Gardener Ickenham Modern Slavery Statement

Gardener Ickenham sets out this Modern Slavery Statement to declare a zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of modern slavery, forced labour and human trafficking across our operations and supply chain. This statement reflects our commitment to preventing labour exploitation and to promoting safe, fair and ethical working conditions for everyone connected with our services.

We recognise our responsibility to identify, assess and mitigate risks of slavery and human trafficking in the gardening, grounds maintenance and horticultural sectors in which we operate. Our policy applies to all staff, contractors and suppliers and is embedded within our code of conduct. Gardener Ickenham will not engage with or tolerate any practice that infringes basic human rights.

To ensure compliance we have instituted clear expectations for suppliers and partners. These requirements are included in procurement documentation and contractual terms, and they require suppliers to certify that they do not use forced labour, debt bondage, child labour or other exploitative practices. We insist on transparent recruitment and payment practices and preservation of workers' freedom of movement.

Our approach includes a programme of supplier audits and risk assessments. We perform due diligence on new suppliers and periodic reviews of existing vendors focusing on high-risk geographies and services. Audit activities comprise documentary checks, on-site inspections where practical and third-party audits for complex arrangements. Findings are addressed through corrective action plans, and continued non-compliance may lead to termination of contracts.

Supplier Audits and Monitoring

Audit outcomes inform our targeted training and improvement efforts. We maintain a tiered audit frequency based on assessed risk level and supplier criticality. Measures include:

• Document review of payroll, timesheets and recruitment records;
• On-site verification and worker interviews where permitted;
• Third-party verification for cross-border supply chains.

We also invest in staff training so that managers and procurement teams can identify the signs of exploitation, understand local legal standards and act decisively. Training emphasises the importance of ethical sourcing and the steps to take when risks are identified. Our teams are encouraged to apply a risk-based lens to all supplier relationships and to escalate concerns promptly.

Reporting Channels and Whistleblowing

Gardener Ickenham maintains confidential reporting channels to enable employees, contract staff and third parties to raise concerns without fear of retaliation. Reports can be made anonymously through established internal mechanisms and are investigated thoroughly and impartially. We treat all reports as serious and ensure follow-up actions where breaches are identified.

Our reporting framework is supported by a clear escalation process and protection measures for whistleblowers. We commit to taking remedial action when modern slavery practices are discovered, including working with authorities and seeking to remediate harm to affected individuals where feasible. Every report is logged, reviewed and used to strengthen controls.

Annual Review and Continuous Improvement

We conduct an annual review of our modern slavery and human trafficking policies to ensure they remain robust and proportionate to emerging risks. This review covers policy efficacy, audit findings, supplier performance and training outcomes. The review informs updates to procedures, resource allocation and strategic priorities, and the results are approved by senior management to ensure accountability.

In summary, Gardener Ickenham is committed to prevention, detection and remediation of modern slavery practices in all areas of its business. We will continue to strengthen our controls, increase supply chain transparency and support ethical employment practices as part of our ongoing responsibility to respect human rights.