Gardeners Soho Modern Slavery Statement

Gardeners Soho is committed to conducting all aspects of its operations in a manner that respects human rights and promotes fair, safe, and transparent working conditions. This Modern Slavery Statement outlines the steps we take to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking within our business and supply chains. It reflects our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement and ethical business conduct.

Our Zero-Tolerance Approach

Gardeners Soho has a clear and unequivocal zero-tolerance policy towards modern slavery and human trafficking in all their forms. We do not accept any use of forced labour, bonded labour, child labour that is exploitative or illegal, or any form of human trafficking within our organisation or by any party with whom we work. This position is communicated internally to our team and externally to our suppliers and business partners to ensure that our expectations are fully understood.

All employees, contractors, and suppliers are expected to uphold our values and comply with all applicable labour and human rights laws. Any breach of this policy is treated as a serious matter and may result in termination of contracts or other appropriate remedial actions.

Our Business and Supply Chains

Gardeners Soho operates as a specialist provider of gardening and related services. Our supply chains include the sourcing of tools, equipment, plants, materials, uniforms, and ancillary services. While many of our suppliers are based in the United Kingdom, we recognise that risks of modern slavery can exist at any level of the supply chain, including indirect or sub-tier suppliers.

We aim to work with suppliers who share our commitment to ethical labour practices and who are willing to collaborate with us to identify and address potential risks of modern slavery and human trafficking.

Supplier Due Diligence and Audits

To support our zero-tolerance stance, Gardeners Soho undertakes due diligence on new and existing suppliers, proportionate to the nature, scale, and location of the goods or services supplied. This may include requesting information on labour practices, policies, and procedures, as well as evidence of compliance with relevant legislation and recognised labour standards.

Where appropriate, we conduct supplier audits, which may be carried out directly by Gardeners Soho or by qualified third parties. These audits can include site visits, document reviews, and interviews with management and, where feasible, with workers. If potential issues are identified, we will work with the supplier to develop corrective action plans with clear timelines. Persistent non-compliance or unwillingness to improve may lead to the review or termination of the business relationship.

Training and Awareness

We recognise the importance of awareness and training in preventing modern slavery. Gardeners Soho seeks to ensure that relevant employees, particularly those involved in procurement, supplier management, and recruitment, understand the indicators of modern slavery and the procedures for raising concerns. Guidance is provided on how to identify potential issues and on the importance of acting promptly and responsibly when concerns arise.

Reporting Concerns and Whistleblowing

Gardeners Soho encourages all employees, suppliers, and other stakeholders to report any concerns or suspicions of modern slavery or human trafficking connected to our operations or supply chains. Concerns can be raised through internal reporting channels or via our whistleblowing procedures, which allow for confidential reporting without fear of retaliation.

All reports are taken seriously and will be investigated in a timely and thorough manner. Where necessary, we will engage with appropriate external bodies or authorities. We are committed to protecting individuals who raise concerns in good faith and to ensuring that issues are addressed and lessons learned.

Continuous Improvement and Annual Review

Gardeners Soho understands that combating modern slavery is an ongoing responsibility. We are committed to reviewing and enhancing our policies, procedures, and practices to improve the effectiveness of our approach. As part of this commitment, this Modern Slavery Statement is reviewed at least annually by our leadership team.

The review considers changes in our business activities, updates to relevant legislation or guidance, findings from supplier audits, feedback from stakeholders, and any reported incidents or concerns. Where necessary, we update our processes, training, and contractual requirements to strengthen our safeguards. The updated statement is then approved and published to reflect our current position and the steps we are taking.

This Modern Slavery Statement has been approved by the leadership of Gardeners Soho and represents our ongoing commitment to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking in our business and supply chains.