Modern Slavery Statement — Garden Maintenance Bermondsey
Garden Maintenance Bermondsey is committed to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking across our operations and supply chain. This Modern Slavery Statement covers our policies, due diligence, and the steps we take to ensure ethical labour standards in our gardening and groundskeeping services in Bermondsey and surrounding boroughs. We declare a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of forced labour, bonded labour, child exploitation or human trafficking.
As a local provider of garden maintenance in Bermondsey, we recognise our responsibility to remain vigilant. Our values require that all employees, contractors and suppliers adhere to legal and ethical standards. We require compliance with employment law, living wage expectations and safe working conditions. The policy applies to permanent staff, temporary workers and subcontractors engaged on landscaping, hedge trimming, lawn care and other grounds services.
We publish clear expectations for suppliers in our procurement terms. These are reinforced by contractual clauses that prohibit exploitative practices and mandate transparency in employment practices. Suppliers to our Bermondsey garden maintenance service are expected to provide evidence of employee right-to-work checks, fair wages, and safe accommodation where applicable.
Due Diligence and Supplier Audits
Our due diligence program for Bermondsey garden maintenance focuses on supply chain mapping, risk-based assessments and regular audits. We identify higher-risk suppliers (for example, labour hire and seasonal contractors) and prioritise them for monitoring. Audits combine document review, site visits and worker interviews to assess recruitment fees, wage payments and living conditions.
Audits and checks include:
- Verification of payroll records and pay slips
- Checks on recruitment practices and agency fees
- On-site welfare inspections and worker interviews
We train our procurement and operational teams on recognising indicators of modern slavery and on carrying out proportionate checks. Procurement criteria for garden and landscaping contractors in Bermondsey include modern slavery risk assessment scores as part of tender evaluations.
Reporting Channels and Whistleblowing
All workers, contractors and third parties are encouraged to report concerns without fear of retaliation. We maintain multiple reporting channels including anonymous reporting lines and internal escalation routes for managers. Reports trigger timely, confidential investigations led by trained staff or external investigators where necessary.
We emphasise protection for whistleblowers. Anyone raising concerns will be treated with respect and their identity kept confidential where requested. Investigations follow a clear, documented procedure, and where instances of exploitation are identified we cooperate fully with law enforcement and relevant charities to support victims.
Our Bermuda-based field teams and office staff receive regular briefings on recognising abuse, with a focus on practical signs such as unusual control over workers, withheld identity documents or withheld wages. We also provide guidance to subcontractors engaged in seasonal gardening and maintenance work.
Accountability and governance for modern slavery sits with senior management. The board receives an annual report summarising audit findings, remediation actions and risk trends relevant to our local garden maintenance operations and the wider landscaping supply chain.
We commit to an annual review of this statement and our policies to ensure continuing effectiveness. Reviews encompass policy updates, audit outcomes, training records and any incidents or near-misses. Revisions are made where gaps are identified or when legal requirements evolve.
Continuous improvement is central to our approach. We work collaboratively with suppliers, industry peers and community organisations to strengthen protections across the horticulture and garden services sector. Through robust supplier audits, clear reporting mechanisms and a declared zero-tolerance stance, Garden Maintenance Bermondsey seeks to prevent modern slavery in all forms and to champion ethical employment practices in every garden we care for.