Gardening Southfields Modern Slavery Statement

Gardening Southfields is committed to preventing all forms of modern slavery, forced labour and human trafficking across our operations and supply chains. This Modern Slavery Statement sets out our zero-tolerance approach, the measures we take to identify and address risk, and how we expect suppliers and partners to work with us to eradicate exploitation.

Our zero-tolerance policy is simple: we will not tolerate slavery of any kind. All employees, contractors and suppliers are expected to comply with this anti-slavery policy. We make this clear in contractual terms, procurement practices and through induction training for staff. Any breach will lead to disciplinary action, and persistent or severe violations will result in termination of contracts.

Risk Assessment and Supplier Due Diligence

We conduct regular risk assessments to identify areas where forced labour or human trafficking might occur. Our supplier due diligence involves pre-engagement screening and ongoing monitoring for labour rights risks. We prioritise suppliers in high-risk regions and sectors for enhanced scrutiny and engagement.

Supplier Audits and Corrective Action

Gardening Southfields operates a robust supplier audit programme. Audits include documentation reviews, worker interviews and, where necessary, site visits. Suppliers are evaluated against labour standards, working hours and recruitment practices. Non-compliances trigger corrective action plans with clear deadlines and follow-up checks. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate relationships where remediation is not satisfactory.

We also employ a mix of announced and unannounced audits and use third-party auditors for independent verification. Our procurement teams receive training on recognising modern slavery indicators and on verifying the legitimacy of recruitment fees and sub-contracting arrangements. We require suppliers to maintain transparent records and to share audit outcomes when requested.

To support continuous improvement, Gardening Southfields provides capacity-building resources for suppliers, including training on ethical recruitment, worker welfare and grievance mechanisms. We incentivise good performance through preferred supplier status and consider labour standards as a criterion in procurement decisions.

Reporting Channels and Whistleblowing

We operate multiple reporting channels to enable safe, confidential reporting of concerns relating to slavery and human trafficking. Employees and third parties can submit reports through internal reporting lines, anonymous hotlines and designated confidential email systems. Reports are treated seriously, investigated promptly and handled with strict confidentiality.

How we protect whistleblowers:

• Confidentiality: Reports are handled discreetly to protect identity.
• Non-retaliation: Retaliation against a reporter is strictly prohibited.
• Support: We offer appropriate support to affected workers, including remediation where exploitation is found.

Annual Review and Continuous Improvement

Gardening Southfields' policies, systems and performance on modern slavery are reviewed at least once a year. The annual review considers audit results, incident reports, supplier performance and evolving external risk factors. Findings are reported to senior management and used to update policies, training curricula and supplier engagement strategies. We commit to transparent governance and seek to embed respect for human rights across our business activities.