Gardeners Barkingside Modern Slavery Statement

Gardeners Barkingside publishes this Modern Slavery Statement to set out our commitment to preventing modern slavery, forced labour and human trafficking across our operations and supply chains. This anti-slavery statement reflects our position as a community-focused landscaping and gardening service committed to ethical practice. We recognise that a clear, enforceable modern slavery policy is essential to protect workers and uphold human rights.

We operate a zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of modern slavery. All employees, contractors and suppliers are expected to adhere to our standards. Our zero-tolerance approach means that any proven instance of exploitation will lead to immediate remedial action, which may include termination of contracts, referral to law enforcement and supporting affected individuals.

As part of this modern slavery statement, Gardeners Barkingside conducts regular supplier due diligence. We require suppliers to confirm compliance with our anti-slavery commitments and to provide evidence of employment records, pay practices and safe working conditions. Where risks are identified, we implement corrective action plans and monitor progress until issues are resolved.

We maintain clear contractual clauses that require suppliers to comply with our slavery statement obligations. These clauses give us the right to audit, suspend or terminate relationships that fail to meet our standards. Our procurement process includes screening for modern slavery indicators and prioritises suppliers who demonstrate transparent and ethical labour practices.

Training and awareness form a core part of our approach. All staff receive mandatory training on recognising signs of exploitation, reporting requirements and their responsibilities under our anti-slavery policy. We encourage a culture where concerns are raised promptly and handled sensitively and confidentially.

We emphasise continuous improvement and operational transparency. Our internal policies require managers to review workforce practices and ensure temporary and seasonal workers receive fair treatment, legal wages and unrestricted access to identity documents.

The organisation carries out supplier audits to validate compliance with this modern slavery statement and related policies. Audits are risk-based and include documentation checks, interviews and site visits where appropriate. If non-compliance is detected, we work collaboratively with suppliers to remediate issues, with escalation protocols determined by severity.

We provide multiple confidential reporting channels so that concerns about forced labour or trafficking can be raised safely. Staff and third parties are encouraged to use internal reporting lines, speak to designated safeguarding officers or use anonymous reporting mechanisms. All reports are logged, investigated without delay and treated with confidentiality.

Our investigations follow a consistent process: acknowledgement of receipt, risk assessment, evidence collection, corrective action planning and resolution. Serious allegations trigger immediate protective measures for potential victims and engagement with external authorities as required. Records of investigations are retained to inform future risk assessments and continuous improvement.

Gardeners Barkingside is committed to regular monitoring and an annual review of this anti-slavery statement. The annual review examines the effectiveness of policies, supplier audit outcomes, training records and any incidents or near-misses. The review results are used to update procedures, strengthen contractual controls and refine risk-based audit priorities.

Key elements of our ongoing programme include:

• Periodic supplier risk assessments and targeted audits
• Mandatory staff education on modern slavery issues
• Clear, accessible reporting channels and strict confidentiality

We believe that a robust anti-slavery statement and proactive supplier management are essential to prevent exploitation in the gardening, landscaping and grounds maintenance sectors. Gardeners Barkingside will continue to engage stakeholders, review progress annually and take decisive action where breaches occur.