Gardeners Plaistow Modern Slavery Statement

This Modern Slavery Statement sets out the actions taken by Gardeners Plaistow to prevent modern slavery, human trafficking, forced labour, and exploitation within our business operations and supply chains. We are committed to acting ethically, transparently, and with integrity in all business dealings and to implementing effective systems and controls to safeguard workers.

Our Commitment and Zero-Tolerance Policy

Gardeners Plaistow operates a strict zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery. We do not tolerate any form of forced labour, servitude, debt bondage, child labour, or human trafficking in our operations or in those of our suppliers and partners. This commitment applies to all individuals working for or on behalf of Gardeners Plaistow at every level, including employees, agency workers, contractors, and suppliers.

All commercial relationships are based on the expectation that our partners respect the rights, safety, and wellbeing of their workers. Any evidence of modern slavery within our supply chains will result in prompt investigation, corrective action, and, where necessary, termination of the business relationship.

Supply Chains and Risk Management

Our activities primarily relate to gardening, landscaping, and associated services. We source materials, equipment, and services from a range of suppliers. We recognise that certain sectors and geographies may carry a higher risk of labour exploitation. As part of our ongoing risk management, we review our supply chain to identify areas where the risk of modern slavery could be heightened and focus our checks and engagement accordingly.

We expect our suppliers to share our values and to maintain appropriate policies and processes to prevent modern slavery. We communicate our standards clearly and reserve the right to request information about their labour practices, recruitment processes, and compliance frameworks.

Supplier Due Diligence and Audits

Gardeners Plaistow carries out proportionate due diligence on new and existing suppliers. This may include requesting details of their ethical sourcing policies, evidence of compliance with labour standards, and information about their own supply chains. Where risk is identified, we seek further assurances and may conduct enhanced checks.

We also undertake supplier audits, which can be remote or on-site depending on the nature of the relationship and the level of risk. These audits assess working conditions, recruitment practices, and documentation relating to employment. Any non-compliance with our expectations must be remedied within a reasonable timeframe. Failure to implement corrective actions or evidence of serious violations may result in the suspension or termination of contracts.

Training, Awareness, and Reporting Channels

We provide relevant staff, particularly those involved in procurement, recruitment, and site management, with information to help them identify signs of modern slavery and understand how to respond to concerns. This includes recognising indicators of forced labour, unfair recruitment fees, restriction of movement, retention of identity documents, or unsafe working conditions.

Gardeners Plaistow encourages a culture of openness so that concerns can be raised without fear of detriment. Workers, suppliers, and other stakeholders are encouraged to report any suspected case of modern slavery or unethical labour practice to management or an appropriate senior representative. All reports will be treated seriously and handled sensitively, with investigations carried out promptly and, where necessary, escalated to relevant external authorities.

Continuous Improvement and Annual Review

We recognise that preventing modern slavery is an ongoing responsibility. Gardeners Plaistow is committed to continuously improving our policies, procedures, and due diligence activities. We will review the effectiveness of our approach regularly, taking into account feedback from staff, suppliers, industry developments, and any incidents that may arise.

This Modern Slavery Statement will be reviewed, updated, and approved by the leadership of Gardeners Plaistow on an annual basis, or more frequently if required by changes in legislation or in our operations. The updated statement will reflect the actions taken in the previous year and any planned measures to strengthen our efforts against modern slavery.

By maintaining clear standards, vigilant supplier oversight, accessible reporting channels, and regular review, Gardeners Plaistow aims to ensure that our business and supply chains remain free from modern slavery and that everyone associated with our work is treated with dignity and respect.