Press

Fashion has a major child labour problem and is failing to address it, according to new research from the US government.

Governance documentation like grievance and whistleblowing mechanisms should be updated to cover children. “A huge problem is the lack of acknowledgement and therefore invisibility of children within solutions. If we don’t admit that they’re there, the problem is not going to go away,” says HACE’s Harry. “The first step is taking a risk-based approach, based on proven child labour in specific goods and jurisdictions.”

A newly developed quantitative approach may help raise child labor’s prominence as an environmental, social and governance issue. The AI-driven tool, known as the Child Labor Index, scores companies in three areas: disclosure levels, public perception and the commodity-level exposure of the supply chain to child labor.

A new BBC documentary found children as young as five picking jasmine from 3am in an Egyptian village responsible for producing 75 per cent of the country’s jasmine.

Child labour is rampant in many supply chains, but “70 per cent of child labour is in agriculture — raw commodities and anything in those lower tiers of a supply chain”, says Eleanor Harry, founder and chief executive of HACE, a company using data and AI to monitor child labour risks in supply chains.

HACE: Data Changing Child Labour, a Tech for Good startup dedicated to leveraging technology to eradicate Child Labour in global supply chains, has successfully raised £450,000 in its pre-seed funding round, surpassing its initial target by 20%.

In this episode of the ESG Clarity podcast, ESG Out Loud, reporter Holly Downes talks to Eleanor Harry, chief executive of HACE, about their AI-powered Child Labour Index.

Today, there are 160 million children in Child Labour globally between the ages of five and 17, of which 78 million are working in hazardous conditions. With the help of artificial intelligence (AI), HACE helps investors monitor the risk of Child Labour in their portfolios.

HACE: Data Changing Child Labour has appointed Eric Solomons as chair of the board ahead of its next stage of growth and the launch of its proprietary Child Labour Index.

Solomons will lead the Tech for Good company’s board as it assembles a team of industry experts to oversee the development of its one-of-a-kind specialist rating system. 

There is a perception that Child Labour is an issue confined to a small handful of industries and parts of the world. However, according to HACE founder Eleanor Harry, the problem goes much deeper.

“It’s not just a sub-Saharan African or South Asian problem,” Harry says. “There’s about three million children in high-income countries that are in Child lLbour.”

Defined as work that is mentally, physically, socially or emotionally harmful to children and interferes with their education, Child Labour is alarmingly on the rise.

Eleanor Harry, chief executive of HACE: Data Changing Child Labour, explores how Gen Z are altering their purchasing behaviours to reflect changing attitudes, pushing companies to assess their ESG stance.

The ‘S’ in ESG is increasingly attracting scrutiny, with Child Labour in the supply chain being one widespread issue recently brought to the forefront.

Shareholder pressure and the investment community have the power to spark monumental change in the way that some of the world’s largest organisations do business.

HACE is a business that's using AI to pioneer a future free from Child Labour, by interrogating supply chains at vast scale and speed.

“HACE is a brilliant example of putting our most current technology at the front and centre of solving deeply embedded and hard to see and solve social issues,” congratulates Lynch. “This is a business that our big retailers and brand manufactures absolutely should be investing in to unravel efficiently the complex issue of Child Labour.” - Karen Lynch MBE

Investors in fast fashion giant Boohoo have shrugged off ethical concerns raised by an undercover BBC Panorama investigation.

Eleanor Harry, CEO at HACE: Data Changing Child Labour, said: "Solving unethical practices in the supply chain is complex, however businesses can begin with using fairer practices at a top-level which will reduce the pressure that is pushed down the supply chain. Unfortunately, supply chain malpractice is widespread beyond fashion, it impacts most commodities and countries. For example, research shows at least 169 goods in at least 74 countries are produced with Child Labour….”

Manchester-based fast fashion retailer Boohoo could face a consumer boycott following the revelations in a BBC Panorama last night where the company has come under fire for heavy handed treatment of suppliers.

