HTA wins top honours at TAF Awards
The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has been recognised at the Trade Association Forum Awards 2026, winning Sector Representation of the Year and receiving a Highly Commended award for Best Association Transformation.
The awards, supported by the Department of Business and Trade, celebrate best practice and excellence among UK trade associations.
HTA’s Sector Representation of the Year Award recognised its leadership of a major cross-border trade campaign that placed environmental horticulture firmly on the government agenda.
Key achievements included securing the UK–EU SPS/Plants Agreement, influencing Labour manifesto policy to include plants, and strengthening direct engagement with Defra, the Cabinet Office, MPs and EU counterparts.
The campaign drew on member evidence, roundtables, visits and high-profile media activity to reduce trade costs, improve biosecurity and raise the political profile of the sector.
The HTA was also Highly Commended in the Best Association Transformation category for increasing sector visibility and influence through initiatives such as Plants in Parliament, proactive media engagement and the modernisation of its operations.
Transformation work also included strategic alignment, financial growth and the development of a collaborative, high-performance culture across the organisation.
Chief Executive Fran Barnes said the awards reflected the HTA’s commitment to delivering first-class representation and service for members, while championing the UK’s environmental horticulture sector at national level.