Gardening Finchley Modern Slavery Statement

Gardening Finchley is committed to preventing modern slavery, forced labour and human trafficking in all areas of our operations. This anti-slavery statement explains our approach, sets out a clear zero-tolerance policy and describes the steps we take to reduce risks in our supply chains and service delivery. The Gardening Finchley anti-slavery statement applies to all colleagues, contractors and business partners engaged on our behalf.

We operate a strict zero-tolerance policy towards any form of slavery or exploitation. All staff are required to comply with our code of conduct and to report any suspicion of modern slavery. Albion and seasonal labour are treated with particular care through contractual safeguards, and all recruitment processes include identity checks and verification of right to work.

Our supplier requirements form a core part of our anti-slavery and human trafficking approach. We mandate that suppliers accept our contractual clauses prohibiting exploitation and participate in due diligence processes. As part of our supplier expectations, we maintain a risk-based programme which includes:

• Pre-contract risk assessments and ongoing monitoring;
• Contract clauses requiring transparency and remediation;
• Random and scheduled supplier reviews.

We carry out regular supplier audits and on-site checks for vendors who provide horticultural labour, equipment maintenance and subcontracted services. Audits combine documentary review, interviews and where relevant, site visits to verify compliance with our anti-slavery expectations. Suppliers are evaluated through a risk-rating framework and higher-risk partners are subject to enhanced scrutiny.

Auditing and due diligence extend to second-tier supply chains when risk indicators are present. We use a mixture of desktop reviews and targeted business partner assessments to identify indicators of forced labour, such as excessive recruitment fees, retention of identity documents, or restricted freedom of movement. Where issues are identified we require corrective action plans and will escalate to contract termination in cases of non-compliance.

Training and capacity building are central to our prevention strategy. All managers and procurement staff receive regular training on recognising signs of exploitation and the process for escalating concerns. We also provide guidance to on-site teams and seasonal supervisors to create a workforce alert to the risks of slavery and human trafficking.

We maintain multiple reporting channels so that employees, contractors and third parties can raise concerns safely and confidentially. Reports of suspected slavery can be raised through internal reporting lines, anonymous hotlines and dedicated welfare leads. Whistleblowing protections are in place to ensure no detriment for those reporting concerns in good faith.

In circumstances where exploitation is suspected, Gardening Finchley will act swiftly to protect affected individuals, cooperate with law enforcement and other agencies, and pursue remediation for victims. We seek to balance immediate safeguarding with thorough investigation and, where appropriate, restorative actions that prioritise the wellbeing of those impacted.

This anti-slavery and forced labour policy is reviewed on an annual basis to ensure ongoing effectiveness. The annual review assesses our supplier audit outcomes, training uptake, incident reports and remediation outcomes, and informs improvements to policy and procedure.

Continuous improvement

We set measurable objectives and track progress year-on-year to strengthen our anti-slavery measures and align our modern slavery statement with evolving best practice.