Modern Slavery Statement — Garden Maintenance Barkingside
Garden Maintenance Barkingside is committed to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking across our operations and supply chains. This Modern Slavery Statement sets out the steps we take to ensure that forced labour, debt bondage, and other exploitation have no place in our business. We recognise our responsibility as a local landscaping and groundskeeping provider and make clear our zero-tolerance policy towards any form of modern slavery.
We maintain a clear policy framework that applies to all employees, subcontractors and suppliers engaged in any aspect of garden maintenance in Barkingside. Our employment practices are transparent and designed to protect vulnerable workers: we verify right-to-work documents, pay at least the legal minimum wage, and prohibit retention of identity documents as a condition of employment. These principles are communicated in contracts and in our supplier code of conduct.
As part of our approach to responsible procurement, Garden Maintenance Barkingside conducts risk-based supplier due diligence for goods and services related to landscaping, green waste removal, seasonal planting and horticultural supplies. We require new suppliers to complete a modern slavery declaration and leverage contract clauses that allow us to suspend or terminate relationships where breaches occur. Our sourcing process emphasises transparency, with record keeping for supplier certifications, payroll checks and chain-of-custody where applicable.
Zero-Tolerance Policy and Staff Responsibilities
All staff and contractors are expected to adhere to our zero-tolerance position. Managers receive training on recognising indicators of exploitation, including restricted movement, inconsistent statements about working conditions, or unusual third-party control of wages. We provide clear escalation pathways so that any suspected instance of exploitation is reported without delay. The organisation will take swift disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal, against anyone found to have been involved in or complicit with modern slavery.Supplier Audits and Risk Assessments
Our supplier audit programme combines desktop risk assessments and on-site visits where appropriate. Audits focus on:- Verification of workforce documentation and payroll records;
- Assessment of accommodation and transport arrangements;
- Review of recruitment practices and third-party labour providers.
We use a mix of internal audit teams and third-party assessors to validate compliance. Where non-compliance is identified, we require corrective action plans with defined timescales and follow-up visits. Persistent or serious breaches prompt contract termination and notification to appropriate authorities.
Reporting Channels are available to all workers, suppliers and community members. We maintain confidential reporting mechanisms that allow concerns to be raised anonymously if preferred. Reports are handled sensitively and investigated promptly by a designated compliance officer. Staff are protected from retaliation, and we offer signposting to support services for vulnerable individuals. The following channels are promoted internally:
- Confidential internal reporting to line managers or compliance officer;
- Anonymous reporting through an independent helpline;
- Escalation to senior leadership for urgent or high-risk issues.
Annual Review and Continuous Improvement: Garden Maintenance Barkingside publishes and reviews this statement annually to reflect evolving risks and improvements in our controls. Each review includes analysis of audit outcomes, incidents reported through our channels, training completion rates, and supplier remediation effectiveness. Findings are used to update policies, refine audit scope, and allocate resources for further prevention work.
We recognise that eliminating modern slavery requires ongoing vigilance. Our commitment is to continuous improvement through engagement with workers, suppliers and community stakeholders, ensuring that our local gardening services, Barkingside groundskeeping and wider operations uphold the highest ethical standards. By combining a clear zero-tolerance stance, robust supplier audits, accessible reporting channels and a formalised annual review, Garden Maintenance Barkingside strives to prevent exploitation and protect the dignity of every person who contributes to our work.