Modern Slavery Statement — Garden Maintenance Abbey Wood

Garden Maintenance Abbey Wood is committed to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking throughout our operations and supply chain. This statement applies across Abbey Wood garden maintenance services and all activities carried out by our teams. We maintain a zero-tolerance approach to slavery and forced labour, and we expect the same high standards from our contractors and suppliers. Our commitment is part of the organisation's core values and is reflected in procurement practices and day-to-day site management.

Our policy sets out clear expectations: all workers engaged by Garden Maintenance Abbey Wood must be treated with dignity, paid fairly and given transparent terms of employment. We require background checks and lawful right-to-work documentation and we ensure pay and working hours comply with national laws. We will not tolerate any form of exploitation and will act decisively if any issue is identified. Where breaches occur we take immediate remedial action up to and including contract termination and referral to the appropriate authorities.

To enforce these principles we use robust due diligence and supplier audits across the Abbey Wood grounds maintenance network. Prospective and existing partners undergo risk assessment before appointment and during contract life. Audits include verification of payroll records, working hours, recruitment practices and subcontractor management. Where improvements are required we set corrective action plans with defined timelines and assign internal resources to verify completion and improvements.

Policies, Monitoring and Supplier Audits

Garden maintenance in Abbey Wood is governed by a suite of policies including our Anti-Slavery Policy, Procurement Code and Whistleblowing Protocol. These documents mandate supplier compliance and are built into contractual terms with clear consequences for non-compliance. We also require contractual rights to audit records and to conduct on-site inspections, ensuring transparency throughout the supply chain.

Our supplier audit programme addresses high-risk areas such as seasonal labour, subcontracted work and third-party recruitment. We apply a tiered, risk-based approach: suppliers are classified by risk and subject to proportional scrutiny, which helps focus resources where they are most needed. This protects workers and secures supply chain integrity across Abbey Wood garden maintenance operations by identifying vulnerabilities early and driving corrective measures.

Audit activities include:

• Document reviews of contracts, payslips and time records to confirm lawful pay and conditions
• Worker interviews and confidential feedback channels to surface concerns without fear
• Site inspections and verification of accommodation and transport where provided
• Corrective action monitoring, remediation support and scheduled re-audits until compliance is achieved

We maintain clear records of findings, actions taken and outcomes to demonstrate continuous improvement and accountability.

Reporting Channels and Annual Review

We provide secure, confidential reporting channels for workers, suppliers and third parties to raise concerns about suspected slavery or exploitation. Reports can be made anonymously and will be investigated promptly and impartially by designated officers. Retaliation is strictly prohibited and any whistleblower protection needs are taken seriously; we actively protect confidentiality and support affected individuals through appropriate interventions.

Garden Maintenance Abbey Wood invests in regular training for managers, supervisors and procurement teams to identify risks and respond appropriately. We also require suppliers to deliver worker rights training and to maintain transparent recruitment practices. Our recruitment partners must demonstrate ethical standards, provide clear contracts to workers and comply with UK employment law; periodic checks verify ongoing adherence to these expectations.

We undertake an annual review of our modern slavery measures to evaluate effectiveness and to update policies and procedures. The review includes an assessment of incident reports, audit findings, supply chain changes and legislative developments. Outcomes drive improvements in supplier selection, contract clauses, monitoring practices and training content. Each year we publish internal findings and actions taken and we refine our approach in consultation with industry peers, legal advisers and worker representative organisations to strengthen protections across all Garden Maintenance Abbey Wood operations.