Gardener Harlesden Modern Slavery Statement

This Modern Slavery Statement sets out Gardener Harlesden’s commitment to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking across our operations and supply chains. We declare a zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of forced labour, child exploitation and human trafficking. As an organisation operating within landscaping, facilities and local services, Gardener Harlesden recognises our responsibility to uphold human rights and to ensure that our anti-slavery statement reflects robust action and clear accountability.

Our anti-slavery statement (also described as an anti-slavery policy) applies to all employees, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers. We embed expectations in procurement, employment practices and contractor engagements. This slavery and human trafficking statement outlines the measures we take to identify and mitigate risks, how we monitor compliance, and the channels we provide for concerns to be raised safely and securely.

We operate a strict zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery: anyone found to be involved in forced labour, debt bondage or related abuses will face immediate disciplinary action, which may include contract termination and referral to appropriate authorities. Our leadership team has endorsed this modern slavery policy and requires all managers to apply consistent procedures when recruiting, onboarding and supervising workers.

We require due diligence of suppliers and carry out supplier audits to assess risk. Supplier assessment includes document checks, verification of employment records and site visits where feasible. Our procurement teams use risk-based screening to prioritise audits of suppliers in higher-risk geographies or industries. Audit findings are recorded and acted upon, with corrective action plans required for any non-conformances.

Key elements of our supplier audit and monitoring programme include:

• Verification of lawful right to work and fair recruitment practices;
• Inspection of working conditions, hours and remuneration;
• Confirmation of no recruitment fees charged to workers;
• Requirement for subcontractor transparency and traceability.

Where audits reveal potential breaches of our slavery and human trafficking statement, we work collaboratively with suppliers to remediate issues. If a supplier fails to make timely improvements or demonstrates systemic violations, we will suspend or terminate the commercial relationship in accordance with contractual terms.

Gardener Harlesden has established secure reporting channels to encourage prompt reporting of concerns related to modern slavery. Employees, contractors and third parties can raise issues through designated internal reporting lines, confidential reporting mechanisms and via direct manager escalation. We protect whistleblowers from retaliation and maintain confidentiality to the fullest extent possible during any investigation.

Reports are investigated by trained personnel and, where appropriate, external experts or authorities are engaged. Our reporting channels support anonymous submissions and a clear process exists to record, investigate and resolve allegations. We also provide awareness training so staff can recognise signs of exploitation and understand how to escalate concerns. This reporting framework is central to our modern slavery compliance and prevention strategy.

The effectiveness of this modern slavery compliance statement is reviewed annually. Our annual review evaluates due diligence outcomes, audit results, training completion rates and the volume and nature of reports received. Findings feed into continuous improvement: policies are updated, additional supplier engagement is scheduled, and training is refreshed to meet evolving risks.

Governance and Continuous Improvement

Governance for the slavery prevention programme is maintained at senior management level. Strong oversight ensures our slavery and human trafficking statement remains aligned with legal obligations and best practice. We commit to transparency in our progress while protecting personal data and sensitive investigation details.

Commitments and Next Steps

We will continue to strengthen our due diligence processes, extend supplier audit coverage and enhance awareness across our workforce. Our modern slavery policy will be further integrated into procurement contracts and contractor standards to reinforce expectations throughout the supply chain.

Conclusion: Gardener Harlesden is resolute in its commitment to combat modern slavery. Through a zero-tolerance policy, targeted supplier audits, secure reporting channels and a rigorous annual review, we aim to prevent exploitation and promote ethical, lawful labour practices.