The six finalists in the GCA Westland Rising Stars rehearsed their presentations yesterday (Sunday) in readiness for the final part of their quest to become the Rising Star at the GCA Conference in Brighton today.
Follow these links to see a GTN Xtra profile of each of the finalists:
Jack Fillingham, Sunshine Garden Centre
Kath Bailey, Barton Grange Garden Centre
Sam Clark,Cowells Garden Centre
Matt Tanner, Squires Badshot Lea
Sophie Liebthal, Coolings Garden Centre
Will Clark, Barton Grange Garden Centre
All six finalists will be making a presentation to the full GCA Conference audience this afternoon (January 25) and then conference delegates will vote to decide who should be crowned as the Rising Star of 2015. The result will be announced at the 50th anniversary GCA Annual Dinner on Tuesday night.
Keith Nicholson, of Westland, said: “There are some great success stories here – huge efforts put in from all finalists with their projects. It will be great to see who the Conference chooses as overall winner. The Rising Stars Programme will be extended this year with Regional Masterclasses, and also a new programme in Ireland.”
Iain Wylie, CEO of GCA, added: “Well done to everyone in 2015 Rising Stars. The standard was so high we could not select five – that’s why we ended up with six finalists. Good luck to them all and may the best one win!”
Ian Boardman, Director IBBIS (UK) Limited, Rising Stars Facilitator told GTN Xtra: "To my mind they are all winners. Reading their stories is very rewarding – to have helped in a small way in their personal development is very satisfying to me."
GTN Xtra will be publishing all the news LIVE from the GCA Conference, so watch this space to find out who is the winner. Good luck to all of the finalists!
