Gardening Whitechapel Modern Slavery Statement

Gardening Whitechapel publishes this Modern Slavery Statement to set out our commitment to preventing slavery, servitude, forced labour and human trafficking across our operations and supply chains. We maintain a zero-tolerance policy toward any form of modern slavery or exploitation. This statement explains our approach to risk assessment, supplier engagement, audits and the channels we provide for reporting concerns. It reflects our duty to uphold the highest ethical standards in every gardening and landscaping project we deliver in Whitechapel and beyond.

Our organisation is committed to a proactive and ongoing modern slavery policy that combines prevention, detection and remediation. We require all employees, contractors and partners to comply with this policy as a condition of engagement. Staff training highlights indicators of exploitation, emphasises the importance of vigilance and outlines the responsibilities of managers to escalate potential issues immediately. We also encourage a culture of openness and ethical behaviour across all gardening services and maintenance contracts.

We operate a thorough supplier due diligence programme. Our supplier requirements are published in procurement contracts and outline clear anti-slavery expectations, including the prohibition of bonded labour, debt bondage and withholding of identity documents. We make use of risk-based questionnaires, contract clauses and checks at onboarding to verify compliance. Our supplier audits form a central pillar of this approach: where risk indicators exist, we conduct site visits, documentation reviews and worker interviews to validate labour standards.

Supplier Audits and Compliance Measures

Supplier audits are carried out by trained members of our procurement and compliance teams or by independent auditors where required. Audits assess recruiting practices, wage and hour records, health and safety provisions, and worker freedom. Findings are recorded, and suppliers must produce corrective action plans for any issues identified. Persistent non-compliance results in contract termination. This process is central to our gardener supply chain oversight and our broader modern slavery mitigation strategy.

We also maintain a set of mandatory standards for suppliers, including clear expectations around working hours, fair pay and lawful recruitment. Our procurement teams use risk profiling to prioritise audits for higher-risk categories such as seasonal labour, subcontracted groundskeeping teams and temporary staffing agencies. Documentation from audits is retained for monitoring and continuous improvement, and we track supplier performance metrics to measure progress over time.

To strengthen transparency we require suppliers to provide evidence of labour checks and identity verification for their workers. We promote the use of ethical labour providers and support suppliers in developing compliant employment practices. Where remediation is required, Gardening Whitechapel works collaboratively to ensure that affected workers receive appropriate redress while pursuing sustainable corrective measures with our partners.

Reporting Channels and Remediation

We provide multiple safe and confidential reporting channels for employees, workers in our supply chain and third parties to raise concerns about suspected modern slavery. Reports can be made verbally or in writing through internal reporting lines and anonymous whistleblowing routes. All reports are treated seriously, investigated promptly and, where necessary, referred to law enforcement or specialist agencies. Our approach is victim-centred and focuses on protection, support and remedy for any individuals found to be exploited.

Key elements of our reporting and remediation framework include:

• Clear, anonymous reporting channels and protections for whistleblowers;
• Timely investigations led by trained personnel;
• Remedial action plans and cooperation with authorities and NGOs;
• Contract termination for suppliers who fail to remedy breaches.

Annual Review and Continuous Improvement Gardening Whitechapel commits to an annual review of this modern slavery statement and our associated policies. Each year we assess the effectiveness of our actions, update risk assessments, and refine our audit programmes and training materials. The review involves senior management sign-off and sets measurable targets for the coming year. Continuous improvement is embedded in our governance, ensuring that our efforts to eradicate modern slavery evolve with emerging risks and best practice.

We publish the outcomes of our review internally and use lessons learned to shape procurement strategies, supplier engagement and workforce training. Our leadership endorses a culture of accountability and transparency: non-compliance is not tolerated and will be addressed decisively. Gardening Whitechapel's modern slavery and human trafficking commitments are integral to our ethical responsibilities and our vision for responsible horticultural practice in the community.

Through targeted supplier audits, robust reporting channels, and an unwavering zero-tolerance stance, we strive to prevent exploitation in every part of our operations. We expect the same commitment from the organisations we work with and will continue to invest in systems, audits and training to safeguard workers and uphold human rights across our supply network.

By maintaining vigilant oversight, transparent reporting mechanisms and an annual review cycle, Gardening Whitechapel endeavours to be a leader in preventing modern slavery within the gardening and landscaping sector. This statement represents our ongoing pledge to act with integrity, to protect vulnerable workers and to ensure that our supply chains are free from coercion and exploitation.