Garden Connect has been awarded the UKTI Investment Award 2013
Garden Connect has been awarded the UKTI Investment Award 2013 Wednesday night the 6th of November for its entrepreneurship of the last 12 months in the UK. At the head office of the biggest independent bank of the Netherlands, Rabobank, the British ambassador in the Netherlands Sir Geoffrey Adams handed over this prestigious award to Garden Connect.
The Award Dinner normally takes place at the British Embassy in The Hague but because of building works the ceremony took place at the top floor of the banks’ head office in Utrecht. Founders and shareholders of Garden Connect, Edwin Meijer and Frank de Lange, received the award. “It’s very special for us to get this Award today. We’ve been putting a lot of effort in our UK business to get it at the level we want it to be. In 2013 we’re showing a growth figure of about 30% and we do get a lot of positive response from garden retailers across the UK and Ireland. We’re on the right track and this Award is a confirmation but also a stimulation to move forward with our UK team for the full 100% in 2014 and beyond.”
Garden Connect provides online marketing services to over 150 garden centres in 4 countries and has offices in Zwanenburg (near Amsterdam, Netherlands) and Luton (UK). “Whenever we’re ready we will investigate to open more branches as well. Our extensive knowledge of the garden retail industry and innovations should enable us to be successful in France or Germany as well” says Frank de Lange.
United Kingdom Trade & Investment, UKTI, stimulates trade between the UK and companies worldwide. UKTI and the British Embassy supported Garden Connect during the startup of the company late 2012. The UKTI Award Dinner is held annually and Awards are given to companies who've shown to be successful investors in the UK. Among the winners this year were, apart from Garden Connect, Philips and NXP, both listed on the Dutch stock exchange, and SHV, the biggest family owned company of the Netherlands with annual revenues of about 20 billion.