Roger retires as GCA inspector after 11 years

Roger Crookes is retiring as an inspector for the Garden Centre Association (GCA) this month after 11 years in the role (July 2018). Roger became a GCA inspector in 2007 after a career working in garden centres around the UK since 1977. Read more - open to all

Roger Crookes

Have you considered if your business is ‘millennial ready’?

Consumer and shopping behaviouralist, Ken Hughes, has been announced as our keynote speaker for Cultivating Retail, the new one-day event for retailers, suppliers and growers which takes place on Tuesday 13 November 2018 at the East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham. Read more - open to all

Consumer and shopping behaviouralist, Ken Hughes.

My Dad was my hero

Hannah Dye is running the 2019 London Marathon for Anthony Nolan because she lost her dad, Paul Dye, to blood cancer in January.  Support her and Anthony Nolan now. Read more - open to all

Hannah Dye with her father

Smart Garden Products win Supplier of the Year in France

Smart Garden Products are very proud of their French team who picked up a prestigious award last night for Supplier of the Year in the Lighting Category, voted for by garden centre buyers in France. Read more - open to all

Green-tech help create luxurious outside learning space at North Yorkshire Primary School

The Early Years Foundation Stage outside environment at Bedale Church of England Primary School in North Yorkshire has been given a luxurious finish with some help from leading landscaper supplier Green-tech. Read more - open to all

Worfield Plants introduce new sales executive

Worfield Plants in Shropshire has extended its team with the appointment of Jamie Ablett to the role of Sales Executive in the South East. Read more - open to all

Jamie Ablett

Steve Millington joins Tom Chambers

Steve Millington has joined Tom Chambers as national accounts manager.  In March he resigned from Tildenet where he was sales director of gardenware. Read more - open to all

Steve Millington

Kyle and Chris celebrate promotions

Two members of staff at Wyevale Nurseries in Hereford are celebrating this month (June, 2018) after both receiving promotions. Read more - open to all

Chris King, Wyevale Nurseries

Green-tech welcomes additional staff to meet increasing demand

Green-tech has recently welcomed four new recruits to join their sales and warehouse teams. Having experienced significant growth over the last 18 months, Green-tech’s headcount has now hit 85. Read more - open to all

Floramedia UK Account Manager Team goes from strength to strength

With the recent appointment of Andy Dyer who joins as Account Manager for the South and South West and Lawrence Smith, who joined as Sales Executive in August 2017, Floramedia UK continues to strengthen its sales team. Read more - open to all

 Lawrence Smith, Sales Executive.

Raoul Curtis-Machin to leave HTA

Raoul Curtis-Machin is to leave the HTA at the end of June. His role will be split between the existing management team and two new posts that will be created. Read more - members only

Raoul Curtis-Machin

Dougal Philip to become RHS Vice president

New Hopetoun garden centre owner, Dougal Philip, is to become a vice-president of the Royal Horticultural Society. Read more - open to all

Leslie and Dougal Philip

AEA welcome Robert Crook – AEA Technical and Standards Engineer

The Agricultural Engineers Association is delighted to announce that Robert Crook has joined the AEA team in the role of Technical and Standards Engineer. This is a newly created position within the organisation to strengthen the existing Technical and Standards Group. Read more - open to all

Robert Crook

Decco appoints Andrew Ballantine as new Chief Operating Officer

Leading home improvement and garden wholesaler, Decco has appointed Andrew Ballantine as its Chief Operating Officer, following the departure of Charlie Lacey to take up a position as Managing Director of the Stearn Electric Company Limited.  The appointment is effective from 1st June 2018. Read more - open to all

Andrew Ballantine

Carol Paris to head Somerton, a new garden centre company

Former HTA chief, Carol Paris has set up Somerton, a new garden centre company that will trade as a franchise of Rosebourne.  Read more - members only

Carol Paris

Highly-regarded horticulturalist celebrates 50 years in horticulture

Colin Randel, product manager and vegetable expert at Suffolk-based mail order plants and seeds firm Thompson & Morgan was last week presented with an engraved commemorative garden fork and spade in recognition of his 50 year contribution to horticulture. Read more - open to all

: The Sun’s Peter Seabrook (L) presents Colin Randel (R) with engraved garden fork and spade.

