Your Deliveries Could Breach the Law, Ours Don’t
TL;DR
Many UK delivery models carry hidden risks of illegal working and modern slavery, leaving businesses exposed to legal and reputational damage under the Modern Slavery Act. Pedal Me operates differently: we employ riders directly, conduct rigorous right-to-work checks, provide proper contracts and benefits, and maintain full compliance. For businesses, that means logistics you can trust legally, ethically, and publicly.
Why Pedal Me is the Safe Choice for Compliance
There’s a ticking time bomb in UK logistics, and it’s hiding in plain sight.
The issue isn’t whether exploitation exists. That’s not up for debate. We printed it on the side of our cargo bikes nearly a year ago.
The real concern is that risky, legally grey delivery models have become so normal, so deeply baked into everyday operations, that many decision-makers don’t realise they’re sitting on a potential compliance disaster.
Let’s talk about the Modern Slavery Act
Since 2015, the Modern Slavery Act has required UK businesses to take responsibility for their supply chains. That means identifying risks, asking questions, and being able to prove you’re not profiting, even indirectly, from labour exploitation.
The uncomfortable truth? If your delivery supplier uses a model that’s vulnerable to illegal working or modern slavery, and you rely on that supplier, your business might not be in the clear.
You could be legally liable. You could also end up in the press. And not the good kind.
The logistics landscape is changing, but not how you think
Gig economy giants like Deliveroo, Uber Eats, Stuart, and Gophr have revolutionised the way stuff moves through cities. Fast food. Last-minute groceries. B2B courier jobs. You name it.
But beneath the glossy apps and chirpy branding, something’s gone sour. Journalists, campaigners, and trade unions have raised the alarm time and again:
Riders operating without legal status
Earnings dipping below minimum wage
Shared accounts, borrowed identities, fake documents
Real risk of coercion, debt bondage, and trafficking
It’s a perfect storm. High turnover. Patchy oversight. Complex webs of subcontracting. And a pool of workers who are often undocumented, underpaid, and invisible.
This isn’t the flexibility we were sold. It’s fragility.
And it matters, not just for ethics, but for compliance.
Why aren't more people talking about this?
Because the workers most affected are also the most silenced.
They’re worried about immigration raids. Terrified of losing their only source of income. And in some cases, under pressure from people who control their documents or movement.
This silence doesn’t mean the problem isn’t real. It means it’s harder to trace, and easier to ignore.
But regulators are watching. So are campaigners. And one high-profile case is all it takes to drag a brand into the spotlight.
If you're in charge of procurement, compliance, or risk, this should be on your radar
Especially if your logistics partner forms part of your customer offering. You may not have built the supply chain, but you’re still responsible for what it delivers.
Here’s what the Modern Slavery Act expects:
Transparency in your supply chains
Evidence of ethical employment practices
Action plans to identify and mitigate risks
So if you’re outsourcing to platforms with a history of worker complaints and minimal oversight, it’s not enough to shrug and say, “Well, that’s just how it works.”
It might not work much longer.
What can businesses do?
Start with simple steps.
Ask how your delivery staff are employed
Request evidence of legal right-to-work checks
Choose providers who employ directly, train professionally, and comply with UK labour laws
If your supplier can’t provide this, find one who can.
What Pedal Me does differently
We’re a London-based logistics company built on a straightforward principle, work should be decent, safe, and legal.
Every Pedal Me rider is employed directly. That means proper contracts. Pension contributions. Paid holidays. Right-to-work checks. And training that goes way beyond the basics.
We don’t subcontract. We don’t leave our riders in the wind. We’ve built a business that aligns with the law, and the spirit of it.
We’re not saying we’re perfect. But we are saying we’re proud to stand by how we work.
Compliance shouldn’t be a gamble
If you’re a business that relies on deliveries, and wants to do so legally, ethically, and responsibly, we’d like to speak with you.
Because reputations aren’t built on convenience. They’re built on trust.
And trust needs a strong foundation.
FAQs
1. What’s the compliance risk with most delivery platforms?
Many gig-economy logistics companies operate in ways that leave room for illegal working, exploitation, and modern slavery risks. If you use them, you may be legally liable and face reputational damage.
2. How does the Modern Slavery Act affect delivery outsourcing?
Since 2015, UK businesses must prove they aren’t profiting — directly or indirectly — from labour exploitation in their supply chains. This applies to outsourced logistics partners too.
3. Why is this a hidden problem?
Exploited workers are often undocumented, underpaid, and pressured into silence. That makes abuses hard to trace, but regulators and journalists are watching closely.
4. How is Pedal Me different?
We employ all our riders directly with legal right-to-work checks, proper contracts, pensions, paid leave, and high-quality training. No subcontracting, no grey areas.
5. What can businesses do to protect themselves?
Ask suppliers about employment practices, request proof of legal compliance, and work with partners who commit to ethical and lawful operations like Pedal Me.
6. Why choose Pedal Me for compliance peace of mind?
Because we’ve built our operations on trust, legality, and transparency. With Pedal Me, you’re not gambling with your reputation.
