Gardeners Barnet Modern Slavery Statement
Gardeners Barnet is committed to preventing slavery and human trafficking in all forms. This Modern Slavery Statement sets out our policies and the steps we take to ensure that exploitation does not occur in our operations or supply chains. We adopt a zero-tolerance approach to any form of forced labour, bonded labour, or human trafficking, and we expect the same standards from our partners and suppliers. Our anti-slavery approach underpins every business decision and procurement process.
We operate an explicit zero-tolerance policy towards modern slavery and related abuses. That means any suspicion or evidence of exploitation leads to immediate action: investigation, suspension of contracts where appropriate, and termination of relationships with offending parties. The policy applies across employment, subcontracting and contracted services and is embedded into our procurement terms and supplier agreements. We use clear contractual clauses that require compliance with our anti-slavery expectations and reserve the right to audit and terminate non-compliant arrangements.
This modern slavery and human trafficking policy covers all employees, temporary workers, volunteers and contractors engaged by Gardeners Barnet. We comply with relevant legislation and industry standards, and our internal code of conduct reinforces that suppliers and third parties must not use child labour, forced labour or exploitative practices. Our statement on slavery and human trafficking is reviewed regularly to reflect legal changes and evolving good practice, and it is communicated to staff and partners to ensure clarity of purpose.
Supplier Due Diligence and Supplier Audits
We maintain robust supplier due diligence procedures to assess and address slavery and trafficking risks within our supply chain. Before onboarding, suppliers are screened for risk factors including geographic exposure, labour practices and subcontracting arrangements. High-risk suppliers are subject to enhanced checks and contractual commitments to remediate any identified issues. We require suppliers to demonstrate transparency about employment practices and working conditions.
Our programme of supplier audits is a central control. Audits are carried out on a risk-based schedule and include documentary review, site visits and interviews where necessary. Audits focus on employment records, wage and hour compliance, worker accommodation, recruitment fees and the presence of recruitment intermediaries. Typical audit activities include:
- Verification of payroll and time records,
- Inspection of employment contracts and right-to-work checks,
- Interviews with a representative sample of workers,
- Inspection of subcontractor and labour provider arrangements.
We insist on continuous improvement: suppliers must present corrective action plans and agree timelines for remediation. Where suppliers fail to comply, Gardeners Barnet will escalate through suspension and, if necessary, replacement. We report significant violations to appropriate authorities in accordance with legal obligations and co-operate fully with enforcement action.
Gardeners Barnet provides secure, confidential reporting channels to encourage workers, suppliers and third parties to raise concerns. Reporting options include anonymous whistleblowing mechanisms and designated reporting points within our organisation. All reports are taken seriously and investigated promptly; we protect whistleblowers from retaliation and maintain confidentiality to the extent possible. Reports relating to slavery and human trafficking follow a defined investigative protocol and may trigger urgent supplier audits or contract suspension.
Responsibility for implementation rests with senior management and the operations team, who receive training on recognising the indicators of modern slavery and the correct response pathways. We provide targeted training for staff with procurement or site supervision responsibilities and maintain an internal escalation framework to ensure consistent action. Our leadership demonstrates a clear tone from the top: non-compliance with anti-slavery standards is unacceptable.
