This year’s Westland Horticulture sponsored, GCA Rising Stars programme attendees including the four selected finalists. (L-R, back row) Ben Clarke from Knights Nags Hall Garden Centre, Dan Furley from Millbrook Garden Centre – Gravesend, Josh Rigg from Klondyke Garden Centre – Wilmslow and Will Harris from Klondyke Garden Centre – Garforth. (L-R, front row) Dian Phillips from Pugh’s Radyr, Erin Tuchscherer from British Garden Centres – Charlbury and Gayna Barnard of Bents Home & Garden.

Four individuals from Garden Centre Association member garden centres have been announced as finalists in the industry body’s Rising Stars programme sponsored by Westland Horticulture.

The staff were put forward by their garden centres for the scheme and took part in a series of workshops during 2024.

GCA inspector, Gordon Emslie, who mentored the workshops, said: “Well done to our worthy finalists: Ben Clarke from Knights Nags Hall Garden Centre, Dan Furley from Millbrook Garden Centre – Gravesend, Josh Rigg from Klondyke Garden Centre – Wilmslow and Gayna Barnard of Bents Home & Garden. I’m looking forward to seeing them present at the GCA conference in January. Each year our finalists really excel, and this year is no exception.

“The initiative would not run without the excellent partnership between the GCA and Westlands. I would like to thank both organisations for showing such wonderful enthusiasm and commitment to the scheme and for wholeheartedly supporting the development of our colleagues in the sector.” 

All the candidates undertook projects, within their garden centres, which ran from March to September. They then presented them to a Dragon’s Den panel of judges in October, who scored them and the final four were the top scoring projects.

This year’s Westland Horticulture sponsored, GCA Rising Stars programme attendees with GCA inspector, Gordon Emslie (standing) during the Dragon’s Den element of the initiative.

Gordon added: “This season’s Rising Stars have again been of an outstanding quality of people employed in the garden centre industry. The commitment, enthusiasm and tenacity shown from them all to deliver a sustainability or environmental project has been excellent. Every one of them should be extremely proud of their journey on this year’s programme and on how well they all did presenting at the Dragons Den.

“Each of them tackled important issues around sustainability and environment, which far too many of us take for granted. They have all been very broad in their approach to this year’s projects.

“They have all faced challenges during the year, which the programme is designed to flush out. As testing as those were, they have all been committed to delivering their projects, as well as having the determination to see them through.

“I personally have found it a very humbling experience working with all this year's candidates and I am proud to have been their mentor again this year.”

The finalists will present their projects at the 2025 GCA Conference at the De Vere Wokefield Estate near Reading on Monday, January 27 and share with the audience how the Rising Stars programme has helped them develop during the past 10 months.

A final winner will be voted for by conference delegates and crowned at the event.

Gina Lewis, Social & Content Marketing Manager at Westland Horticulture, said: “Garden centres and the incredible teams that work within them, are critical to the success and future growth of the UK gardening industry. At Westland, we are passionate about supporting the future stars of the industry and we are delighted to continue to sponsor and support this year’s Rising Stars on their journey over the last 12 months to the GCA conference.

“The presentations they have prepared, with Gordon’s guidance, are thought provoking, insightful and innovative, highlighting the huge potential of this talented group. Each Rising Star has brought added value to their centre with their projects and kept a focus on sustainability at the heart of everything they have done. We wish them the best of luck as they move to the next stage of the competition and hope they continue to make a real difference to our industry as their careers progress.”