Ian Riggs joins Cocogreen 

The market-leading substrate supplier Cocogreen has appointed Ian Riggs as Head of Business Development UK. Read more - open to all

Rising Stars finalists announced

Five individuals from Garden Centre Association (GCA) member garden centres have reached the finals of the industry body’s Rising Stars programme sponsored by Westland Horticulture. Read more - open to all

GCA Rising Stars programme attendees with Gordon Emslie

Vitax appoints new North West area sales manager

Vitax Limited has appointed a new area sales manager to cover the North West region as it continues with its drive to expand its presence in the area following investment in new products and additions to key brands. Read more - open to all

Chris Hilton, Vitax North West area sales manager

Josh to speak at GCA Conference

Global Consultancy Director Josh McBain will be offering Garden Centre Association (GCA) members an insight into ‘The Future of Garden Retailing’ at its 2024 Conference in January. Read more - open to all

Josh McBain who will be offering GCA members an insight.

A new chapter at Hillier Nurseries

Chairman Robert Hillier will be standing down from his position of Chairman of Hillier Nurseries and will hand the reins of the family-run business to his son, George. Read more - open to all

Robert Hillier photo Michael Butters

Henry Bell appoints new National Sales Manager

Leading pet and wild bird food producer Henry Bell & Co has appointed Andrew Mellowes as National Sales Manager to support the company’s growth in the garden centre sector. Read more - open to all

Andrew Mellowes, National Sales Manager

Squires fills two top appointments

Squire's Garden Centres has announced two internal promotions to succeed Darran Oakley and Andy Bunt, who have already announced they will be leaving their roles as director of purchasing and group operations manager. Read more - open to all

Ross McEwan

5 half marathons to raise money for Greenfingers

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

SBM Life Science strengthens its field sales team in the North of England

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

Zach Blalock and Sam Passingham

HTA recognition for Stan Green

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

 HTA President, Alan Down presents medal to Stan Green

Second Award for MorePeople

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

Society of Garden Designers announces new chair

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

Colegrave Seabrook Foundation – Smart Garden Development Day

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 13th September. Read more - open to all

L-r: Naomi Hughes, Abi Green, Alfie Smith, Paris Natar, Ben Sayers & Rebecca Gilroy.

YPHA – A Grand Day Out!

On September 15th, 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

Former asylum seeker accepts honorary degree

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

Kuda Chimbudzi addresses Writtle Graduates

Spring Fair and Autumn Fair strengthens the leadership team

Hyve Group is delighted to announce the appointment of two new leaders to the team, Jackson Szabo as Portfolio Director for Spring Fair and Autumn Fair and Soraya Gadelrab as the new Event Director for Spring Fair and Autumn Fair. Read more - open to all

Jackson Szabo as Portfolio Director and Soraya Gadelrab as the new Event Director.

Monty Don and writer Rona Munro to receive honorary degrees

Gardening expert and broadcaster Monty Don OBE and writer Rona Munro will receive Honorary Doctorates from the University of Stirling next week. 

Read more - open to all

Monty Don

New Finance Director joins the AMES Companies

As the AMES Companies continues on its upward projection, firmly on its mission to being the garden retail industry’s ‘partner of choice’, it has recently appointed a new Finance Director to support this growth. Read more - open to all

John Thompson

New area sales manager for Fallen Fruits

Fallen Fruits are delighted to announce the arrival of their new Northern Area Sales Manager, Robert Greener. This new role within Fallen Fruits supports the growth and investment in the business following the acquisition by their long-term partner Esschert Design BV earlier this year. Read more - open to all

Robert Greener

RHS disappointment at absence of peat ban in King’s Speech

RHS director expresses extreme disappointment that there was no legislation relating to the banning of retail peat in horticulture in today’s announcement. Read more - members only

Alistair Griffiths

Boyd Douglas-Davies becomes Greenfingers Trustee & Chairman-Elect

Boyd Douglas-Davies, industry stalwart and the founder of Garden Re-Leaf Day, was officially appointed as the newest Trustee and Chairman-Elect of the Greenfingers Charity. Read more - members only

Boyd Douglas-Davies

Sally Gordon joins BHETA member services team

BHETA has appointed Sally Gordon to its member services team.  Her role will be to focus on member relationships and recruitment, and member services delivery.  Read more - open to all

Saly Gordon

Most pay increases under 5%

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

New role for Scott Williams at SBM

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

Scott Williams

Staff take control at Majestic Trees

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

Fern Snowling, Sarah Shynn, Eliot Barden, Helen Morgan, Maria Bengtsson, Carlos Guinand

Managing Director of The Bransford Webbs Plant Company to retire

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

Adrian Marksell

AMES appoints new Operations Director

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

New Operation Director – David Wright

Andy Bunt steps down from full-time role

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 appoints new area sales rep for the South East

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

Stephen Crean

New sales director for Branded Garden Products 

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

Nick Walton

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