In this episode of TheMorePeople Podcast, our Managing Director Richard Hanwell is joined by Felicity Mitchell, Senior Recruitment Consultant and one of the leading voices in garden retail recruitment. Together, they explore how Felicity carved out a niche in a sector she never expected to work in and how that industry is full of surprises, growth, and opportunity.
Breaking into Recruitment – From “Just a Job” to a Career Path
Felicity’s move into recruitment was driven by a desire for more. More opportunities, more earnings, and more variety. Coming from a sales background with no commission, recruitment seemed like the logical next step.
“I wanted to work for a bigger company and earn more money. Recruitment was literally the next thing I thought of.”
Initially imagining a fast-paced, Wolf of Wall Street-type environment, Felicity admits her perception of recruitment, and garden retail, couldn’t have been more different.
“I thought it would be cutthroat and corporate. But it’s actually friendly, collaborative and niche… in a good way.”
Garden Centres: The Industry Nobody Talks About – But Everyone Should
Like many, Felicity hadn’t realised recruitment in the garden centre industry was even a thing. But since joining MorePeople and focusing on this sector, she’s become a passionate advocate for what it has to offer.
“When I thought of garden centres, I just thought of plants. But they’ve become massive lifestyle destinations - they’re like shopping centres now!”
The industry, now worth around £5 billion, is booming post-COVID as more people embrace garden centres as weekend destinations, not just places to pick up a pot of compost. And this boom has created serious demand for retail talent.
A Hidden Gem for Retail Talent — With Better Work-Life Balance
Felicity has helped dozens of candidates make the leap from the high street to horticulture, especially those burned out by late-night shifts in food or fashion retail.
“Garden centre retail offers social hours, alternate weekends off, and a generally nicer environment. That’s a huge draw for people coming from supermarkets or hospitality.”
And the opportunities for growth are real. From entry-level roles to garden centre management, there are defined career paths, often with hands-on learning and even formal qualifications like RHS certifications.
“Some businesses have on-site learning facilities and OFSTED-approved training. You’re not just getting a job, you’re gaining real, transferable skills.”
From Plant Managers to Restaurant GMs – The Jobs You Didn’t Know Existed
The sector now includes a diverse range of roles beyond traditional plant knowledge. In fact, many clients are actively seeking candidates from non-horticultural retail backgrounds, especially in general retail, catering, and hospitality.
“Hospitality staff are often shocked they can get restaurant management jobs in garden centres and with better hours.”
Garden centres with large restaurants and cafés are crying out for chefs, kitchen teams, and front-of-house managers. It’s still hospitality, but without the midnight finishes.
The Challenge? Changing Perceptions
One of Felicity’s ongoing battles is tackling outdated views of the industry, especially when it comes to group-run garden centres.
“Some people think if they leave an independent for a group, they’ll lose autonomy. But that’s just not the case.”
Most groups still allow individual centres to maintain their own identity and give managers a real voice. Plus, the scale of these groups brings more buying power, better infrastructure, and job security.
“It’s not just plants and parking anymore. These are complex, profitable businesses and they need great people.”
The Power of Networking in a Tight-Knit Industry
With three years under her belt, Felicity now leans heavily on industry relationships to fill roles. The garden retail world may be financially huge, but it's socially small.
“Everyone knows everyone. A candidate I placed recently - the client had known their previous employer for 20 years!”
This network-first approach helps Felicity find talent faster, uncover unadvertised roles, and offer genuinely tailored support for candidates.
Reflections and Advice – For Recruiters and Candidates Alike
Looking back, Felicity’s advice to her former self is simple: be curious.
“Ask as many questions as you can. People in this industry are so friendly, they want to help. That was a big surprise.”
She’s also a strong believer that garden retail offers untapped potential for people looking for more than just a “job.”
“It’s not a space people automatically think about when planning a career. But it should be.”
Final Thoughts
Felicity’s journey is a great reminder that the best opportunities are sometimes in the industries you least expect. Garden retail continues to grow, evolve, and attract fresh talent - and with recruiters like Felicity leading the way, it’s an exciting time to get involved.
Listen to the full podcast episode to hear more about Felicity’s journey, her top tips for career changers, and what it’s really like recruiting into one of the UK’s most underrated sectors.
