The closure of any business always has a profound effect on the workforce. But the impact on the hundreds of people with learning difficulties who worked at the recently closed Remploy factory units across the UK has created deeper concerns. Read more - open to all

Somerset based Durston Garden Products was given a real boost last week when the company took home a coveted British Independent Retailer Association (bira) award. Read more - open to all

RV Roger Ltd, a family owned nursery based in Pickering, North Yorkshire, is pleased to announce that it has successfully achieved Investors in People accreditation through Lantra. Read more - open to all

Internal restructuring within the i2i group has increased the responsibilities of Glee show director, Nick Davison.  He now has the additional responsibility of the Autumn Fair. Read more - open to all

Bob Gault, founder of the Klondyke garden centre group, left an estate valued at £16.7m when he died in February 2011. See more... Read more - members only

The quality trolley manufacturer, Ace Equipment, is pleased to announce a new stage in its evolution. Warren Holmes is now heading the team with ongoing support from the Llewellyn family, in the form of their youngest daughter, Claire. Read more - open to all

Silverline Tools, manufacturer of hand and power tools, is proud to announce its new partnership with DIY TV personality Craig Phillips, who will represent Silverline as official Ambassador and DIY Expert. Read more - open to all

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has achieved its highest membership numbers ever, welcoming the landmark 400,000th member to the gardening charity at its flagship RHS Garden Wisley, in Surrey, on Friday 1 February 2013. Read more - open to all

Dylan Cole formerly with Alexander Rose has joined Glencrest Seatex as their business development manager. Dylan has many years experience in the garden furniture business. He is looking forward to his new challenge. Read more - open to all

New Era Aquaculture, the Thorne based company revolutionising the fish food market, is celebrating its first business award, confident that it may not be its last! Read more - open to all

Dog Rocks are an exciting and proven 100% natural product used to help prevent urine burn patches appearing on your lawn, shrubs and box hedge as a result of dog, bitch and pet urine. Read more - open to all

Mark Pearson has stepped down as CEO of Gardman after completing the restructuring of the business, by mutual agreement. See more... Read more - members only

Forty years ago the term Garden Centre was virtually unknown in the UK when Warren Haskins, who had just taken over the family retail nursery business after his father’s death, decided to open a small garden centre shop at Tricketts Cross in Ferndown. Read more - open to all

It is with tremendous sadness that we have to pass on the very difficult news that Alan Goddard passed away on Friday the 11th of January.   I'm sure many of you know he'd faced a long and very difficult battle, and there's no doubt he'd fought on as much as anyone could. Read more - open to all

Pennells Garden Centres recently marked the long service of a member of staff at their Lincoln centre with a presentation.

New Era Aquaculture, the South Yorkshire-based fish diets expert, has further enhanced its status on the global stage by landing its largest ever order for the world’s newest and largest oceanarium. Read more - open to all

Kent-based Provender Nurseries was formed on 2 January 2013, following a merger between Wyevale East Nurseries and East Horticulture. The new company is now benefitting from a number of improvements introduced by Gosport-based Lean business specialists Fedden USP, recently Highly Commended in the Small/Medium Business of the Year category of The Portsmouth News Business Excellence Awards. Read more - open to all

To thank Julian Winfield, the Chief Executive of Dorset based Haskins Garden Centres, for representing one of four businesses featured in Santander’s recent national advertising campaign, including a promotional video, the bank offered to donate £1000 to a charity of his choice. Read more - open to all

Nicky has been with Durstons for 8 years and when she is not busy in the sales office she spends her spare time doing voluntary work for the Somerset branch of the National Animal Welfare Trust, Heaven’s Gate Farm. Read more - open to all

As Recruitment Director, Andrew will have day to day leadership and operational responsibility for the whole recruitment team as well as direct recruitment responsibility for a variety of roles, including senior level commercial, procurement, finance, HR and IT positions. Read more - open to all

Jeff will lead sales and marketing for the Joy of Plants database and plant information products. Read more - open to all

Pat Flynn, a lead figure in the garden trade press for many years is to become the trade association manager for PetQuip, a stable mate of Gardenex. See more... Read more - members only

A new trial ground will provide Suttons Seeds with more space for new variety and growing technique trialling as well as opportunities for putting on events for the public and the press. See more... Read more - members only

Q Lawns stockist, David Fisher who is based in the Midlands received an unusual request last week.  Despite the region being under a thick blanket of snow and ice, he received an order for some turf that needed to be delivered next day. Read more - open to all

David Arnold, sales and marketing director for Suttons Seeds, is taking early retirement on 29th February to pursue other business and personal interests. Read more - open to all

In return for Tom Noble’s impressive performance at New Era Aquaculture, the award-winning fish food manufacturer in Thorne, South Yorkshire has promoted him from sales manager to sales director. Read more - open to all

Craig Keyworth, Regional Sales Manager from Scotts Miracle-Gro, will face the challenge of a lifetime when he runs the Virgin London Marathon on Sunday 21^st April. Craig is raising money for Anthony Nolan, the pioneering charity that helps cure blood cancer by matching patients with bone marrow donors. Read more - open to all

An employee at one of the UK’s largest horticultural design and print companies is celebrating this month (January, 2013) after clocking up 25 years of dedicated service to the business.  Sylvia Cooper, office and operations manager at Floramedia, is the longest serving team member at the Colchester-based company. Read more - open to all

The industry will have its first opportunity to hear the new CEO of The Garden Centre Group when he speaks at the GCA conference later this month. See more... Read more - members only

Smart Solar, the solar garden product specialist, is celebrating its 10^th anniversary in 2013. Smart Solar manufactures and distributes solar powered lighting and water features to garden centres, retailers and mail order companies across the UK, Europe and the USA. Read more - open to all