Modern Slavery Statement — Gardening Chingford
Gardening Chingford is committed to preventing all forms of modern slavery across our operations and supply chain. This Modern Slavery Statement sets out our approach to identifying, preventing and addressing slavery and human trafficking risks. We maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards forced labour, labour exploitation and any practice that undermines human dignity. This statement applies to all colleagues, contractors and suppliers working with Gardening Chingford and to our gardening services in Chingford and surrounding areas.
Our commitment covers direct employees and indirect workers who support our landscaping, garden maintenance and seasonal projects. We recognise that forced labour and labour exploitation can take many forms, from deceptive recruitment and withholding of wages to excessive hours and restrictions on freedom of movement. Gardening Chingford actively assesses roles and working conditions to reduce vulnerability to exploitation and to ensure compliance with applicable laws and good practice on modern slavery.
We expect our suppliers and subcontractors to share our values. Supplier selection includes checks for evidence of ethical employment practices, right-to-work verification and transparent labour arrangements. Where risk is identified we require suppliers to implement corrective action plans and cooperate with our investigations. Our procurement decisions consider not only cost and quality but also the human rights performance of vendors providing goods and services to Gardening Chingford.
Our Policy and Zero-Tolerance Approach
Gardening Chingford operates a zero-tolerance policy towards modern slavery. This policy is communicated to all staff and suppliers and supported by contractual clauses that prohibit the use of forced or bonded labour. We enforce expectations through supplier contracts, tender documentation and performance monitoring. The policy forms part of staff induction and is reiterated in training modules for managers and procurement teams to embed compliance in everyday decisions.
We maintain a programme of supplier audits and due diligence to identify and mitigate risks. Audits include documentation reviews, site visits and interviews where appropriate. Key elements of our supplier audit programme include:
- Pre-engagement screening for high-risk suppliers
- Periodic on-site assessments and remote checks
- Corrective action tracking and follow-up
- Termination of relationships where abuse is confirmed and remediation is inadequate
Where suspicious activity is found we take proportionate remedial action, which may include immediate suspension of the supplier, requirement for remediation, and cooperation with law enforcement if criminal activity is suspected. Gardening Chingford also embeds supplier performance metrics into procurement reviews and prefers suppliers who can demonstrate transparency and continuous improvement in labour standards.
Reporting, Monitoring and Annual Review
Gardening Chingford provides secure and confidential reporting channels for employees, contractors and external stakeholders to raise concerns about modern slavery and exploitation. Reports can be made anonymously and will be treated seriously and investigated promptly. All reports are protected from retaliation and we ensure whistleblowers receive appropriate support. Staff training emphasises the importance of speaking up and the availability of safe reporting routes.
Supplier audits are conducted on a risk-priority basis, with higher-risk vendors assessed more frequently. Audit outcomes inform our continuous improvement plan and training focus. We use risk assessment tools to map exposure across supplier categories such as seasonal labour, landscaping materials and subcontracted installation teams. Where audits reveal issues, we work with suppliers to implement corrective steps and monitor progress until compliance is restored.
Gardening Chingford will review this modern slavery statement annually to measure effectiveness, update policies, and publish outcomes internally. The annual review includes assessment of audit findings, incident reports, training completion rates and enhancements to reporting channels. By conducting a regular, transparent review we ensure our modern slavery policy remains robust, responsive and aligned with best practice in preventing forced labour and modern slavery in the horticulture and gardening sector.