Gardening Heston Modern Slavery Statement
Gardening Heston sets out this Modern Slavery Statement to affirm our commitment to preventing forced labour, human trafficking and any form of modern slavery. This anti-slavery statement applies across our operations and supply chains and describes how our slavery and human trafficking statement is embedded into our policies and practices.Zero-Tolerance Policy
Zero tolerance is central to Gardening Heston’s approach. We operate a zero-tolerance policy towards modern slavery: any supplier, contractor or employee found to be complicit in forced labour or exploitative practices will face immediate sanction and remedial action. This modern slavery policy is non-negotiable and is communicated to all staff and partners. We require clear evidence of lawful, voluntary working conditions, appropriate pay, freedom of movement and voluntary recruitment for all workers engaged on our projects.
Our scope includes direct employees, temporary workers, volunteers and third-party service providers engaged by Gardening Heston. The Gardening Heston anti-slavery policy covers procurement of plants, materials, landscaping services and maintenance. We actively identify risk areas and ensure that our contractors comply with our standards by requiring contractual assurances and compliance documentation as part of onboarding and ongoing engagement.
Supply Chain Due Diligence and Supplier Audits
We implement proportionate due diligence across our supply chain with a focus on high-risk goods and services. Our supplier audit programme is designed to verify labour standards, recruitment practices and working conditions. Audit activities include site visits, document reviews and third-party verification. The supplier audit framework includes:- Risk assessment of suppliers based on geography, sector and sourcing practices
- Documentary checks of payroll, contracts and recruitment records
- On-site inspections and worker interviews where permitted and safe
- Corrective action plans with clear timelines for remediation
Due Diligence Processes
We maintain a rolling programme of supplier audits and spot checks. In addition to scheduled audits, Gardening Heston conducts unannounced checks where warranted. We assess compliance against our modern slavery statement criteria, and we escalate substantiated concerns through internal governance to ensure rapid response. Where suppliers fail to remediate, we reserve the right to suspend or terminate contracts to protect workers and our integrity.Training, Contracts and Reporting Channels
We deliver regular training for procurement teams, site managers and senior staff to recognise indicators of modern slavery and to understand our slavery and human trafficking statement obligations. All supplier agreements include clauses that require compliance with our standards and permit audit and monitoring activities. To support safe disclosure, Gardening Heston provides multiple reporting channels that protect anonymity and encourage reporting without fear of retaliation.
Our reporting mechanisms include confidential internal reporting routes, escalation to senior management and, where appropriate, cooperation with external authorities or independent investigators. We respond to reports promptly, conducting impartial investigations and implementing protective measures for affected individuals. Remediation may include worker restitution, changing recruitment practices, and supporting access to remedies for harmed workers.
