The Young People in Horticulture Association (YPHA) has welcomed its second cohort onto its Management Development Programme, bringing together 12 young horticulture professionals from businesses and organisations across the industry.
The programme has been made possible thanks to significant support from across the horticulture industry. The Colegrave Seabrook Foundation is the headline sponsor, with additional funding from The GCA Trust, the British Ornamentals Association and YPHA’s own Launch Success Challenge.
The 2026-27 programme began at Pershore College on Tuesday 29th September, with delegates completing the first of three residential training blocks led by Lindsay Muir of Cedar Associates.
YPHA commissioned Lindsay, an experienced leadership and management trainer, to develop and deliver a bespoke nine-day programme for people who already have management responsibility within horticulture but may not previously have had access to formal management training. Boyd Douglas-Davies also provided input into the programme’s development.
A major priority for YPHA has been finding a way to deliver management training of this quality at a cost accessible to horticultural businesses of all sizes. Thanks to its sponsors, each place on the programme has been subsidised by £1,000, meaning employers pay £650 for nine days of training, including meals and residential accommodation.
Demand was high, with 44 applications for just 11 available places, alongside one place held by a member of the YPHA Operations team who also acts as course coordinator.
The 2026-27 cohort is:
- Alexandra Hornsby, Garden King
- Andy Pennock, Haws Watering Cans
- Ben Peilow, Altnagelvin Garden Centre
- David Cheer, Cheers Nurseries Ltd
- Isobel Mills, Immediate Media Co. (Gardeners’ World Live) Josh Blaber, Crocus
- Keye Frith, WD Smith & Son
- Lucy Harris, Blenheim Garden Centre
- Mitch Wall, M&S Wilkinson Ltd (Port Sunlight Garden Centre) Olivia Blackburn, British Garden Centres
- Sam Fry, Ramsbury Manor Foundation
- Will Burks, The Gardens Group
The first block focused on core identity, teamwork and planning, including strategic planning, leading and working as a team, and building accountability and shared goals. Block Two will move into communication, handling conflict and difficult conversations, and personal productivity, before the final block covers getting the best from staff, coaching and supporting development, and managing through change.
Reflecting on the first block, Josh Blaber of Crocus said: “The first block has given me a much better understanding of my own management style and plenty to think about in terms of how I can get the best from my team. I’ve learnt a lot already and I’m looking forward to building on that over the next two blocks.”
Lucy Harris of Blenheim Garden Centre said: “It took me outside my comfort zone at first, but getting to know the rest of the group made a huge difference. I’ve already taken so much from the course and come away with lots to think about and put into practice. I’m really looking forward to seeing what the next two blocks bring.”
YPHA thanked all of the organisations and individuals whose support has enabled it to subsidise the programme so substantially, allowing the quality of the training to remain the priority while keeping the employer contribution affordable.
YPHA also thanked Olivia Blackburn for coordinating the programme on site at Pershore, supporting the delegates and helping to ensure the first residential block ran smoothly alongside taking part in the programme herself.
Jeremy Costello of YPHA said: “It was fantastic to join the cohort for dinner and see the strong bonds they had already formed after just two days together. Bringing a group of complete strangers from different parts of horticulture together and seeing them connect so quickly is a brilliant example of the power of togetherness within our industry.
“There is so much work that goes into creating opportunities like this that people understandably never see, from the initial idea through to getting everyone into that room together. YPHA is run by volunteers, and making high-quality development genuinely accessible to young people across horticulture takes a huge amount of time, effort and support from the wider industry.
“We’re incredibly grateful to the organisations that have backed the programme and made that possible, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what this group takes from the next two blocks.”
The residential format is an important part of the programme, with the same cohort returning for all three blocks and learning alongside people from different businesses and areas of horticulture. As well as formal management development, it gives delegates the opportunity to build a peer network beyond their own workplaces.
The cohort will return to Pershore College for Block Two from 3rd to 5th November 2026, before completing the programme with Block Three from 19th to 21st January 2027.
