Gardening Erith Modern Slavery Statement
Gardening Erith affirms its commitment to ethical labour practices and the elimination of modern slavery across every service we provide. This statement describes the steps taken by Gardening Erith and its associated teams to prevent forced labour, human trafficking and exploitation in our operations and supply chains. We recognise our responsibility as a local provider of landscaping and maintenance services, and as a business operating in Erith and the surrounding areas we set clear expectations for our workforce, contractors and suppliers. Our approach is grounded in a zero-tolerance policy toward any form of modern slavery, and in active measures to identify and mitigate risk throughout the value chain.
Policy Commitment and Scope
Our zero-tolerance modern-slavery stance applies to all Gardening Erith operations and to any partner engaged to deliver gardening and grounds care. Gardening Erith services are required to comply with our ethical standards, which are embedded into contracts, tender evaluations and performance reviews. We will not tolerate coercion, withholding of identity documents, underpayment, deceptive recruitment practices or restricting an individual's freedom to leave employment. This zero-tolerance policy is enforced through contractual clauses and continuing management oversight to ensure compliance by employees and third parties.
To translate policy into practice, we operate a structured due diligence program that screens suppliers and contractors. Key elements include:
- Verification of labour practices and identity checks for new subcontractors and temporary staff used by Gardening-Erith.
- Contractual requirements that require suppliers to commit to anti-slavery standards as a condition of engagement.
- Regular monitoring and audits of high-risk suppliers, with corrective action plans where issues are found.
Supplier Audits and Monitoring
Our supplier auditing process combines desktop assessments, on-site visits and documentary review. Audits evaluate pay practices, working hours, recruitment fees, living conditions where applicable and the presence of any coercive practices. When issues are identified we require prompt remediation; persistent failure to meet standards results in termination of supply. As part of our procurement strategy, Erith gardening partners must provide evidence of their policies and past performance. We also promote capacity building, offering guidance to smaller suppliers to improve labour standards and compliance.
Reporting channels and protection for whistleblowers are central to our prevention framework. We maintain multiple confidential reporting mechanisms for workers and contractors to raise concerns without fear of retaliation. Reports can be made internally to supervisors or through anonymous channels, and all reports are treated seriously, investigated swiftly and recorded. We use a clear process for escalation and resolution which includes independent review when necessary. To support transparency, we emphasise confidentiality and non-retaliation as core principles in all investigations related to abuse or exploitation.
Annual Review and Continuous Improvement: Gardening in Erith is committed to reviewing this statement and our practices at least once every year. The annual review assesses the effectiveness of policies, audits, training and reporting channels and updates risk assessments based on new information. Training for staff and suppliers on recognising signs of modern slavery is refreshed regularly, and lessons from incidents and near-misses inform policy changes. We publish the findings of our internal review for governance purposes and use them to strengthen supplier engagement and worker protections.
Our commitments are practical and ongoing: we embed anti-slavery clauses into contracts, conduct routine supplier due diligence for Gardening Erith, and maintain clear escalation pathways. We require all procurement teams to include human-rights checks in sourcing decisions and expect sub-contractors to demonstrate compliance through evidence and corrective action where necessary.
We will continue to drive improvements by strengthening supplier audits, increasing the frequency of on-site verifications for higher-risk activities and expanding training for supervisors across Erith gardening projects. Gardening Erith will keep robust records of audits, remediation and outcomes to ensure accountability and traceability.
By maintaining a zero-tolerance policy, effective supplier audits, accessible reporting channels and a rigorous annual review cycle, Gardening-Erith commits to preventing modern slavery in our operations and supply chain. We remain vigilant, responsive and dedicated to protecting the rights and dignity of every person involved in delivering our services.