Gardeners Brentford Modern Slavery Statement

This Modern Slavery Statement is made by Gardeners Brentford in accordance with applicable modern slavery and human trafficking legislation. It sets out the steps we take to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking in our operations and supply chains, and reaffirms our commitment to ethical conduct, respect for human rights, and responsible sourcing.

Our Business and Supply Chains

Gardeners Brentford provides gardening, landscaping, and related services to residential and commercial clients. Our activities rely on a mix of directly employed staff, seasonal workers, subcontractors, and suppliers of plants, materials, equipment, and ancillary services. We recognise that risks of modern slavery can arise in areas such as temporary labour, outsourced services, and the production and transportation of goods and materials used in our projects.

Zero-Tolerance Approach to Modern Slavery

Gardeners Brentford maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of modern slavery and human trafficking. This includes forced labour, bonded labour, servitude, deceptive recruitment, child labour that is not in line with international standards, and any exploitation that denies individuals their fundamental rights and freedoms. We expect the same zero-tolerance approach from everyone we work with, including employees, agency workers, subcontractors, and all suppliers in our supply chain.

No commercial objective, cost saving, or operational pressure justifies compromising on human rights. Any breach or suspected breach of this policy is treated seriously and may result in the termination of contracts or working relationships, in addition to any legal or regulatory reporting obligations we may have.

Policies and Governance

Our modern slavery commitments are embedded into our wider ethical and employment policies. These include fair recruitment practices, clear terms and conditions of employment, and the right to work in a safe and respectful environment. Recruitment is conducted in a transparent manner, with no recruitment fees charged to workers and with all staff provided with accessible information about their rights, pay, and working conditions.

Managers are responsible for ensuring that teams understand and comply with this statement. Ultimate oversight rests with senior management, who review modern slavery risks and responses as part of our overall risk management framework.

Supplier Due Diligence and Audits

We work to ensure that modern slavery risks are identified, assessed, and managed throughout our supply chains. Gardeners Brentford conducts due diligence on new suppliers that present a higher risk profile due to their sector, location, or the nature of the goods and services supplied.

As part of this due diligence, we may request information on labour practices, review relevant certifications or policies, and require suppliers to confirm their own zero-tolerance stance on modern slavery. We reserve the right to conduct supplier audits, either announced or unannounced, where we consider it appropriate to verify compliance with our standards. These audits may include document reviews, site visits, and, where feasible, confidential worker interviews.

Where non-compliance is identified, we expect immediate corrective actions, monitored through an agreed remediation plan. Persistent failure or reluctance to address concerns can lead to suspension or termination of the business relationship.

Training and Awareness

We aim to raise awareness of modern slavery indicators and reporting procedures among our staff, particularly those involved in recruitment, procurement, and supplier management. Training and guidance materials emphasise how to recognise signs of exploitation, how to handle concerns sensitively, and the importance of acting promptly.

Reporting Channels and Whistleblowing

Gardeners Brentford encourages employees, suppliers, subcontractors, and any other stakeholders to report concerns about modern slavery or human trafficking in confidence. Concerns may relate to our own operations or to any part of our supply chain.

Reports can be made through established internal reporting channels, including raising issues with line managers or senior management. Individuals may also use any existing whistleblowing mechanisms within our organisation. All reports will be treated seriously, handled sensitively, and investigated appropriately. We do not tolerate victimisation or retaliation against anyone who raises a concern in good faith.

Continuous Improvement and Annual Review

Gardeners Brentford is committed to continual improvement in identifying, preventing, and addressing modern slavery risks. We will review this Modern Slavery Statement at least once every year, or more frequently if required by changes in legislation, our business operations, or risk assessments.

The annual review will consider the effectiveness of our due diligence processes, the findings of any supplier audits, the outcome of any investigations, and feedback from staff and stakeholders. Where necessary, we will revise our policies, procedures, training, and supplier engagement to strengthen our approach and enhance protections for workers throughout our supply chains.