Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement

This Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement is made by Gardeners Cheam in respect of the financial year ending 31 December. It sets out the steps we are taking to identify, prevent, and address modern slavery and human trafficking within our operations and supply chains.

Gardeners Cheam provides gardening, landscaping, and related services. While we operate predominantly within the United Kingdom and assess our overall risk of modern slavery as relatively low, we recognise that no organisation is exempt from these risks. We are committed to continuous improvement in our approach to ethical trading and human rights.

Our Zero-Tolerance Approach

Gardeners Cheam has a zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of modern slavery, forced labour, servitude, compulsory labour, and human trafficking. This commitment applies to our own staff, agency workers, contractors, and all suppliers and subcontractors engaged in delivering goods or services for or on behalf of Gardeners Cheam.

We are committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure that modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in our organisation or our supply chains.

Our Supply Chains and Supplier Standards

Our supply chains primarily consist of suppliers of plants, soil and aggregates, gardening tools and machinery, uniforms, and facilities-related services. We expect all suppliers to share our commitment to human rights and labour standards.

As part of our supplier selection and onboarding processes, we assess prospective suppliers on their compliance with applicable labour, employment, and health and safety laws. We communicate our zero-tolerance stance on modern slavery and require suppliers to confirm that they do not use forced, bonded, or involuntary labour and that they comply with minimum wage and working time regulations.

Supplier Audits and Due Diligence

Gardeners Cheam is developing and implementing a risk-based audit and due diligence programme to help identify and address potential modern slavery risks in our supply chains. This includes:

Conducting periodic reviews of higher-risk suppliers, including those using seasonal or migrant labour or operating in sectors with known labour rights challenges.

Requesting evidence of supplier policies, training, and procedures related to labour standards and modern slavery prevention.

Reserving the right to conduct site visits or independent assessments where proportionate and appropriate.

Requiring corrective action plans where concerns are identified and reserving the right to terminate relationships with suppliers that fail to meet our standards or to make meaningful improvements.

Reporting Concerns and Speaking Up

Gardeners Cheam encourages all employees, workers, suppliers, and other business partners to report any concerns or suspicions of modern slavery or unethical labour practices at the earliest opportunity.

Concerns can be raised to a line manager, a senior manager, or an appropriate representative within the business. Reports may be made confidentially, and we will handle all concerns sensitively and, where possible, protect the identity of individuals who raise issues in good faith.

We will investigate all credible reports and take appropriate action, which may include engaging with suppliers to resolve issues, reporting matters to relevant authorities, or ending business relationships where serious breaches are confirmed.

Training and Awareness

We are committed to raising awareness of modern slavery among our staff, particularly those involved in procurement and supplier management. Training and guidance will cover how to recognise potential indicators of modern slavery, how to respond to concerns, and how to apply our policies in day-to-day decision-making.

As our procedures develop, we will review the effectiveness of our training and update materials to reflect changing risks, best practice, and legal requirements.

Monitoring, Governance and Annual Review

Responsibility for overseeing our approach to modern slavery and human trafficking rests with the senior management team at Gardeners Cheam. They are responsible for ensuring that appropriate policies, procedures, and controls are in place and are operating effectively.

We monitor our progress through regular management reviews, supplier assessments, and feedback from staff and stakeholders. Where areas for improvement are identified, we will develop and implement action plans and track their completion.

This statement will be reviewed and updated annually to reflect our ongoing efforts, changes in our business, developments in legislation, and emerging best practice. It is approved by the management of Gardeners Cheam, who are committed to ensuring that our organisation and supply chains remain vigilant against the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking.