Blue Diamond's Heidi Towse has run 5 half marathons to raise money for Greenfingers charity. “I’ve been training every day since January. Run an average of 5k a day, every day for the past 288 days." Read more - open to all

A MorePeople salary survey of garden centres and horticulture shows most had a pay increase of 5% or less and career progression is biggest reason for changing jobs. Read more - members only

Scott Williams has started a new position as Head of Business UK & Ireland at SBM Life Science. Read more - open to all

Majestic Trees has announced that MD Steve McCurdy and his wife Janet have sold 74% of Majestic Trees to their team via an Employee Ownership Trust. Read more - members only

SBM Life Science have announced a new partnership with sales agency Simply Sales to help drive business forward and develop closer, more strategic relationships with our valued retail partners for the coming season in Scotland. Read more - open to all

The Society of Garden Designers (SGD) has announced Andrew Duff MSGD as its new Chair, continuing the role he has held jointly with Lynne Marcus MSGD since September 2022. Read more - open to all

Smart Garden has initiated a 2023 Horticultural Trainee Sponsorship Fund with Colegrave Seabrook Foundation that has resulted in five Smart Award recipients being hosted at Smart’s Eureka building at Peterborough on Wednesday 13^th September. Read more - open to all

On September 15^th, 90 members of the Young People in Horticulture Association (YPHA) descended on Haws Watering Cans and David Austin Roses for one of their bi-annual special visits. Read more - members only

Writtle University College in Essex has awarded an honorary degree to gardener, horticulturalist and former asylum seeker, Kuda Chimbudzi. Read more - open to all

One of the pioneers of the horticulture industry, Jeffrey Bernhard OBE, has died at the age of 100.  He was a grower, a landscaper and operated a garden centre. Read more - open to all

In a thrilling showcase of horticultural excellence, JJH and Radial Landscapes emerged victorious in the highly anticipated Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) Landscaper Skills 'The Professionals' competition. Read more - open to all

Katie Blake Garden Furniture are announcing their latest development with new business following a major success at the SOLEX Show. We are very pleased to announce that Martin Hughes has joined the Company as National Sales Manager. Read more - open to all

Next month’s HTA Autumn Conference will be opened by its new Chief Executive, Fran Barnes.  Who is she?  We interview the former BBC editor and Director of NFU communications. Read more - open to all

Debbie Harding, Chief People and Corporate Officer since June 2022, has been made a director of Dobbies. Read more - open to all

Squire’s Garden Centres have announced that Purchasing Director, Darran Oakley, is to retire at the end of next season. He will move to Devon during the Summer of 2024. Read more - open to all

As of September 1^st, SBM Life Science Ltd in the UK joined forces with their business counterparts in Benelux, Scandinavia, and Central Europe to create the new North Europe cluster. Read more - open to all

SBM Life Science continues to grow the footprint of its sales team with the appointment of two new Territory Account Managers for the North of England. Read more - open to all

The HTA’s 2023 Pearson Memorial Medal for outstanding service to the garden industry has been awarded to Stan Green, Director of Growforth Ltd. Read more - open to all

MorePeople have won Team of the Year 2023 at the FPC Fresh Awards held in London last Friday 29th September. Read more - open to all

After 23 years at Bransford Webbs, and over 40 years in the horticultural industry, Adrian Marksell is retiring at the end of this week. He joined The Bransford Webbs Plant Company in 2000 as Sales and Marketing Director. Adrian became Managing Director in 2017. Read more - open to all

The AMES Companies have named, a new operation director. David Wright has joined the team to ensure a smooth transition into season 24 and beyond. Read more - open to all

Squire’s Garden Centres has confirmed its Group Operations Manager, Andy Bunt, has decided to step down from his full-time role after 15 years.  He will continue to work part time. Read more - open to all

Primeur has witnessed the rapid expansion of its UK coverage within garden centres. Now, with Stephen Crean’s appointment as the company’s Area Sales Representative for the south-east region, Primeur’s representation is strengthened further. Read more - open to all

Nick Walton has become B2B sales director for Branded Garden Products and its market leading brands, Thompson & Morgan and Suttons. Read more - open to all

Barrus today announced the appointment of Graham Knox as its new Chief Executive Officer, following an extensive search process. Read more - members only

Henry Bell & Co is celebrating long-service work anniversaries across its Grantham-based operations. Managing Director Thomas Lee has clocked up 35 years with the Lincolnshire company, while Finance Director Carol Foster joined 54 years ago – and five team members are not far behind. Read more - open to all

Green-tech has acquired the assets of Suregreen Limited from its administrators.  It has also a new  Warehouse & Operations Director. Read more - open to all

TV and radio broadcaster, Gethin Jones has been confirmed as the host of the 2023 GIMA Awards on Thursday 19^th October at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, South Wales, Read more - open to all

Stax Trades Centres recently appointed James Romaine as their sales representative for the East Anglia area – a new position created to ensure the region receives dedicated sales support. Read more - open to all

Meadow View Stone is delighted to introduce Cheryl Caulder to our team. Cheryl will be the Meadow View Sales Agent for the East Midlands, covering Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Northants and Oxford.   Read more - open to all