Gardener Thamesmead Modern Slavery Statement

Gardener Thamesmead publishes this Modern Slavery Statement to set out our commitments and actions to prevent slavery, servitude, forced labour and human trafficking in our operations and supply chain. We assert a zero-tolerance policy regarding any form of modern slavery, and we expect the same high standards from all suppliers, contractors and partners who work with Gardener Thamesmead.

We recognise that risks may exist across horticultural services, grounds maintenance and supply chains for seasonal labour and subcontracted services. This anti-slavery statement outlines our approach to due diligence, risk assessment and continuous improvement. Our approach is proportionate to the scale and nature of our activity and aligns with legal and ethical expectations.

As part of our human trafficking and modern slavery statement commitments, we have developed policies and procedures that require adherence to labour standards. These include recruitment checks, verification of right to work, fair pay policies and limits on deductions that could create conditions akin to bonded labour. We maintain records to demonstrate alignment with our obligations and to drive accountability across the business.

Gardener Thamesmead enforces a zero-tolerance policy towards modern slavery and related abuses. Employees and supply chain partners are informed that evidence of forced labour, exploitation, or coercion will lead to immediate action including termination of contracts and referral to relevant authorities where required. We train staff responsible for procurement and site supervision to identify indicators of exploitation and to act swiftly.

We implement supplier due diligence and supplier audits proportionate to risk. Our supplier programme includes screening at onboarding, contractual clauses that bind suppliers to anti-slavery standards, and periodic assessments. Where risk is elevated we conduct targeted audits — both desktop and on-site — to validate compliance, review worker documentation and interview staff where appropriate. Corrective action plans are required when issues are identified.

To reinforce the policy, we maintain a clear set of obligations and expectations for subcontractors and labour providers. These are communicated in tender documents and supplier agreements. We require suppliers to maintain records and to notify us of any third-party recruitment agents they use. Transparency in labour supply chains is a priority to reduce the risk of exploitation.

Reporting channels are an essential pillar of our response. Gardener Thamesmead provides multiple confidential routes for raising concerns about suspected modern slavery, including internal reporting to management and anonymous reporting mechanisms. Reports are assessed promptly by trained personnel, investigated and escalated to senior management where appropriate. We protect whistleblowers from retaliation and encourage early reporting.

We also set out clear remediation steps should a case of modern slavery be discovered. Remediation focuses on supporting affected individuals, cooperating with authorities and terminating relationships with non-compliant suppliers. Legal obligations are met while prioritising the welfare and safety of any affected workers.

Our modern slavery policy is reviewed regularly as part of a formal annual review process. Each year the Board and senior leadership assess the effectiveness of controls, the outcomes of supplier audits, reports received through our channels and any external developments in best practice. The annual review informs updates to training, due diligence and contractual terms, ensuring continuous improvement and alignment with evolving risks.