Modern Slavery Statement — Gardeners Thornton Heath

Gardeners Thornton Heath is committed to the highest standards of ethical conduct and human rights across our operations. This modern slavery statement sets out the steps taken by our team of Gardeners in Thornton Heath to prevent slavery and human trafficking in any part of our business or supply chain. We maintain a zero-tolerance policy toward forced labour, child labour and any form of exploitation.

Scope, Commitment and Core Principles

We apply this policy to all employees, contractors and service providers connected to our landscaping and gardening activities. Our expectation of every contractor and Thornton Heath gardeners partner is clear: adherence to lawful employment practices, fair wages and safe working conditions. We require suppliers to acknowledge our standards and to cooperate with due diligence and compliance measures.

Policies, Training and Responsibilities

Our board and management teams are responsible for implementing and overseeing modern slavery prevention. All staff, including field staff and gardeners Thornton Heath locals, receive regular training on recognising risks and reporting concerns. We provide practical guidance for managers on recruitment checks, right-to-work verification and ethical procurement.

To ensure consistent practice, we maintain written policies, contractual clauses and a supplier code of conduct. Those documents outline prohibited practices, required record-keeping, and the consequences of non-compliance. We use screening during onboarding and periodic reviews to confirm that workers are engaged voluntarily and that no fees have been charged for recruitment.

We emphasise accountability through documented roles: designated compliance leads, procurement officers and site supervisors each have defined obligations to detect and escalate potential modern slavery incidents. Managers are trained to identify signs such as restricted movement, withheld pay, or unusually controlled worker interactions.

Our approach to supplier management includes risk-based audits, contractual requirements and ongoing engagement. We conduct supplier audits that vary in depth according to risk: desktop reviews, self-assessment questionnaires and on-site inspections by qualified auditors. Audit outcomes inform corrective action plans and, where necessary, termination of contracts with non-compliant suppliers.

Reporting Channels — We provide secure, confidential reporting channels for employees and third parties to raise concerns. Reports can be made via internal escalation routes to managers or anonymously through established whistleblowing mechanisms. We ensure that those who report in good faith face no retaliation. All allegations are investigated promptly and documented to ensure transparency and remedial action where needed.

Supplier expectations are explicit: suppliers must demonstrate compliance with our anti-slavery terms, allow access for inspections and provide evidence of employment records, wage payments and recruitment processes. We prioritise long-term relationships with responsible suppliers and support corrective measures where feasible.

Monitoring and continuous improvement are central to our anti-slavery strategy. We monitor key performance indicators, maintain accurate records and review the effectiveness of our actions. Where risks are identified, we deploy targeted training, enhanced contract clauses and more frequent audits. We work collaboratively with peers and industry groups to share best practice across the gardening sector.

In addition to supplier audits, we undertake periodic risk assessments that consider geography, labour intensity and recruitment practices. Our procurement team applies heightened scrutiny to subcontractors and seasonal labour sources, reflecting known vulnerabilities in horticulture and grounds maintenance.

Annual Review and Governance — This statement is reviewed at least annually by our leadership to reflect changes in our operations and emerging risks. The review process includes analysis of audit results, investigation outcomes, training completion rates and feedback from operational teams. Following each review, we publish an updated statement summarising progress and planned actions to strengthen prevention measures across Gardeners of Thornton Heath and our broader supply base.

Approval — This modern slavery statement has been approved by senior management and will be kept under continual review. Our commitment is to operate with integrity and respect for human rights, ensuring that everyone connected to Gardeners Thornton Heath works in an environment free from exploitation.