Gardeners London Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement

Our Commitment to an Ethical Supply Chain

Gardeners London declares a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery and all forms of forced labour. This Modern Slavery Statement sets out our commitment, the measures we take to prevent slavery and human trafficking in our operations and supply chain, and the mechanisms we maintain to identify and remediate risk. We are clear that exploitation has no place in our business, and we demand the same high standards from the organisations we work with.

We operate an anti-slavery policy that applies to permanent, temporary and contract staff and to our suppliers. This policy is reviewed by senior management and emphasises that any suspected incidents of slavery, trafficking or coercion will be treated seriously and investigated thoroughly. Our leadership team supports the policy and provides the resources needed for compliance and enforcement.

We recognise that the risk of slavery and forced labour increases where supply chains are complex and layered. Consequently, we have introduced targeted risk assessments for high-risk categories such as seasonal labour, subcontracted grounds maintenance and imported horticultural products. These assessments inform our proactive strategy to detect and address unethical practices before they escalate.

Supplier due diligence and audits

Gardeners London conducts supplier onboarding checks and regular monitoring. Our supplier due diligence includes written declarations, documentation checks and the verification of labour practices. We require suppliers to adhere to our anti-slavery statement provisions and contractual clauses that prohibit exploitation and guarantee ethical working conditions.

We perform a programme of supplier audits with emphasis on transparency and continuous improvement. Audit measures include:

• Document verification and payroll sampling to check for wage compliance;
• Site visits and interviews with workers where practicable to confirm voluntary employment conditions;
• Corrective action plans for any non-conformance, with follow-up assessments to ensure remediation.

Where audits reveal serious breaches we will suspend business relationships and require immediate remediation. We also offer training and guidance to suppliers to raise standards and reduce the chance of exploitation in lower tiers of the supply chain. Our supplier code of conduct is a mandatory contractual requirement.

Reporting channels, whistleblowing and continuous improvement

We provide multiple, confidential reporting channels so employees and third parties can report concerns about potential slavery or human trafficking. Reports are triaged by trained compliance staff and investigated with urgency. Gardeners London enforces strong protections against retaliation and encourages staff to speak up without fear.

Our reporting framework includes internal hotlines, anonymous reporting mechanisms and an escalation pathway to senior management. All reports are logged, risk-rated and subject to a documented investigation process. Findings feed back into our risk register and drive updates to our policies and training materials.

We commit to an annual review of this Modern Slavery Statement and our associated processes. The review evaluates the effectiveness of our policies, audits and reporting channels, and identifies opportunities to strengthen supplier engagement and worker protections. Results of the review inform our continuous improvement plan which aims to reduce risk and improve transparency across our operations and gardens maintenance activities.

Gardeners London maintains partnerships with external advisors and ethical procurement networks to stay current with best practice in combating human trafficking and exploitation. We expect the same ethical standards from contractors, partners and suppliers and include clear contractual remedies where failures are identified.

Training on modern slavery awareness is provided to relevant staff and procurement teams, emphasising how to spot indicators of exploitation and how to respond. We use a combination of classroom, digital and on-site briefings so our teams in the field are empowered to act in line with our zero-tolerance policy.

Through consistent supplier audits, robust reporting channels, transparent remediation and an annual review cycle, Gardeners London aims to ensure that our business and the wider horticultural supply chain are free from slavery, coercion and trafficking. This statement is endorsed by senior leadership and forms part of our broader commitment to ethical business practices.