Record breaking year for new starters at Green-tech

Leading landscape supplier Green-tech has recently welcomed two new starters, taking their number of new recruits in this financial year to a record-breaking 16. Read more - open to all

L to R   Dan Hildreth, Lizzy Rose, Sam Roddam

Scottish Wholesaler helps local people back into work

Unemployed people in Glasgow are being helped back into work thanks to an ongoing partnership between a local gardening and hardware wholesale and trade supplier, and a national support organisation. Read more - open to all

Employing local people is an important consideration for Stax Trade Centres

Six staff members clock up 195 years of service

Six members of staff from Wyevale Nurseries in Hereford were recently (June, 2018) presented with medals to honour their long service to the company. Read more - open to all

Joshua presented with Peter Williamson Travel Award

Joshua Stone from Pershore College has recently (June, 2018) been presented with Wyevale Nurseries’ Peter Williamson Travel Award. Read more - open to all

Peter Williamson Award Winner - Joshua Stone

Stephen Mangan to host 2018 GIMA Awards

TV, film and stage actor Stephen Mangan has been announced as the host of the 2018 GIMA Awards. Read more - open to all

TV, film and stage actor Stephen Mangan

OBE for Monty Don

BBC Gardener’s World presenter Monty Don has been awarded an OBE for services to horticulture, broadcasting and charity in the Queen’s Birthday Honours. Read more - open to all

Monty Don OBE

Gloucestershire independent Highfield Garden World welcomes third generation with tiffs, trips and instant gardening on standby

The 132-strong team at Highfield Garden World in Gloucestershire now includes members of not two but three generations of the founding Greenway family.   Emma Greenway, 25, has recently joined her father, aunt and grandmother in the family business. Read more - open to all

Joan, Tim, Emma and Sue of the Greenway family.

Squire’s Chairman receives OBE at Buckingham Palace

Colin Squire, Chairman of Squire’s Garden Centres, received his OBE from His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace on Friday 18th May. He was given the award in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list in recognition of his services to the horticultural industry and to charity. Read more - open to all

Colin Squire with his daughters Sarah and Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace.

New owners for Stansted Park Garden Centre

Stansted Park Garden Centre becomes the second to be branded ‘Your Local Garden Centre’, having been bought from administrators by Paul Richards and Tim Mason. Read more - members only

Paul Richards (L), James White and Tim Mason

Success for Green-tech’s apprentices

Green-tech’s first apprentices have passed their course with flying colours and have been offered contracts within the business. Read more - open to all

Kate and Sam with MD Rachel, centre

Gardener, writer and plantswoman Beth Chatto dies

Beth Chatto OBE VMH, the acclaimed gardener, writer and plantswoman died peacefully at home with her family by her side, on the evening of 13th May 2018, aged 94. There will be a private funeral with a memorial service to follow. Read more - open to all

Beth Chatto

News update for Glencrest Seatex and Katie Blake

We are pleased to announce that Steven Potter has been promoted as Managing Director. Steven joined the Company five years ago after leaving Alexander Rose as an area representative and joining Glencrest and Katie Blake managing the East Anglia area as a Salesman. Read more - open to all

Steven Potter

Introducing new HTA Board members

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has announced the appointment of Matthew Bent, the Managing Director from Bents Garden & Home near Warrington, to the HTA Board as a non-executive director. Read more - open to all

Matthew Bent

Durstons’ Dan takes up a position on GIMA Council

Director and National Sales Manager, Dan Durston of Durston Garden Products is one of three new Garden Industry Manufacturers’ Association (GIMA) council members appointed at last months AGM held  in Stratford-Upon-Avon. Read more - open to all

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