Rising Stars winner revealed at GCA
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(L-R) Peter Burks, Ben Harrison, the Rising Stars winner Louise Lockwood & Simon Mulholland.
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(L-R) Simon Mulholland, Peter Burks and the GCA Rising Stars finalists.
Louise Lockwood from Planters Tamworth has been named winner of the Westland Horticulture-sponsored Rising Stars programme at the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) annual conference.
Five finalists from member garden centres presented their projects at the conference after completing a series of workshops during 2025. Louise was selected following a vote by conference delegates.
Gordon Emslie, who mentored the programme, congratulated Louise and the finalists: Aaron Caffarelli from Thetford Garden Centre, Charlotte Sait from Haskins Ferndown, Jess Salter from British Garden Centres Gloucester and Lewis O’Neill, also from BGC Gloucester.
The finalists undertook projects within their garden centres between March and September before presenting them to a Dragons’ Den-style judging panel in October. The projects focused on sustainability and environmental challenges facing the sector.
Emslie said the candidates demonstrated exceptional talent, creativity and determination, adding that their commitment to sustainability had been particularly impressive.
Gina Lewis, Head of Content at Westland Horticulture, said the company was proud to support the next generation of garden centre leaders and to continue sponsoring the Rising Stars programme.
For further information, please go to www.gca.org.uk.