Gardeners Walthamstow Modern Slavery Statement

This Modern Slavery Statement sets out Gardeners Walthamstow's commitment to preventing modern slavery, human trafficking and forced labour across our operations and supply chains. As part of our anti-slavery statement obligations we declare a clear stance: we will not tolerate exploitation of people in any form. This introductory declaration frames our policy, responsibilities and the actions we take to uphold human rights.

Zero-Tolerance Policy and Core Principles

Gardeners Walthamstow operates a zero-tolerance policy to modern slavery. Our zero tolerance extends to any partner, contractor or supplier who engages in forced labour, debt bondage, or any form of coercion. We require all staff and partners to comply with employment law and our internal standards. The modern slavery policy is embedded across recruitment, procurement and contractor management to ensure consistent application of these principles throughout our business.

Our Commitments and Actions

We publish this modern slavery statement to be transparent about the steps we take. Key commitments include:

• Conducting risk assessments across our supply chain to identify vulnerable areas and suppliers.
• Carrying out supplier audits and on-site checks to validate compliance with labour and human rights standards.
• Providing training for managers and procurement staff to recognise and respond to signs of exploitation.

Supplier Audits and Due Diligence

We operate a structured supplier due diligence programme. Supplier audits are scheduled based on risk, geography and spend, with unannounced checks where appropriate. Our approach to supplier audits includes document review, worker interviews and corrective action plans. Suppliers are required to demonstrate adherence to our code of conduct and to cooperate with audit processes; failure to remediate serious breaches may lead to contract termination and exclusion from future work.

Reporting Channels and Whistleblowing

Gardeners Walthamstow maintains secure reporting channels to enable staff, contractors and third parties to report concerns. Our reporting channels are confidential and follow whistleblowing principles, ensuring no retaliation for good faith reports. Reports are triaged promptly, investigated by trained personnel and, where necessary, escalated to senior management. We promote multiple reporting routes and encourage the use of them to protect vulnerable workers.

We also maintain clear grievance mechanisms within our supply chain so workers can raise issues directly. Each reported incident is logged, investigated and resolved according to our procedures. Where exploitation is identified, we take swift remediation measures to protect victims and pursue corrective action against non-compliant suppliers. These measures form an essential part of our supplier audits and remediation framework.

Monitoring, Training and Continuous Improvement

Our ongoing monitoring program includes regular reviews of supplier audit results, independent verification and targeted capacity building for suppliers. Training is provided across the organisation to improve awareness of modern slavery risks, and mandatory training modules are delivered to procurement teams. We maintain records of all training and audit outcomes to measure progress and inform risk mitigation strategies.

We use key performance indicators to measure effectiveness, including the number of supplier audits completed, the percentage of suppliers who implement corrective actions, and the number of reports investigated. These metrics are reviewed by our governance committee and inform decisions on resources and priorities. Our modern-slavery statement is an active document that evolves with lessons learned.

This Gardeners Walthamstow anti-slavery policy undergoes an annual review to ensure it remains effective and aligned with legal obligations and best practice. The annual review assesses policy effectiveness, audit findings, reported incidents and training uptake. Updates are approved by senior leadership and applied across operations. In closing, Gardeners Walthamstow reaffirms a firm commitment to eliminating modern slavery from its business and supply chains, and to continuous improvement through supplier audits, accessible reporting channels, and a rigorous annual review process.