Modern Slavery Statement for Gardeners Blackfriars

Gardeners Blackfriars is committed to conducting all aspects of our work ethically, lawfully, and with respect for human dignity. This Modern Slavery Statement sets out our zero-tolerance policy toward modern slavery, human trafficking, forced labour, child labour, and all forms of exploitation within our operations and supply chain.

As a trusted Blackfriars gardening service, we recognise that our responsibilities extend beyond the quality of our work. We must also ensure that the people who help deliver our services are treated fairly and protected from harm. We expect the same standards from every supplier, subcontractor, and business partner associated with Gardeners Blackfriars.

Modern slavery can take many forms, including coercion, debt bondage, deception, and the withholding of identity documents or wages. We maintain policies and procedures designed to prevent these practices and to respond promptly if any concern arises. Our commitment applies to all parts of the organisation, from procurement to service delivery.

Our Commitments and Controls

We operate a clear zero-tolerance policy that prohibits slavery and human trafficking in any form. Any breach of this policy may result in termination of a relationship, escalation to senior management, and reporting to the relevant authorities where appropriate. This position is embedded in our internal standards and communicated to everyone working for or on behalf of Gardening Blackfriars.

To reduce risk, Gardeners Blackfriars undertakes supplier due diligence before entering new arrangements and during ongoing partnerships. Our supplier audits may include checks on labour practices, employment records, right-to-work compliance, subcontracting controls, wage arrangements, and working conditions. Higher-risk suppliers are subject to more frequent reviews and, where necessary, corrective action plans.

We also expect suppliers to share our ethical standards and to confirm that they do not use forced, bonded, or trafficked labour. If a supplier cannot demonstrate acceptable controls, we will not engage or will discontinue the relationship. In this way, Blackfriars gardeners protect the integrity of our work and the welfare of those involved in delivering it.

Training, Reporting, and Responsibility

Employees and managers receive guidance on identifying warning signs of exploitation, including unusual restrictions, poor living conditions, withheld pay, or signs that a worker is unable to leave employment freely. Awareness is an essential safeguard, and we encourage a culture in which concerns are taken seriously and acted upon without delay.

We provide accessible reporting channels so that workers, suppliers, and internal team members can raise concerns about modern slavery confidentially and without fear of retaliation. Reports are reviewed promptly by the appropriate manager or compliance lead, and issues are escalated where needed. We aim to investigate thoroughly, protect anyone raising a concern, and take decisive remedial action when required.

Records of concerns, audits, and responses are retained to support transparency and accountability across the business. This helps Gardeners Blackfriars monitor patterns, strengthen controls, and ensure lessons are learned from any incident or near miss.

Review and Continuous Improvement

This statement is reviewed annually to ensure it remains effective, current, and aligned with legal requirements and best practice. The review considers audit findings, supplier performance, staff awareness, and any reported concerns relating to modern slavery or human trafficking.

Where improvements are identified, we update our controls, supplier standards, and internal procedures accordingly. Gardeners Blackfriars is committed to continuous improvement and to strengthening our safeguards year after year. This includes refining due diligence checks, improving training content, and enhancing the way we monitor risk within the supply chain.

By maintaining a robust ethical framework, Gardeners Blackfriars aims to contribute to a fairer and safer industry. Our promise is simple: we will not tolerate exploitation, we will act on concerns, and we will keep reviewing our practices to uphold the highest standards of responsibility.