The Horticultural Trades Association has launched a unique horticulture development scheme for its members to develop and retain the people in their teams who will play an important role in their business and in the wider sector in the future.

“Broad Horizons” is a fully funded, year-long programme giving delegates the rare opportunity to see business across the sector, understand how Westminster policy making works and how to influence it, how to market and promote their business and how to recruit, create and retain successful teams.

Announcing the programme, which will be open for applications on 5 October, HTA Chief Executive Fran Barnes said the programme had been created to support and recognise the importance of investing in people and encouraging them to develop beyond their existing roles.

“Over the last four years, I've visited hundreds of businesses across the UK. I've seen incredible innovation, remarkable resilience and some truly inspiring leaders. One thing strikes me wherever I go - the businesses that thrive are the businesses that invest in their people.”

Fran said the programme would give participants the opportunity to broaden their experience, build new relationships and bring fresh ideas back to their businesses whilst building their confidence and personally stretching and developing themselves.

“The best ideas often come from seeing things differently. The best leaders are usually people who have broadened their horizons, challenged themselves and learned from others.

“That's exactly why I am delighted today to launch the HTA's new Broad Horizons Horticulture Development programme.”

The programme is designed for people across garden centres, growers, landscapers and manufacturers who businesses want to retain and develop because they believe they have potential to play an increasingly important role in their organisation.

“This year-long programme is designed for the people in your business who you want to retain – those who you believe have potential and will play an increasingly important part of your business in the future.  Whether they’re horticulturalists, marketers, accountants, business operations specialists, store managers or scientists.

“This is a unique opportunity for someone in your team – in any discipline - to gain experience of other businesses in our sector, understand how regulation and policy is created – and how to influence that – whilst building knowledge in business operations, financial decision-making, how to recruit, create and build effective teams and how to communicate with impact. It will also create an effective network of peers and relationships in this industry that I hope will flourish into the future.

“And, they’ll bring all this back to your business.  Because when people grow, businesses grow too.”

Broad Horizons will run from January to December 2027 and is fully funded by the HTA. It requires a time commitment of six days across the year.

Further details about the Broad Horizons Horticulture Development programme, including how to apply, will be announced on 5 October 2026 via https://hta.org.uk/broad-horizons/