Modern Slavery Statement

Gardeners Harlington Modern Slavery Statement

This Modern Slavery Statement sets out the steps Gardeners Harlington has taken, and continues to take, to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking within our business operations and supply chains. We are committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our relationships and to implementing effective systems and controls to ensure that modern slavery does not take place in any part of our organisation.

Our Commitment and Zero-Tolerance Policy

Gardeners Harlington operates a clear zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery, human trafficking, forced labour, and all forms of exploitation. This applies to all areas of our business, including direct employees, contractors, agency workers, and all suppliers and subcontractors providing goods, services, or labour in connection with our activities.

We expect everyone working for or with us to share this commitment. Our standards are incorporated into our internal policies, contractual arrangements where appropriate, and the expectations we communicate to our suppliers and partners. Any involvement in, or failure to report, suspected modern slavery may result in disciplinary action or termination of business relationships.

Our Business and Supply Chains

Gardeners Harlington operates within the gardening, landscaping, and related services sector. Our supply chains include the sourcing of plants, gardening materials, tools, equipment, uniforms, transportation, and various professional and support services. We recognise that certain parts of these supply chains, particularly those involving manual labour and outsourced services, may present higher risks of modern slavery.

We are committed to understanding these risks and working collaboratively with our suppliers to promote ethical practices, transparency, and continuous improvement across all tiers of our supply chain.

Supplier Standards and Audits

We require our key suppliers and contractors to uphold labour standards consistent with our zero-tolerance approach. This includes prohibitions on forced or compulsory labour, human trafficking, bonded labour, child labour that is not in line with applicable laws, and any abuse or exploitation of workers.

Gardeners Harlington conducts risk-based due diligence on suppliers. Where we identify elevated risk, we may undertake additional checks or request further information and assurances regarding working conditions, recruitment practices, and employee welfare. We reserve the right to conduct audits or request independent assessments of suppliers where necessary to verify compliance with our standards.

If a supplier is found to be in breach of our modern slavery requirements, we will seek to work with them to remedy the issues within a clear timeframe. Where remediation is not possible or cooperation is not forthcoming, we may suspend or terminate the relationship.

Reporting Concerns and Whistleblowing Channels

Gardeners Harlington encourages all employees, workers, suppliers, and other stakeholders to raise concerns about any suspected modern slavery or unethical labour practices connected to our business or supply chains. No individual will suffer any detrimental treatment for reporting a concern in good faith.

Concerns may be raised through internal reporting routes or directly to management. Reports can be made confidentially and, where legally permissible, anonymously. All allegations of modern slavery or human trafficking will be treated seriously, investigated promptly, and, where appropriate, escalated to senior management for further action.

Where we identify victims or potential victims of modern slavery, we will prioritise their safety and wellbeing, work with relevant agencies where appropriate, and take necessary steps to prevent any recurrence.

Training and Awareness

We are committed to raising awareness of modern slavery risks among our staff, particularly those involved in procurement, supplier management, and on-site supervision. Training and guidance are provided so that relevant employees can recognise indicators of modern slavery and understand how to respond to concerns.

We also communicate our expectations to suppliers and partners so that they understand our policies, the standards we expect, and the importance of robust labour practices within their own operations and supply chains.

Monitoring, Review, and Continuous Improvement

Gardeners Harlington is committed to continuously improving our approach to identifying and addressing modern slavery risks. We monitor the effectiveness of our measures through supplier feedback, incident reports, and periodic reviews of our policies, procedures, and risk assessments.

This Modern Slavery Statement is reviewed annually by our management team to ensure it remains current, effective, and aligned with relevant legislation and best practice. As our business and supply chains evolve, we will update our approach accordingly, strengthening our controls and working collaboratively with our partners to eliminate modern slavery in all its forms.

This statement has been approved on behalf of Gardeners Harlington and represents our ongoing commitment to combatting modern slavery and human trafficking.