Also commenting on the news, Eleanor Harry, chief executive of HACE: Data Changing Child Labour, said: “While all businesses are under pressure to reduce costs and increase margins, driving down prices can cause a ripple effect…”

The second annual edition of the ESGFinTech100 was released today by FinTech Global, a FinTech news, insights and analysis specialist. The updated list puts a spotlight on the world’s most innovative technology solutions that are helping the financial sector tackle climate risk, sustainability, social responsibility and governance challenges.

HACE is an impact startup that uses data and AI to tackle the issue of Child Labour and support ethical action from companies. Founded in 2020, HACE has developed an index designed for financial institutions and investors that will help them make informed decisions on which firms are compliant with anti-Child Labour regulations.

Championing a world free from Child Labour, Eleanor Harry’s HACE disrupts the fight against exploitation with AI-powered insights and an innovative Child Labour Index, transforming global supply chains and inspiring a brighter future for vulnerable communities.

In this episode, host Jason Foster talks to Eleanor Harry, CEO and Founder of HACE, about the use of data and AI to eradicate Child Labor in supply chains. Join the conversation and discover the critical role of data in addressing the pervasive issue of Child Labor and how companies can leverage existing data and technology to gain actionable insights, identify high-risk areas, and drive meaningful change.

According to the UN, over 160 million children – some as young as five – are actively engaged in Child Labour globally.

Four promising early-stage entrepreneurs to speak on TechBlast panel chaired by award-winning journalist Chris Maguire on Friday 23rd June.

HACE helps corporations remove Child Labour from their supply chains.

Written by Martin SFP Bryant

June 12, 2023 sees a soft launch of a new Child Labour Index by Manchester start-up HACE: Data Changing Child Labour. In the coming weeks the Child Labour Index will be made available to a select group of early adopters for incremental product feedback and refinement in a pilot programme, prior to a full market launch anticipated late summer 2023.

In a time of economic uncertainty can we be forgiven for bad choices? Some, sure. But wouldn’t you want to understand the risk of Child Labour being exploited in the production of your latest purchase? If you knew your latest spend funded child labour, would you have bought the item?

Eleanor Harry

Founder & CEO, HACE: Data Changing Child Labour

Eleanor has worked on Child Labour for over a decade across supply chains including cotton, fishing and ready-made garments.

Search any corporate website in 2023 and the chances are you’ll find a statement about a commitment to ESG, and perhaps information about how the company is committed to eliminating Child Labour.

Anna Flockett and Eleanor Harry discuss how HACE works and Child Labour in the industry.

Each year, Computer Weekly selects a number of Rising Stars in the women in tech sector, women who are making waves in the women, diversity and inclusion in tech space and may find themselves on the top 50 list in the future.

Each year, Computer Weekly publishes the longlist of all of the women put forward to be considered for its list of the top 50 Most Influential Women in UK Tech. Here are 2022’s nominees.

Case Study: Meet our alumni
“HACE is a data start-up, launched in Manchester in February 2020. I am the Managing Director and founder. We identify root causes of Child Labour in companies’ supply chains using data and AI so they are empowered to make timely, proactive and data-driven decisions to reduce Child Labour in their supply chains, resulting in positive impact and reducing reputational risk.“

For our February 2023 event, we heard from Eleanor Harry, CEO and Founder at HACE: Data Changing Child Labour, about "Using data to reduce Child Labour in supply chains".

Have you seen our list of our 22 most influential women of 2022 yet?🤔

Congratulations to all the incredible women who made the list this year!🍾

The Woman of the Year Award was awarded to Eleanor Harry from Manchester, who is Managing Director at HACE (Data Changing Child Labour), which she started in 2020. Eleanor has been recognised with this award not only for her passionate work with HACE, analysing how Big Data might provide meaningful insights into the future of Child Labour, but also for her work advocating for female representation in tech.

Eleanor Harry comments on Channel 4’s Dispatches documentary.

Undercover in Ghana, Antony Barnett investigates Britain's best-loved chocolate brand and reveals for the first time Child Labour in its supply chain

This booklet presents a series of real-world case studies which highlight that SMEs are prepared to adopt ethical and responsible approaches to AI development and deployment in Greater Manchester. They also want the voice of SMEs to be heard and contribute to regulatory development.