Growers and nurserymen from across the horticulture industry are invited to attend the biennial Contact 2015 conference ‘Growing Opportunities’ which takes place on Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 January 2015 at JCB Global Headquarters in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire.
Contact 2015 promises to provide plenty of inspiration and ideas to take home with in-depth sessions on engaging consumers, building business relationships and developing people.
The conference will be opened by Contact Steering Group chairman, Wayne Eady, Delamore Young Plants.
Confirmed speakers include Guy Moreton, MorePeople who will give advice on how to develop a people plan to meet your business’ long and short term goals. David Frost, Group Human Resources Director at Produce World will also talk on recruitment in the session entitled ‘People’.
Graham Spencer, Plants for Europe will talk on how growers exploit the opportunities that new plant varieties represent. David Denny, Horticultural Trades Association will lead a session on how to develop trade based on the findings of the HDC project to export plants to 25 countries, whilst Tim Clapp, Former Head of Horticulture of the Garden Centre Group will present on negotiating and selling to retailers.
The first day will end with a lively panel discussion with industry experts on how to sell plants, followed by a Q and A session.
The conference dinner takes place on the evening of 14 January at the Radisson Blu Hotel, East Midlands Airport where guests will be welcomed by Raoul Curtis-Machin, Head of Horticulture, HTA
Workshop sessions will take place on Thursday 15 January which will focus on topics such as ‘Understanding the Value of Research’, led by David Talbot, Horticulture Consultant, ADAS UK and Kate Irgin, Research & KE Manager for HNS, HDC. There will also be workshops on ‘Making Horticulture Attractive ‘led by Raoul Curtis-Machin.
Delegates will be treated to a tour of the JCB factory and JCB Story where delegates will see the process of how a machine is built from the delivery of the sheet steel, profiling, laser cutting, welding, paint shop, assembly and finally the finished product.
Contact 2015 is an invaluable and unmissable event for anyone in the hardy stock sector. Book your places today to benefit from the early bird rates which end on 19 December.
For further information and to book your place, please visit www.contactconference.co.uk
