Modern Slavery Statement for Gardeners Southgate

This Modern Slavery Statement sets out the actions taken by Gardeners Southgate to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking within our own operations and our supply chains. Gardeners Southgate is committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all business dealings and relationships, and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in our business or among our suppliers.

Modern slavery encompasses slavery, servitude, human trafficking and forced or compulsory labour. Gardeners Southgate recognises that these abuses can occur in any country and sector. We are determined to identify and address potential risks so that the people who work for and with us are treated with dignity, respect and fairness.

Our Zero-Tolerance Policy

Gardeners Southgate has a clear zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery. We will not knowingly engage with any organisation, contractor or individual involved in any form of modern slavery or human trafficking. This stance applies to all employees, agency workers, contractors, suppliers and business partners connected with our operations.

All staff are expected to uphold this policy and to act immediately if they become aware of concerns relating to modern slavery. Any breach of this policy by employees may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment. Where suppliers or contractors are found to be in breach, we reserve the right to suspend or terminate all relationships with them.

Our Supply Chains and Supplier Audits

Our supply chains primarily include providers of gardening products, tools, equipment, plants, maintenance materials, logistics, and various professional services. We recognise that parts of these supply chains may be at higher risk of modern slavery, especially where seasonal, manual or low-wage labour is involved or where goods originate from countries with weaker labour protections.

To reduce these risks, we aim to work only with suppliers who share our commitment to ethical labour practices. As part of our due diligence, we require suppliers to confirm that they comply with all applicable labour and human rights laws and that they take reasonable steps to prevent modern slavery in their own operations and supply chains.

Gardeners Southgate carries out proportionate supplier audits and assessments. These may include requesting information about labour practices, reviewing policies and procedures, and, where appropriate, undertaking on-site visits or inspections. Where concerns are identified, we will work collaboratively with suppliers to implement corrective actions within a reasonable timeframe, or we will reconsider the relationship if improvements are not made.

Reporting Channels and Raising Concerns

We encourage all employees, suppliers, contractors and other stakeholders to speak up if they suspect or witness any form of modern slavery connected with our business or supply chains. Gardeners Southgate is committed to ensuring that people who raise concerns in good faith are protected and not subjected to retaliation or disadvantage as a result.

Concerns can be raised with line managers, senior management or through any internal reporting channel made available by the company. Reports may include information about unsafe working conditions, excessive hours, withheld wages, confiscation of identity documents, or any other sign that someone may be subject to forced, coerced or exploitative labour. All reports will be treated seriously, handled sensitively and investigated promptly where appropriate.

Training, Awareness and Continuous Improvement

Gardeners Southgate is committed to building awareness of modern slavery risks among employees involved in procurement, contract management and front-line operations. We promote understanding of our zero-tolerance policy and ensure that relevant staff know how to identify potential warning signs and how to respond to concerns.

We recognise that tackling modern slavery is an ongoing process. We aim to review and strengthen our procedures regularly, learning from investigations, audit findings and developments in best practice. As our business and supply chains evolve, we will update our risk assessments and our approach to prevention, detection and remediation.

Annual Review and Approval

This Modern Slavery Statement will be reviewed at least once every year. As part of the annual review, Gardeners Southgate will assess the effectiveness of our measures, consider feedback from stakeholders, and identify areas where we can improve our approach. Any necessary updates to our policies, procedures or training will be implemented following this review.

This statement has been approved by the management of Gardeners Southgate, who take overall responsibility for ensuring that it is implemented and maintained. It applies to the current financial year and will be replaced or updated by a revised statement following each annual review.