​The Changing Priorities of Talent

In recent years, the conversation around work has shifted, and the garden retail and horticulture sector isn’t immune.

Where once salary and job stability were the main draw, today’s candidates are looking for long-term value: pensions that genuinely support their future, access to healthcare and life insurance, and the flexibility to balance work with life. As a recruiter working daily with professionals across the garden supplier network, I’m seeing more candidates walk away from offers that don’t tick these boxes, even if the base pay is strong.

So what's changed?

The Industry’s Talent Challenge

The horticulture and garden retail supplier sector is an incredibly people-driven industry. It thrives on relationships, product knowledge, and commercial expertise, qualities that come from experience and engagement. Yet many businesses are struggling to attract and retain skilled people, particularly buyers, category managers, and sales professionals.

The competition isn’t just other garden retail suppliers anymore. Candidates are comparing offers from FMCG, construction, and even tech companies, all of which are investing heavily in benefits and flexibility.

From conversations I’ve had with candidates and hiring managers, these are the top three benefits making a difference right now:

1. Pension Contributions (that actually mean something)

The standard pension isn't cutting it anymore. Candidates, particularly those in their early 30s are taking a far more proactive interest in their financial future than ever before. I've noticed this has become a top priority.

2. Healthcare and Life Assurance

After the pandemic, people want reassurance that their well-being is valued. Offering private healthcare, access to mental health support, or life cover signals that a business genuinely cares about its team, not just productivity.

3. Flexibility in Working Patterns

Even in an industry with in-person elements, there’s room for hybrid options, flexible hours, or seasonal adjustments. Flexibility has become one of the most powerful retention tools, and it costs far less than constant rehiring.

Improved benefits aren't just a "nice to have". It's clear that they directly impact Retention, attraction and performance. People tend to stay in roles where they feel supported and secure, whilst enhanced packages make job ads stand out immediately. Teams with less turnover and higher satisfaction and bound to perform better, especially in relationship-driven sectors, like garden retail!

And crucially, benefits demonstrate value alignment. Garden suppliers are already champions of sustainability and care for the environment, and extending that same care to their people completes the picture.

The garden industry has always been about growth, nurturing, patience, and investment. The same principles apply to people.

If garden retail suppliers want to compete for top talent, it’s time to look beyond salary and cultivate a benefits offering that reflects modern expectations. Because ultimately, the businesses that thrive will be those where people feel valued, not just for what they do, but for who they are.