Modern Slavery Statement — Gardener Bethnal Green

Gardener Bethnal Green is committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships and to implementing and enforcing effective systems to ensure modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in our operations or supply chains. This Modern Slavery Statement sets out the steps the Bethnal Green gardener team has taken and will continue to take to prevent slavery and human trafficking in our organisation and with our contractors.

Our zero-tolerance approach is fundamental to the culture of Gardener, Bethnal Green. We maintain a clear zero-tolerance policy that applies to all employees, seasonal workers and suppliers. Any evidence of exploitation, forced labour or human trafficking will result in immediate investigation and proportionate action, up to and including termination of contracts or referral to the appropriate authorities. The Gardener at Bethnal Green leadership endorses these standards and ensures they are communicated regularly.

Policies and Expectations

We require that our suppliers, contractors and partners meet the same expectations we set for our own staff. All vendors engaged by Gardener Bethnal Green must agree to our code of conduct and supply chain policy. We use clear contractual clauses to prohibit forced labour and to require compliance with applicable labour laws. The Bethnal Green gardener procurement process includes risk assessments to identify higher risk goods and services and to prioritise due diligence.

To operationalise our commitments we conduct regular supplier audits and checks. These audits combine documentation review, self-assessments and where appropriate, on-site inspections. Supplier audits include verification of payroll records, working hours, recruitment practices and right-to-work documentation. Where audits reveal concerns, we require corrective action plans with clear timelines and follow-up audits to confirm remediation. Our approach is to work collaboratively with partners to remediate issues where possible, while maintaining the option to disengage from non-compliant suppliers.

Reporting Channels and Whistleblowing

Gardener Bethnal Green provides multiple confidential reporting channels for employees, subcontractors and third parties to raise concerns about modern slavery and exploitation. We encourage prompt reporting and offer protection against retaliation. Reports are handled by an appointed compliance lead who ensures allegations are assessed, investigated and escalated appropriately. We also monitor trends to identify systemic issues that require policy changes or training.

Our internal training programme ensures that staff and relevant contractors understand the signs of modern slavery and their responsibilities. Training covers how to recognise potential exploitation, how to use reporting channels and how to respond in a way that safeguards victims. The Bethnal Green gardener workforce is expected to complete periodic refresher training, and managers receive additional instruction on conducting due diligence and responding to allegations.

We maintain a transparent process for remedy and support where risks are identified. Where individuals are found to be victims of exploitation, Gardener Bethnal Green will seek to secure immediate safety and appropriate support, working with specialised agencies where needed. Our remediation framework balances immediate care for potential victims with long-term measures to address root causes and prevent recurrence.

Continuous improvement is central to our response. We review our modern slavery controls against evolving best practice and regulatory expectations. An annual review of our policies, supplier audit outcomes, training effectiveness and reporting trends is conducted by senior management and the compliance committee. Findings lead to action plans, updated procedures and additional resource allocation where required.

Accountability and transparency are essential. As part of our commitment, we monitor progress against measurable targets, publish our modern slavery statement annually and ensure senior leaders, including the Gardener Bethnal Green operations lead, sign off on the results of our annual review. Key activities include:

• Maintaining a zero-tolerance policy and enforcing contractual safeguards;
• Conducting regular supplier audits and risk-based due diligence;
• Providing secure reporting channels and protective measures for whistleblowers;
• Performing an annual review to update policies and improve systems.