The final 12 candidates in the Rising Stars class of 2017 have been announced. There was friendly rivalry at both the Westland/GCA Rising Stars North and South masterclass earlier this month, when all presented the results of their projects to the group, showing they have driven sales across spring as a result of their learning. Read more - open to all

Members of the Garden Centre Association (GCA) yesterday (Tuesday, July 25, 2017) received awards for the Midlands region at a presentation hosted by Planters Garden Centre - Tamworth. Read more - open to all

The Klondyke Group has announced the promotion of Andy Smith from Senior Plant Buyer to Group Head of Purchasing. Andy will step into his new role from 1^st September 2017. Read more - open to all

North East and North West regional members of The Garden Centre Association (GCA) are celebrating after picking up awards during a presentation evening yesterday (Wednesday, July 19, 2017) at Klondyke Strikes Wilmslow Garden Centre. Read more - open to all

HPW Architecture (“HPW”), the Hampshire based architectural practice with a growing reputation for cutting edge, low energy, sustainable design, announces a new corporate structure as the business begins a new phase in its development. Four new directors have also been appointed, giving key members of staff a greater role in HPW’s future. Read more - open to all

Following a period of sustained growth, Vitax has added to its sales team with the appointment of a new area sales manager to work across the South West. Read more - open to all

The HTA is to complete its restructuring by recruiting a part-time chairman to be the figurehead that speaks for the industry.  Read more - members only

A management trainee at one of the UK’s leading nurseries will this month (July, 2017) be attending the 2017 IPPS European Region Annual Conference as part of the 6 Packer Award. Read more - open to all

The Carlo Naef trophy has been awarded to Mr Brian Taylor in recognition of his life-time involvement within the Taylor family’s horticultural and farming business based in Holbeach. Read more - open to all

Romeo Sommers interview about his new your role as Creative Director of the Retail Lab @ Glee. Read more - open to all

Bernard Tickner has been awarded an MBE in Her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday Honours. The award has been given in recognition for services to wildlife conservation and horticulture, relating to his voluntary conservation work in Suffolk and for his work at Fullers Mill Garden in West Stow. Read more - open to all

Steve Pitcher started work with Homebase / Bunnings last week, a year after leaving B&Q. Read more - open to all

Evergreen Horticulture welcomes Maxwell Asare who joins this month as National Account Manager to the UK mainland. Read more - open to all

After 25 years at the Bransford Webbs Plant Company Managing Director Geoff Caesar is moving on at the end of July to take up a role with Ball Colegrave as Director at their Bordon Hill Nursery in Stratford upon Avon. Read more - members only

Leading garden structures company, Grange Fencing has boosted its marketing team with the appointment of two dedicated team members. Read more - open to all

Richard Newton and Abigail Stocker from Woodlodge Products will be taking to the skies to raise money for Greenfingers Charity on 17^th September.  Read more - open to all

On Monday 11th September, Glee will be welcoming award-winning gardening journalist and TV presenter, Nick Bailey, to the stage as this year’s keynote speaker. Read more - open to all

New senior leadership at the Coleman EMEA Group: Martin Vergien has been promoted with immediate effect to become Vice President and Managing Director of Coleman EMEA GmbH. Through this promotion, he takes on responsibility for managing the brands belonging to the Newell Group (Coleman, Campingaz, Sevylor and Aerobed) in the EMEA region. Read more - open to all

Adrian Marskell has officially taken on the role of Managing Director, following the departure of Geoff Caesar. Read more - open to all

The Old Railway Line Garden Centre scooped the most awards during the Garden Centre Association's (GCA) Wales & West regional awards evening yesterday (Thursday, July 13, 2017) at Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre in Somerset. Read more - open to all

Nine members of staff at a nursery in Hereford raised £245 for charity by taking part in the city's Race for Life event last Sunday (July 9, 2017). Read more - open to all

Haskins Garden Centres is pleased to announce the promotion of Andy Harris from Garden Lifestyle Buyer to Gardening Senior Buyer. Read more - open to all

Steve Guy, who left Dobbies in the middle of June says he is actively looking for his next role, which he hopes will be within the garden industry? Read more - open to all

News has emerged that Alistair Lorimer, a respected garden centre expert, died last Thursday after a long fight against cancer. There's to be a service of celebration of his life on Tues 11th July. Read more - open to all

On Thursday 15 June, Mike and Louise Burks, who founded The Gardens Group together in 1987, were presented with an Outstanding Contribution Award at the Western Gazette Business Awards, held at Westlands in Yeovil. Read more - open to all

Garden retail – the great escape – is the theme for this year’s HTA Garden Futures Conference and Dinner, which takes place on Wednesday 4 October at Heythrop Park in Oxfordshire. This one day conference and dinner is aimed at all those from across the garden industry from business owners to directors and managers. Read more - open to all

Students attending Birmingham gardening therapy charity Thrive are celebrating winning a coveted Silver Merit Medal for their display at BBC Gardeners’ World Live. Read more - open to all

Matt Jackson has joined Mr Fothergill’s as Business Development Manager. This is a new role and Matt will work with the key garden centre groups and collaborate closely with the field sales teams. He comes to the Suffolk seedsman after 12 years in the garden centre supply trade and brings great experience to the position. Read more - open to all

A highlight of the first day of the HTA Catering Conference was Costas Constantinou explaining to Matthew Appleby, how he would improve the Dobbies restaurants. Read more - members only

Richard Lockwood has re-joined his former Country Gardens boss, Nicholas Marshall as senior plant buyer at Dobbies. Read more - open to all