Modern Slavery Statement
Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement
Gardeners Bermondsey is committed to conducting all aspects of our business with integrity, transparency, and respect for human rights. We recognise our responsibility to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking within our operations and supply chains, and we are dedicated to continually improving our practices to identify, assess, and address any associated risks.
This Modern Slavery Statement sets out the steps we are taking to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking in our business and supply chains for the relevant financial year.
Our Organisation and Supply Chains
Gardeners Bermondsey provides gardening and related services, working with a range of suppliers, contractors, and subcontractors for plants, materials, equipment, and support services. Our supply chains include local and international partners, and we recognise that certain regions, sectors, and labour practices may present heightened risks of labour exploitation.
We are committed to working only with suppliers and partners who share our values, comply with applicable laws, and demonstrate a clear commitment to ethical labour practices.
Zero-Tolerance Policy on Modern Slavery
We have a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of modern slavery, including forced labour, bonded labour, child labour, servitude, and human trafficking. Any form of exploitation is fundamentally inconsistent with our values and our commitment to ethical business conduct.
Our zero-tolerance stance applies to all employees, contractors, agency workers, and suppliers. We expect all those who work with or on behalf of Gardeners Bermondsey to uphold the same standards. Where we identify non-compliance or credible concerns, we will take decisive action, which may include termination of contracts, reporting to relevant authorities, and remediation where appropriate.
Supplier Standards and Audits
We are strengthening our procurement processes to ensure that modern slavery considerations are embedded in our supplier selection and ongoing management. We aim to work only with suppliers who can demonstrate that they operate in line with our ethical standards and applicable labour laws.
Our approach to supplier oversight includes:
Conducting risk-based assessments of suppliers, with enhanced scrutiny for higher-risk sectors and geographies.
Requiring confirmation from suppliers that they do not tolerate modern slavery and have policies and processes in place to prevent it.
Carrying out audits or assessments, which may include site visits, documentation reviews, and discussions with management, to evaluate compliance with labour standards.
Where issues are identified, we will work collaboratively with suppliers to address concerns and improve practices. If a supplier is unwilling or unable to meet our standards, we reserve the right to reconsider or terminate the relationship.
Reporting Channels and Whistleblowing
Gardeners Bermondsey encourages a culture of openness, where concerns about unethical or unlawful conduct, including suspected modern slavery, can be raised without fear of retaliation. We are committed to investigating all concerns raised in good faith and taking appropriate action.
Employees, contractors, and suppliers are encouraged to report any concerns about potential modern slavery or human trafficking through our internal reporting channels or directly to senior management. Reports can be made confidentially, and we will respect the privacy of individuals as far as possible while fulfilling our legal and ethical obligations.
We do not tolerate any form of victimisation or retaliation against individuals who raise concerns or participate in investigations.
Training, Awareness, and Continuous Improvement
We are working to increase awareness of modern slavery risks among our employees and key suppliers. This includes providing guidance on recognising indicators of exploitation, understanding reporting routes, and upholding our zero-tolerance policy.
We recognise that tackling modern slavery is an ongoing process. We will continue to review our risk assessments, due diligence processes, and supplier engagement to improve our effectiveness in preventing and addressing modern slavery within our operations and supply chains.
Annual Review and Governance
This Modern Slavery Statement is reviewed at least annually by Gardeners Bermondsey senior management to ensure it remains accurate, effective, and reflective of our evolving business and risk profile.
As part of the annual review, we will assess:
The effectiveness of our policies, due diligence, and supplier audits.
Any reported concerns, incidents, and the actions taken.
Opportunities for improvement, including enhanced training and stronger contractual requirements.
Following each review, we will update this statement and our supporting procedures as needed to strengthen our approach to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking. This statement has been approved by the leadership of Gardeners Bermondsey and will be published and communicated internally and externally.
