THIS local manufacturer has taken a stand against slavery. Leading Yorkshire brickmaker York Handmade Brick has been honoured for its high ethical standards - as the brick industry fights back against the widespread use of child labour and slavery in South East Asia. The Easingwold-based employer, the largest independent brickmaker in the north of England, has been awarded the brand-new Brickmakers Quality Charter(BQC) to underline its moral standards and green credentials. The award comes from the Brick Development Association, the trade association for the UK’s brick industry. David Armitage, the chairman of York Handmade, said: “This accolade means a great deal to us. We take huge pride, both in our environmentally friendly brick-making process and in the way we treat our loyal and hard-working staff. Sadly this approach is not shared by some of our competitors.”