Gardening West Ham Modern Slavery Statement

Gardening West Ham is committed to a zero-tolerance policy on all forms of modern slavery, forced labour and human trafficking across our operations and supply chains. This modern slavery and human trafficking statement sets out how Gardening West Ham Ltd identifies, prevents and responds to risks of slavery, and how our garden services and landscaping procurement are governed to protect workers and communities. The statement applies across our teams, subcontractors and suppliers.

Our policy and approach

We maintain a clear zero-tolerance stance: any evidence of exploitation will result in immediate contract termination, remedial action and, where appropriate, referral to the authorities. Gardening West Ham’s anti-slavery policy is embedded in contracts, purchase orders and procurement terms. We require all partners to comply with anti-slavery standards and to implement equivalent due diligence measures. Our commitment to preventing modern slavery is continuous and spans recruitment, site supervision and supplier management.

We apply proportional risk-based due diligence to assess potential exposure to forced labour within the gardening supply chain. This includes screening new suppliers, reviewing labour practices for seasonal and contract workers, and ensuring wage and working-time compliance. Our procurement team undertakes background checks and requires written declarations about labour practices, while our operations managers perform on-site reviews to confirm compliance with our expectations.

Supplier audits and responsible sourcing

Supplier audits are central to our assurance activities. Gardening West Ham conducts regular audits — both announced and unannounced — and works with accredited third-party auditors where necessary. Audit findings are tracked and actioned through corrective action plans. We prioritise suppliers based on risk factors such as geographic location, labour intensity and subcontracting arrangements. Where necessary we provide guidance and capacity-building support to help suppliers meet our standards.

Key elements of our supplier oversight include:

• Mandatory contractual clauses prohibiting forced labour and child labour;
• Periodic supply chain mapping and risk assessment focused on landscaping materials, seasonal labour and subcontractors;
• Regular audits and remediation plans with clear timelines and escalation pathways;
• Training for procurement and site teams to recognise signs of exploitation and coercion.

Reporting channels and remediation

Gardening West Ham provides secure reporting channels so staff, workers on site and supply chain workers can raise concerns without fear of recrimination. These channels include an internal reporting mechanism and anonymous reporting options, supported by clear whistleblowing protections. All reports are treated seriously and investigated promptly. Where exploitation is identified, our response is victim-centred: we prioritise the safety and recovery of affected individuals and take appropriate steps including suspension of suppliers, contractual termination and support for remediation. We will also cooperate with relevant authorities when criminal conduct is suspected.

Training and awareness form a core part of our response. Gardening West Ham delivers regular training sessions for managers, supervisors and procurement staff to improve recognition of coercive recruitment practices, debt bondage and indicators of trafficking. We also provide tailored guidance for crews and subcontractors to ensure consistent expectations on ethical labour standards across all sites.

Monitoring and KPIs underpin our continuous improvement. We track metrics such as number of supplier audits completed, remediation actions closed, training hours delivered and reported incidents resolved. These indicators inform targeted interventions and help us measure effectiveness across the Gardening West Ham supply network.

Annual review and public accountability: this modern slavery statement is reviewed at least annually by Gardening West Ham’s senior leadership and updated to reflect changes in legislation, risk profile and operational practice. The annual review examines audit outcomes, incident responses, training uptake and supplier performance. Where gaps are identified, we set clear, time-bound improvement plans and integrate lessons learned into our policies.

In summary, Gardening West Ham’s anti-slavery commitment is robust, practical and evolving. Our focus on a zero-tolerance policy, rigorous supplier audits, safe reporting channels and an annual review cycle ensures we minimise the risk of modern slavery within our gardening and landscaping activities. We hold ourselves and our partners accountable to these standards and continue to embed responsible sourcing across every element of our work.