Perrywood Garden Centre's Kirsty Clark, crowned this week as the Westland/GCA Rising Star of 2014, has urged garden centre staff to take part in this year's programme.

Kirsty was voted the Rising Star of 2014 by delegates at the Garden Centre Association Conference in Chester and picked up her award on stage at the Gala Dinner.

The Rising Stars Programme, run by Westland Horticulture and supported by the GCA has been running since 2009.

Its aim is to develop the best new talent in the garden centre industry through a year-long training course facilitated by Ian Boardman, IBBIS Director.

The course helps the Rising Stars understand the importance of merchandising and Ian works with each candidate to show what they could implement at their own garden centre and how to measure results.

Ian said: “I was proud of them all and what they had achieved. Their presentations were very professional and they received great applause and many compliments from the audience. I liked the way they were all cheering each other on and had bonded as a mini team."

Keith Nicholson, Marketing Director for Westland Horticulture, added: “Encouraging new and emerging talent is essential for the future of our industry, bringing fresh ideas and inspiration. That’s why Westland will continue to invest heavily in training for garden centre staff and will once again support the next Rising Stars programme.”

Anyone interested in applying for the 2015 programme should contact the GCA on 0118 930 8918 or visit www.gca.org.uk. The closing deadline is February 25.

Pictured, from left to right: Edward Conroy (Managing Director of Westland Horticulture), Lisa Waim (Rising Star finalist, Haskins Snowhill), Cerys Williams (Rising Star finalist, Perrywood) Kirsty Clark (Rising Star winner, Perrywood), Hannah Mason (Rising Star finalist, Chessington), Matthew Fay (Stewarts Garden-Lands, Christchurch) and John McDowell (Sales Director, Westland Horticulture).