sources that are subject to similar restrictions. We use it to determine if compliance is mandatory or not, but we do not release this as open data. However, members are still able to assess the supply chain risk data we have access to without making their own data public. Creating a safe space for companies to collaborate is already giving rise to some incredibly positive outcomes on the ground.
Do you know which companies haven't complied with the Modern Slavery Act, and is the Government acting on it?
Yes, we have a list of companies who, by turnover, location and SIC code, need to comply with Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act but haven't. This list is not complete but growing daily, and we publish this data live on TISCreport.org. We have made contact with everyone on our list directly where websites, email addresses and telephone numbers are available. Where contact details are not available we have asked their auditors (listed in their end of year accounts).
Why do you include holding companies in your database?
A holding company deals specificially with assets, investments and management rather than providing goods and services. So you would think that they were exempt from complying. However changes were made on January 31st 2015 to the rules for company and business names. The use of the word ‘holding’ (or ‘holdings’) is no longer considered ‘sensitive’. This means you can now include this word in your company name without seeking permission from Companies House. As such, unless a company declares that it is not trading in an exemption statement, we have to assume that it might be subject to section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act. If you run a holding company over £36M turnover that does not provide goods and services you can file your exemption statement here on TISCreport.
Why does my organisation have a profile on your site when we haven't registered or joined?
Our data comes from multiple sources. If you're a company, your data will come from the open data held on Companies House and/or OpenCorporates.com.
Your compliance data will come from one of the following:
1) One of your buyers
2) From a member of the public
3) From one of your employees, submitting your statement anonymously
4) From one our trackerbots monitoring your site for compliance
In all of these cases, you can register to claim your account for free and verify that the statement submitted is the correct version for that year. We will report this back to your buyers and our partnering government departments, and also your suppliers who may well be tracking your compliance via TISCreport.
If we upload our supplier data to your supplier dashboard will our supply chain remain confidential?
Yes. Uploading your suppliers to the supplier dashboard will enable you to use TISCreport without exposing it to the public. Your supplier data remains completely private and within your control. There is functionality within to share some or all of your suppliers publicly and this is entirely within your control from within the supplier dashboard.
What types of data are typically considered open data?
How can I use open data?
What is an LEI (Legal Entity Identifier) and how does TISCreport use it?
An LEI, or Legal Entity Identifier, is a unique code assigned to legal entities that participate in financial transactions. It is a 20-character alphanumeric code that is used to identify a specific legal entity in financial transactions. The LEI system was established to improve the transparency and efficiency of financial markets by providing a unique and standardized way to identify legal entities. It is administered by the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF) and you can find their data to download here:
https://www.gleif.org/en/lei-data/gleif-golden-copy/download-the-golden-copy#/
TISCreport uses LEIs to help identify a Legal Entity and link data we hold from the various different open data sources we use in our corporate transparency projects.
What is an ISIN (International Securities Identification Number)?
What is TISCreport?
TISCreport is a transparency-in-supply-chains platform that also serves as an independent open legal register, based on aggregating publicly available data.
An open legal register refers to a legal register that is publicly accessible and available for anyone to view. It is a transparent and inclusive approach to sharing information about legal requirements and obligations. Open legal registers are often implemented by governments, regulatory bodies, or organisations with a commitment to transparency and public engagement.
Open legal registers can take various forms, depending on the context. Here are a few examples:
Government Legal Registers: Some governments maintain open legal registers that provide access to legislation, regulations, and legal requirements applicable within their jurisdiction. These registers may be web-based platforms where users can search and access relevant laws and regulations.
The objective of an open legal register is to promote transparency, accessibility, and understanding of legal requirements. By making such information readily available, it facilitates compliance efforts, reduces ambiguity, and fosters a culture of legal awareness.