Gardeners St James's Modern Slavery Statement

This Modern Slavery Statement is made by Gardeners St James's in recognition of our responsibility to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking in our operations and supply chains. We are committed to acting ethically, with integrity and transparency in all business dealings, and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure that modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in our business or in any of our supply chains.

Our Commitment and Zero-Tolerance Policy

Gardeners St James's has a zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of modern slavery, including forced labour, bonded labour, child labour, servitude and human trafficking. We will not knowingly work with any organisation, supplier or contractor that is involved in, supports, or is complicit in any form of modern slavery.

This commitment is integral to our values and decision-making. All employees, managers, contractors and suppliers are expected to uphold the highest standards of human rights and labour practices when representing or working with Gardeners St James's. Any breach of this policy will be treated as a serious matter and may lead to termination of contracts or other appropriate action.

Our Supply Chains and Supplier Standards

Our supply chains include the sourcing of horticultural products, gardening materials, tools, equipment and related services. We recognise that certain sectors and regions may carry a higher risk of modern slavery and we prioritise these areas for enhanced oversight.

Gardeners St James's requires suppliers to comply with all applicable labour, employment and human rights laws in the countries where they operate. We expect suppliers to provide safe working conditions, pay fair wages, respect working hours and prohibit any form of forced, bonded or child labour. Suppliers are required to ensure that their own supply chains also adhere to equivalent standards.

Supplier Audits and Due Diligence

We conduct proportionate due diligence on existing and potential suppliers, taking into account the nature of the products or services supplied, geographical risk and sector-specific risk factors. This may include requesting information on labour practices, workforce composition, recruitment processes and policies to prevent forced labour and human trafficking.

Gardeners St James's may carry out audits of higher-risk suppliers. These audits may be conducted by our own team or by independent third parties engaged to assess compliance with our standards. Where non-compliance or risk indicators are identified, we will work with the supplier to develop corrective action plans with clear timelines. If a supplier is unwilling or unable to address serious issues in a satisfactory manner, we reserve the right to suspend or terminate the business relationship.

Reporting Channels and Whistleblowing

We encourage employees, contractors, suppliers and any other stakeholders to raise concerns about any issue or suspicion of modern slavery in any part of our business or supply chains. Concerns can be reported through established internal reporting lines or directly to senior management.

Gardeners St James's is committed to ensuring that no one suffers any detrimental treatment for reporting a genuine concern in good faith. Reports will be treated seriously, handled sensitively and, where appropriate, investigated promptly and thoroughly. We will take appropriate remedial and disciplinary action where instances of modern slavery or related abuses are identified.

Training, Awareness and Responsibility

Responsibility for overseeing our approach to modern slavery rests with senior management, who ensure that appropriate policies, controls and oversight mechanisms are in place and effective. Relevant managers are expected to implement this statement within their teams and areas of responsibility.

We promote awareness of modern slavery risks among employees whose roles involve procurement, supplier management or recruitment. Where appropriate, we may provide training or guidance to help employees recognise indicators of modern slavery and understand how to respond and escalate concerns.

Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

Gardeners St James's is committed to the ongoing improvement of our systems and controls to address the evolving risks of modern slavery and human trafficking. We will regularly review the effectiveness of our measures, including supplier due diligence processes, audit findings and the operation of our reporting channels.

This Modern Slavery Statement will be reviewed at least annually and updated as necessary to reflect changes in our business activities, supply chains, risk profile and applicable legislation. Any material changes to our approach or key findings from our oversight activities may be incorporated into future versions of this statement.

By publishing this Modern Slavery Statement, Gardeners St James's reaffirms its commitment to upholding human dignity, promoting fair and safe working conditions and working collaboratively with employees, suppliers and other stakeholders to eradicate modern slavery in all its forms.