The GCA Westland Rising Stars program for 2019 is nearing the stage where the ten winners who will present at GCA Conference in January will be chosen.

Last month they met for the third time and made presentations about their projects which were chosen from: 

• Indoor - A growing trend (Houseplant sales up 15% YOY, Westland indoors sales up 47% YOY, Houseplants are everywhere on social media)
  Lawncare - An Opportunity to grow (only 1 in 5 gardeners feed their lawn, yet the lawn is the foundational and heart of the garden)
  Growing - Massive category, massive opportunity (78% of gardeners grow in pots, 24% grow tomatoes - we can help them maximise their success)
  Wild Bird - A year round opportunity, May is actually the highest sales month due to GC traffic (People are motivated to feed because they want to see the birds and they want to help them)

Previously the twenty Rising Stars, listed below, have received training from GCA Inspector Gordon Emslie and the Westland marketing team.  Rising Stars organiser Jo Wilkinson said: "Remember this year there is no overall winner, we want to celebrate the successes of all the participants, giving the opportunity for the top 10 to make presentations at the GCA conference in January. The final 10 participants will come back for a 4th round of training in November, where we will focus in presentation skills and preparation for the conference.

"Gordon will be calling each of the participants during the next few days to give feedback on their presentations and advise if they are through the final stage."

The twenty 2019 GCA Westland Rising Stars Delegates are:

Dominic O'Donnell, Ruxley Manor
Gemma Stace, Bents
Arif Khan, Perrywood
Josh Gilbert, Bosworths
Rachel Atkinson-Young, Stewarts Broomhill
Nathan Heywood, Bents
Michael Knight, Haskins Ferndown
Sarah Jane Toop, Haskins West End
Paul Birch, Planters Bretby
Charlie Watts, Squires Twickenham
Stuart Sullivan, Squires Badshot Lea
Bronwen Dains, Thurrock
James Townsend, Garsons Esher
Ben Lodge, Notcutts
Emma Lamb, Barton Grange
Rachel Wilkes, Webbs Wychbold
Jack Appleton, Webbs Wychbold
Naomi Smith, Poundbury
Adam Wallbank, St Peters
William Biehler-Wallis, Baytree