Gardener Teddington Modern Slavery Statement

Gardener Teddington publishes this Modern Slavery Statement to set out our commitment to preventing all forms of forced labour, human trafficking and exploitation across our operations and supply chain. This anti-slavery statement explains our policies and the practical steps we take to uphold our duty under the Modern Slavery Act and related modern slavery policy expectations. We recognise that vigilance is required and that a clear corporate stance is essential.

We operate a zero-tolerance policy towards modern slavery and exploitation. Our code of conduct explicitly prohibits forced labour and unfair practices, and we require all employees, contractors and suppliers to adhere to these standards. Zero tolerance means that any proven breach will lead to robust remedial action, contract termination and, where appropriate, referral to enforcement authorities. We believe in treating all workers with dignity and respect.

To give effect to this anti-slavery commitment we maintain a set of practical controls and expectations for suppliers and partners, including:

• Pre-engagement due diligence and contractual anti-slavery clauses;
• Periodic supplier audits and site visits to verify working conditions;
• Mandatory supplier declarations confirming no use of forced or bonded labour.

Supplier audits and due diligence

Our supplier assurance programme is risk-based and targets areas of higher vulnerability in the supply chain. We conduct documentary checks, request payroll and hours records where necessary, and carry out on-site assessments. Where risks are identified we implement corrective action plans and follow-up reviews. We also include anti-slavery checkpoints in procurement tenders and supplier onboarding.

Audits are conducted by trained personnel and independent third parties when appropriate. Audits assess recruitment practices, wage payments, freedom of movement, and grievance mechanisms. We encourage transparency and work collaboratively with suppliers to remediate issues; however, persistent non-compliance leads to suspension or termination of contracts.

We require hiring intermediaries and labour providers to comply with our standards and to ensure that workers are not charged recruitment fees. Where third-party recruitment is used, we verify identity checks and contracts in a language workers understand.

Reporting channels and employee protections

We provide multiple safe reporting channels for concerns about slavery, exploitation or other unethical conduct. Employees and workers across the supply chain can raise concerns anonymously through designated whistleblowing processes. Reports are treated confidentially and investigated promptly. We emphasise there will be no retaliation for good faith reporting and we protect the identity of reporters where requested.

Training on recognising signs of modern slavery is mandatory for procurement, site managers and HR staff. We deliver refresher programmes annually to ensure ongoing awareness and equip staff with the skills to respond to disclosures or suspicious indicators. Regular training supports early identification and appropriate escalation.

Governance and annual review: the board and senior leadership review this slavery and human trafficking statement at least once every year. Outcomes of supplier audits, incident investigations and corrective actions are reported to the governance committee. We commit to an annual review of our policies, procedures and risk assessments to strengthen our anti-slavery practices and to publish updates in subsequent statements.