Life at MAN - Claire Featherstone, Global Supply Chain Director
This Sunday (18 October) is Anti-Slavery Day, an annual campaign that raises awareness of modern slavery, human trafficking, and exploitation. Tens of thousands of people are estimated to be exploited across the UK through forced labour, human trafficking, domestic servitude, and sexual / criminal exploitation.
In a special edition of our monthly Life at MAN feature, we spoke to Claire Featherstone, Global Supply Chain Director for CAVU - the arm of MAG that operates Manchester Airport's executive lounges and aether premium terminal, along with managing the airport's website and online booking platforms. Claire tells us about the action MAG takes to eliminate forced labour and exploitation in its supply chain - and how colleagues from across the business can help tackle these practices and end human trafficking and modern slavery.
Tell us a bit about your role as Global Supply Chain Director and what that means day to day?
As Global Supply Chain Director, I'm responsible for helping ensure that CAVU has the suppliers, contracts, systems, and commercial arrangements in place to support our growth plans. That includes everything from technology and construction projects through to food and beverage, operational services and the products that help our airports and travel businesses run day to day.
The role is really varied. One day I might be working on a major commercial negotiation, the next supporting a business transformation programme or working with colleagues to improve supplier performance and reduce risk. Both MAG and CAVU are highly dependent on suppliers to achieve our business goals, so ultimately, my role is about making sure we work with the right organisations, achieve value for money, and build a resilient, sustainable supply chain.
What attracted you to a career in supply chain and procurement?
My first job was in logistics, organising urgent aircraft charters for the automotive industry. From automotive I moved to aerospace and gained experience in a more strategic procurement role. I realised that Procurement sits at the intersection of people, strategy, operations, and finance, so you get exposure to almost every part of a business.
Over time, what has kept me interested is the opportunity to make a real difference. Good procurement isn't just about negotiating contracts or reducing costs - it's about solving problems, building strong relationships, supporting business growth, and helping organisations make better decisions.
What part of your role do you think people would be most surprised to learn about?
Many people assume procurement is mainly about cost and contracts. But a significant part of our role is understanding how products and services are delivered, where they come from and whether they are being provided responsibly and ethically. That means looking beyond price and considering issues such as sustainability, human rights, modern slavery, supplier resilience and how organisations treat their people.
Why is tackling modern slavery an important part of the work your team does?
As an airport group and international travel business, we rely on a large and diverse supply chain. That gives us both an opportunity and a responsibility to influence positive behaviour and help protect people who may be vulnerable to exploitation.
When people think about procurement, they often focus on cost. But cheaper is never better if it comes at the expense of treating people fairly and responsibly. The organisations we choose to work with should share our values and our commitment to doing business in the right way.
Modern slavery can often be hidden from view, which is why it's important that we continually strengthen our processes, challenge ourselves and work closely with suppliers to identify and address risks wherever they may arise. MAG partners with Ecovadis, a global sustainability ratings service with a focus on Labour and Human rights, and Slave Free Alliance to support the identification and management of modern slavery risks.
How do we work with suppliers to make sure they're meeting the standards we expect?
We set clear expectations from the outset and work with suppliers as partners to help achieve them.
Our Supplier Code of Conduct outlines the standards we expect suppliers to meet across areas such as sustainable supply chains, health and safety, modern slavery, ethical business conduct and respectful treatment of people. We also expect suppliers to comply with the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and to work collaboratively with us to identify and manage risks within their own supply chains.
Alongside contractual requirements, we carry out due diligence, sustainability assessments and ongoing supplier engagement. The aim isn't simply to audit suppliers, but to build transparency, encourage continuous improvement and work together to find solutions where risks are identified.
What can colleagues across MAG do to help spot and prevent potential exploitation or modern slavery?
The most important thing is recognising that this isn't something that sits solely with a specialist team. Everyone has a role to play.
Be curious, pay attention to things that don't feel right and never assume someone else will raise a concern. Modern slavery can take many forms and often isn't immediately obvious.
If something doesn't seem right, whether that's unusual working conditions, concerns about the wellbeing of individuals or behaviour that appears exploitative, colleagues should speak up. MAG provides routes for raising concerns confidentially and takes all reports seriously.
Ultimately, preventing modern slavery starts with looking out for people. If we all remain vigilant and continue to challenge behaviour that falls below our standards, we can play an important role in helping protect both passengers and those working throughout our supply chain.