Gardeners Lewisham Modern Slavery Statement

Gardeners Lewisham is committed to preventing all forms of slavery, servitude, forced labour and human trafficking in our operations and supply chain. This Modern Slavery Statement (also referred to as our anti-slavery policy) sets out our approach and measures to identify, prevent and mitigate risks. We adopt a zero-tolerance policy toward any practice that undermines the dignity of workers and will not knowingly engage with suppliers who permit exploitative labour.

Scope and Purpose

We publish this slavery and human trafficking statement to clarify responsibilities across our organisation and with business partners. The statement covers all Gardeners Lewisham operations and applies to employees, temporary staff and the full supply chain, including contractors supplying plants, materials and maintenance services. We expect suppliers and subcontractors to comply with our standards and to operate in accordance with applicable labour laws.

Our commitment is operationalised through clear policies and training. We require every team member to understand the modern slavery risks relevant to their role and to escalate any concerns promptly. The Board and senior management endorse this policy and allocate resources for compliance, monitoring and continuous improvement.

Zero-Tolerance Policy and Supplier Expectations

Gardeners Lewisham maintains a zero-tolerance stance on exploitative practices. We make this explicit in contracts and purchase agreements: all suppliers must declare compliance with lawful labour standards. Key commitments include:

• Zero-tolerance policy toward forced labour and human trafficking;
• Mandatory representation from suppliers that workers are engaged freely and paid fairly;
• Obligation for suppliers to allow audits and remedial action where necessary.

We carry out supplier audits and risk-based assessments to verify compliance. Audits include documentation reviews, site visits and worker interviews where feasible. Findings are recorded, and corrective action plans are agreed with suppliers. In cases of serious non-compliance we reserve the right to suspend or terminate contracts.

To support effective oversight we use a combination of due diligence checks, contractual clauses and periodic review. Our procurement processes integrate slavery and human trafficking risk screening at onboarding and during routine supplier reviews. We prioritise higher-risk categories and geographies for more intensive scrutiny.

Reporting channels are established to ensure concerns can be raised safely and without fear of retaliation. Workers, suppliers and third parties are encouraged to report suspected breaches through designated internal routes. Reports are treated confidentially and investigated by trained staff. We promote awareness of these reporting channels among our workforce and supply partners.

Remediation and collaboration are central to our approach. When an issue is identified we work with suppliers to remediate harm, protect affected individuals and strengthen controls. Where remediation is not possible or suppliers fail to cooperate, we will take decisive contractual action. We also collaborate with industry groups and peers to share best practice and improve labour standards across the sector.

Training and responsibility are embedded at all levels. Managers receive guidance on recognising indicators of exploitation and on escalation procedures. Our procurement team has specific accountability for supplier due diligence and audit programmes. We use regular training, policy updates and internal communications to keep modern slavery awareness high.

We monitor key performance indicators, review audit outcomes and track corrective actions. This Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement is subject to an annual review to assess effectiveness and make improvements. The review includes consultation with senior leaders and, where relevant, external advisors to ensure our policies remain robust and aligned with best practice.

Gardeners Lewisham will continue to strengthen systems to prevent modern slavery in all its forms, maintaining transparency in our approach and reporting progress in subsequent statements. This anti-slavery statement is approved by senior management and will be updated as necessary to reflect evolving risks and controls.