Garden Maintenance Hackney: Modern Slavery Statement

Garden Maintenance Hackney is committed to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking in all aspects of our operations and supply chain. We maintain a clear zero-tolerance policy toward forced labour, child exploitation and any other form of modern slavery. This statement sets out how our Hackney garden maintenance teams and suppliers are held to the highest ethical standards and the actions we take to reduce risk.

We believe that responsible garden maintenance in Hackney requires vigilance, transparency and continuous improvement. Our zero-tolerance approach is embedded in company policy and communicated to every member of the garden services Hackney workforce. All staff receive training that explains the signs of exploitation and the duty to report concerns, and managers are required to act promptly on any allegations.

As part of our supplier due diligence, Hackney garden maintenance procurement procedures include pre-engagement checks and contractual clauses prohibiting modern slavery. We carry out risk-based supplier audits and on-site inspections, prioritising higher-risk categories such as seasonal labour, subcontractors and third-party labour providers. Audit activity includes verified identity checks, review of working arrangements and spot checks for compliance with working hours, pay and living conditions. Our supplier audit checklist uses clear indicators and remediation steps to address non-compliance.

We operate multiple reporting channels so concerns can be raised safely and confidentially. Workers and third parties can report through internal reporting lines or via an anonymous whistleblowing mechanism, and all reports are investigated without delay. All reports receive a formal acknowledgement and are recorded in our incident log; serious incidents trigger immediate protective action and, where appropriate, referral to external agencies.

Our commitment to transparency includes monitoring and measuring the effectiveness of our policies. We maintain records of supplier audits, training attendance and corrective actions, and we publish a summary of actions annually. We also require key suppliers to provide evidence of their own anti-slavery policies and to permit periodic verification visits by our compliance team to ensure ongoing adherence to standards across the Hackney garden maintenance network.

To support prevention, we provide continuous education for staff and contractors: training modules cover recognising exploitation, rights at work, and the steps to take if abuse is suspected. We emphasise that no worker should feel obliged to pay recruitment fees, surrender identity documents, or work under threat or coercion. Where instances of malpractice are found, our approach is to remediate and protect victims; persistent or egregious breaches lead to contract termination and legal action when necessary.

Supplier Engagement and Audits

Our supplier engagement is proactive: we screen new suppliers, set anti-slavery contractual obligations and audit performance. Key performance indicators are tracked and failures trigger remediation plans that are timebound and monitored for completion. We use a combination of scheduled audits and unannounced inspections to maintain rigour in our garden maintenance supply chain across Hackney.

Reporting Channels and Whistleblowing

The company maintains clear reporting channels designed to protect confidentiality and encourage reporting without fear of reprisal. Individuals can raise concerns internally or through anonymous channels; every report is taken seriously and assessed using consistent procedures. Support and protection for potential victims are prioritised during any investigation.

Review and continuous improvement are central to our approach. We perform an annual review of our anti-slavery policies and practices, assessing audit results, incident logs and training effectiveness. Findings inform updates to policy, supplier selection criteria and staff training. Garden Maintenance Hackney will continue to strengthen its controls, collaborate with industry partners and take decisive action against modern slavery wherever it is identified.