Gardener Lewisham – Modern Slavery Statement and Commitment

Gardener Lewisham confirms its commitment to a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery and human trafficking. This Modern Slavery Statement outlines our policies, practical steps and ongoing actions to prevent slavery and forced labour across our operations and supply chains. We recognise that as a local gardening and grounds maintenance provider we have responsibilities to ensure that no person is subject to exploitation in work we commission or perform.

Our policy and scope

We operate a clear anti-slavery policy that applies to all employees, contractors and suppliers engaged by Gardener Lewisham. The policy is integrated into our staff handbook and contractor terms, and we require adherence to our standards of conduct. Our modern slavery policy emphasises the importance of ethical recruitment, lawful working hours, and payment of fair wages, and sets out the disciplinary and contractual consequences when breaches occur.

The organisation has a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of forced labour, debt bondage, human trafficking or exploitation. We will not tolerate modern slavery in any part of our activities or supply chain. All employees receive training to recognise signs of exploitation and to act in accordance with this statement. Our leadership team reviews reports promptly and enforces corrective measures where required.

Due diligence and supplier expectations

Gardener Lewisham conducts proportionate due diligence on suppliers and subcontractors to reduce the risk of modern slavery. We require suppliers to confirm compliance with our standards and to maintain transparent records of recruitment and payment practices. Where reasonable, we prefer suppliers who share our slavery and human trafficking prevention values and demonstrate continuous improvement.

Our supplier audit programme includes:

• Contractual clauses that require compliance with anti-slavery and human trafficking requirements;
• Periodic site checks, documentation reviews and payroll audits to verify lawful employment;
• Risk-based assessments prioritising suppliers in higher-risk sectors or geographies;
• Corrective action plans and follow-up audits where concerns are identified.

We also encourage suppliers to implement their own anti-slavery policies and to cascade those expectations to their subcontractors. Where audits reveal non-compliance, we will seek immediate remediation and reserve the right to terminate relationships where improvement is not achieved.

Reporting channels and whistleblowing

Gardener Lewisham maintains clear reporting channels for concerns about slavery or exploitation. Employees and third parties can report suspected issues through internal reporting routes described in our policies. Reports are handled confidentially and sensitively, and we protect whistleblowers from retaliation. We take each report seriously, investigate thoroughly, and take decisive action when appropriate.

Our approach to handling reports includes prompt fact-finding, engagement with relevant enforcement agencies when necessary, and support for affected individuals including safeguarding and referral to specialist services where applicable. We ensure that victims are prioritised and receive appropriate assistance.

Annual review and continuous improvement: this modern slavery and human trafficking statement is reviewed at least once a year by our senior management team. The review evaluates the effectiveness of our due diligence, supplier audits, training, and reporting mechanisms, and identifies improvements to strengthen prevention and response. Metrics considered include audit outcomes, training completion rates, and the number and nature of reported incidents.