Gardening Chislehurst: Modern Slavery Statement and Commitment

Gardening Chislehurst presents this Modern Slavery Statement to set out our firm position against forced labour, human trafficking and all forms of modern slavery. We operate a clear zero-tolerance policy across every aspect of our landscaping, gardening and grounds maintenance services. Our policy applies to all employees, contractors, suppliers and business partners engaged in activity under the Gardening Chislehurst name.

We recognise the responsibility of a local employer and service provider to identify and mitigate risks of exploitation in our operations and supply chains. This modern slavery declaration explains how our procedures, due diligence and accountability measures minimise the likelihood of exploitation, and how the gardening chislehurst statement is embedded into our procurement and management practices.

Scope and approach: the statement covers direct operations and third-party suppliers who provide plants, materials, equipment and labour. We perform risk-based assessments and maintain a register of suppliers with enhanced scrutiny for higher-risk categories. Our commitment is to continual improvement through active monitoring and transparency.

Zero-tolerance policy and staff responsibilities

The zero-tolerance policy is non-negotiable: any instance of forced labour, coerced work or withholding of personal documents is prohibited and will result in immediate action, including termination of contracts and referral to authorities where appropriate. All team members receive induction training that includes how to spot signs of exploitation, and managers are required to reinforce these standards on-site.

We require that our contractors and suppliers adopt equivalent standards. Contract terms include specific anti-slavery clauses, and acceptance of these terms is mandatory before any supplier engagement. Our procurement and purchasing teams use these contractual commitments to drive compliance across our gardening supply chain.

To support the policy, we maintain clear internal reporting channels and an anonymous reporting option. Staff are encouraged to report concerns without fear of retaliation. Whistleblowing protection is a fundamental part of how we ensure incidents are surfaced and dealt with swiftly.

Supplier audits, monitoring and corrective actions

Supplier audits are central to our approach. We conduct periodic checks and targeted audits focusing on suppliers at higher risk of labour abuse. Our audit process looks at employment records, working hours, recruitment fees, and conditions of accommodation where relevant. Key elements of our supplier audit programme include:

• Documentation review: contracts, wage records and identity verification;
• On-site inspections: working conditions and health and safety compliance;
• Worker interviews: confidential conversations to identify potential indicators of exploitation;
• Remediation plans: measurable corrective actions requiring timelines and oversight.

When non-compliance is identified, we require suppliers to implement a remedial action plan and we monitor progress. If a supplier fails to improve, Gardening Chislehurst will suspend or terminate business relations and seek alternative sources that meet our standards.

Annual review and continuous improvement: we publish an annual assessment of our modern slavery risk management activities. This review evaluates the effectiveness of our zero-tolerance policy, audit outcomes, training uptake and incident response. The annual review feeds into a refreshed action plan, ensuring that our modern slavery statement for Gardening Chislehurst evolves as risks change and new best practices emerge.

In summary, Gardening Chislehurst maintains a proactive stance on modern slavery by embedding robust contract terms, performing supplier audits, enabling secure reporting channels, and completing regular annual reviews. Our aim is to protect workers, uphold ethical standards in horticulture and landscaping, and ensure that our community receives services that reflect our core values of dignity, fairness and respect.