Gardeners Earls Court Modern Slavery Statement
Gardeners Earls Court is committed to conducting business ethically, responsibly, and with full respect for human rights. We recognise that modern slavery is a serious global issue that can take many forms, including slavery, servitude, forced labour, and human trafficking. This statement sets out the steps we take to prevent modern slavery in our operations and supply chains.
Our Zero-Tolerance Policy
We maintain a zero-tolerance policy toward modern slavery in every part of our business. We expect all employees, contractors, and suppliers to act in line with this principle. Any conduct that involves coercion, exploitation, withholding of wages, deception about work, or restriction of personal freedom is unacceptable. Where concerns arise, we investigate them promptly and take appropriate action, which may include ending a business relationship.
Our Supply Chain Controls
We aim to work with suppliers who share our commitment to lawful and ethical practices. As part of our due diligence, we assess suppliers before engagement and review them periodically thereafter. We consider factors such as the nature of the goods or services supplied, the country of origin, labour practices, and the supplier’s own policies and controls. Where appropriate, we require suppliers to confirm that they do not use forced, trafficked, or otherwise exploited labour.
Supplier audits are an important part of our approach. These audits may be planned or triggered by a concern, and they are used to check for risks such as poor working conditions, withheld identity documents, excessive recruitment fees, or unreasonable restrictions on workers. When issues are identified, we ask for corrective action within a reasonable timeframe and monitor progress closely. If a supplier fails to address serious concerns, we will reconsider the relationship.
Reporting Concerns
We encourage anyone connected with Gardeners Earls Court to report suspicions or concerns about modern slavery as early as possible. This includes employees, suppliers, clients, and other business partners. Reports may be made through our internal management channels, where concerns are treated seriously and handled sensitively. We do not tolerate retaliation against anyone who raises a concern in good faith.
Where necessary, concerns are escalated for investigation and appropriate action. We may work with relevant external bodies if a case requires specialist support or further intervention. Our aim is to create an environment in which people feel safe to speak up and confident that concerns will be addressed.
Training and Awareness
We provide guidance to help our team recognise warning signs of modern slavery and understand how to respond. Awareness is particularly important for those involved in procurement, supplier management, and site-based operations, where labour risks may be higher. By improving knowledge across the business, we strengthen our ability to identify and reduce risk.
Annual Review
This statement and our related procedures are reviewed annually to ensure they remain effective and proportionate to the risks we face. The review considers changes in legislation, updates to supply chain risk, findings from supplier audits, and any concerns raised during the year. Where needed, we update our controls, strengthen training, and refine our supplier expectations to improve protection against modern slavery.
Gardeners Earls Court is committed to continuous improvement in this area. We understand that preventing modern slavery requires ongoing vigilance, clear standards, and active cooperation with our suppliers and stakeholders. We will continue to review our approach and take practical steps to help ensure that exploitation has no place in our business or supply chain.
