Modern Slavery Statement — Gardeners Tooting

Gardeners Tooting and the wider Tooting gardeners team are committed to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking in our operations and supply chain. This statement explains our policies, key actions and ongoing commitments as the local Gardeners of Tooting community business. We set out how our zero-tolerance approach influences recruitment, procurement and partnership decisions across every contract for Tooting garden services.

Our principle and scope

We operate with a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of slavery, servitude, forced labour or human trafficking. This applies to employees, subcontractors and suppliers who work with Gardeners Tooting or who supply goods and services to our Tooting gardening operations. We expect all partners to meet or exceed our standards and to comply with relevant anti-slavery laws.

To ensure clarity and accountability, Gardeners Tooting maintains a set of controls and expectations for all suppliers. These include:

• Clear contractual clauses prohibiting modern slavery;
• Pre-engagement checks on labour practices;
• Requirement for transparent pay and working hours records.

Due diligence and supplier audits

We undertake risk-based supplier audits and due diligence of our supply chain for Tooting garden services. Audits are conducted by trained staff and third-party assessors where appropriate. Audits review recruitment documentation, payroll records, health and safety compliance and worker interviews to identify indicators of exploitation. Where issues are identified, we require immediate remediation and track corrective actions until resolved.

The audit programme for the gardeners tooting network includes periodic sampling of high-risk suppliers and on-site inspections. We use a combination of announced and unannounced checks to ensure the integrity of the process. If suppliers fail to remedy breaches within agreed timescales, Gardeners Tooting will terminate contracts and seek alternative suppliers.

Our expectations of suppliers are reinforced by supplier training and written guidance. We provide materials on ethical recruitment, the avoidance of recruitment fees and proper record keeping. These resources support smaller businesses that form part of our Tooting gardeners' supply chain and help raise standards across the community.

Gardeners Tooting maintains multiple reporting channels so concerns can be raised safely and confidentially. We operate an internal reporting line, an anonymous whistleblowing mechanism and clear escalation routes for urgent protections. Workers, subcontractors and community members are encouraged to report any suspicions of forced labour or unfair practices without fear of retaliation.

Reports are assessed by a designated compliance lead and, where necessary, referred to appropriate authorities. We take immediate steps to protect potential victims, including suspension of implicated contracts and liaison with support services. Tooting gardening teams receive training to recognise signs of exploitation and to escalate concerns using the correct channels.

Monitoring and continuous improvement are central to our strategy. Gardeners Tooting commits to an annual review of this Modern Slavery Statement and related policies. The review evaluates the effectiveness of our zero-tolerance policy, supplier audits, reporting mechanisms and training. Findings lead to measurable updates to procedures and further resource allocation where gaps are identified.

We publish outcomes of our annual review internally and maintain action logs for remediation and improvement. Our ongoing objectives include strengthening supplier verification, enhancing worker awareness and extending audit coverage across the entire Tooting gardening supply network. This continuous cycle ensures that the Gardeners Tooting commitment remains robust and responsive to emerging risks.

The leadership of Gardeners Tooting provides oversight of anti-slavery activities and ensures accountability at board and operational levels. Our approach balances prevention, protection and partnership — working with suppliers, local partners and the community to eradicate modern slavery from our sector. Gardeners Tooting will continue to invest in systems, training and audits that protect workers and uphold the highest ethical standards.

By maintaining clear policies, active supplier audits, accessible reporting channels and an annual review cycle, Gardeners Tooting affirms its commitment to a supply chain free from modern slavery. We will keep evolving our practice to reflect lessons learned and best practice in the wider gardening and landscaping sector in Tooting.