The Garden Centre Association is urging members to get their 2023 Rising Stars nominations in by May 14 to help showcase and develop the industry’s most talented individuals.
The Westland Horticulture sponsored programme offers those who participate the chance to be mentored by experts in the gardening industry.
Keith Nicholson, Marketing Director at Westland Horticulture, says: “At Westland, we are proud to invest in the future. We recognise our responsibility in nurturing talented and passionate individuals and helping to promote the wealth of fantastic career opportunities in the horticulture and gardening industry.
“Westland has always been forward-thinking and it feels only natural to keep investing in retail talent, which can only help shape the future of the retail industry. We are therefore proud to be delivering, alongside the GCA, the Rising Stars Programme again in 2023.
“The programme, which has been running for more than 10 years, is designed to enable personal growth, mentoring and training of candidates already working within the garden centre industry. The feedback we get every year is the driving force to continue the programme and it gives us all great pride seeing the candidates grow and develop professionally over the duration of the programme, providing them with the foundations for a successful career within retail horticulture.”
Applications, which are available from info@gca.org.uk, should be completed and sent to laura@gca.org.uk before Sunday, May 14, 2023.
Peter Burks, GCA Chief Executive, says: “The Rising Stars programme is a fantastic opportunity for anyone nominated, as they’ll be able to develop their skills, while being mentored by experts in the gardening industry. It’s like no other training they are likely to receive and everything they learn will be brought back and used at the garden centre where they work, to the benefit of everyone.
“If garden centres feel they have a team member who they feel is a ‘rising star’ within their organisation, they need to put them forward today.”
Each candidate should, in the nominator’s opinion, be a rising star, or have the potential to be one. They should have a passion or desire to contribute to this year’s programme’s key topic, which is the environment and sustainability.
They should hold a position below management level and also be available to attend a series of virtual and face-to-face workshops throughout the year.
They need to have access to financial data too, including sales and cost prices, be able to demonstrate a drive and commitment that shows they wish to be developed, and have sales ideas for growing an area of the business in a sustainable or environmental manner.
Peter adds: “The best performing finalists will be asked to the final workshops in the series and will then be invited to attend our annual conference in January 2024, where they will present their project idea and how it has progressed to the attendees.
“Delegates will then vote for a winner. GCA Inspector and Rising Stars programme mentor, Gordon Emslie will provide coaching in presentation skills in advance of the conference.”
For further information visit www.gca.org.uk.
Pictured: The 2022-23 Rising Stars winner Ella May Bradshaw (centre left) from Bosworths Garden Centre at the 2023 GCA annual conference with GCA Chairman Tammy Woodhouse (left), Keith Nicholson (centre right), Marketing Director at Westland Horticulture and GCA Inspector and Rising Stars programme mentor, Gordon Emslie (right).
