Modern Slavery Statement — Gardening Swiss Cottage

Gardening Swiss Cottage publishes this modern slavery statement to set out our commitment to eradicate forced labour, human trafficking and any form of exploitation from our operations and supply chains. We operate a zero-tolerance policy towards modern slavery and treat the prevention of slavery and human trafficking as a core responsibility across our landscaping and gardening services. This anti-slavery policy applies to all staff, contractors and third-party providers engaged by Gardening Swiss Cottage and to our extended supplier network.

Scope and definitions

Our slavery and human trafficking statement covers direct employment, temporary workers and suppliers providing plants, materials, equipment and maintenance services. We define modern slavery broadly to include forced labour, debt bondage, involuntary prison labour, servitude and human trafficking. The statement, our modern slavery policy and related procedures are designed to identify and address both obvious and hidden risks of exploitation.

Policies, training and internal controls

Gardening Swiss Cottage maintains clear policies, staff training and internal controls to prevent exploitation. All staff receive induction training on the anti-slavery policy and managers complete additional modules on ethical procurement and worker welfare. We encourage a culture where concerns about exploitation can be raised safely and where compliance with the modern slavery policy is actively monitored.

Reporting channels and whistleblowing

We provide multiple reporting channels to enable the confidential reporting of concerns. Reports can be raised internally through line managers or anonymously via our internal reporting processes. We treat every report seriously, protect reporters from retaliation and investigate allegations promptly. Our procedures ensure that suspected instances of forced labour or trafficking are escalated and addressed without delay.

Supplier due diligence and procurement checks form a central part of our anti-slavery measures. We undertake risk-based procurement assessments and require suppliers to commit to our standards. Our approach to supplier audits includes:

• Document checks: verification of employment records, contracts and right-to-work documentation.
• Site assessments: on-site visits and worker interviews for higher-risk suppliers.
• Corrective action: agreed remediation plans where non-compliance is identified, with follow-up audits to ensure improvement.

Monitoring, KPIs and continuous improvement are embedded in our approach to ethical supply chain management. We track key performance indicators such as the percentage of suppliers assessed, outcomes of supplier audits, and the number of staff trained in modern slavery awareness. These metrics form part of regular governance reporting to senior management and help to identify trends and areas for improvement in our supply chain.

Responsibilities and enforcement

Responsibility for implementing this slavery and trafficking statement sits with senior leaders and our procurement team. All procurement decisions must take into account labour risk, and procurement contracts include clauses requiring compliance with our anti-slavery standards. We apply proportionate remedies, including contract termination, where suppliers fail to remediate confirmed instances of exploitation. Our commitment is enforced by disciplinary measures for internal breaches and contractual consequences for third parties.

Annual review and public reporting

Gardening Swiss Cottage conducts an annual review of this modern slavery policy and associated procedures to ensure they remain effective and responsive to emerging risks. The review considers audit outcomes, reported concerns, remediation effectiveness and legislative developments. Findings inform updated training content, procurement practice and targeted supplier engagement. We publish this statement to provide transparency about our ongoing efforts to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking, and to demonstrate our accountability to stakeholders.

In conclusion, Gardening Swiss Cottage is firmly committed to preventing modern slavery in all its forms. Our zero tolerance stance, combined with robust supplier audits, clear reporting channels and a formal annual review process, ensures that we actively identify and address risks across our operations and supply chains. We will continue to strengthen our actions to protect vulnerable workers and uphold ethical standards in all aspects of our gardening and landscaping services.