​As January draws to a close, it’s the perfect time to reflect on what was a hugely positive and eventful year for our team specialising in the garden retail supply sector in 2025, while also looking ahead to what promises to be an even more exciting 2026. One of our biggest milestones in 2025 was strengthening our team dedicated to commercial roles within garden retail manufacturing and supply. With Lucy joining the team, we now have three consultants fully focused on commercial recruitment within our sector. This expansion reflects not only the sector’s growth, but also our commitment to providing specialist, knowledgeable support to suppliers, manufacturers, and retailers across the UK.

Events Across the Industry

2025 was a standout year for industry engagement. As a team, we were proud to attend and support key sector events, including:

• GIMA President's Dinner x2

• GIMA Awards

• GIMA Conference

• GIMA Golf Day

• GLEE

• Four Oaks Trade Show

• National Plant Show

For a first in 2025, we co-hosted two GIMA Presidents' Dinners, providing a brilliant opportunity to connect with senior leaders across the GIMA member businesses. These evenings are invaluable for building relationships, sharing insights, and supporting the community that underpins the garden retail supply industry, and we’re looking forward to many more.

Beyond the busy GIMA calendar, attending events like GLEE, Four Oaks, and the National Plant Show as a team has been hugely rewarding. It’s great to see familiar faces, meet new contacts, and feel increasingly recognised within the sector as trusted recruitment partners.

The diary is already filling up for 2026, so expect to see us at even more events this year.

Recruitment Activity Across the UK

Despite economic headwinds and increased cost pressures, particularly following 2024’s budget, 2025 was a busy and successful recruitment year for the team.

We placed candidates across the UK in a wide range of commercial roles, including:

• Sales Directors

• National Sales Managers

• National Account Managers

• General Managers

• Category Managers

• Business Development Managers

• Area Sales Managers

• Merchandisers

• Head of Procurement

• Import/Export Managers

• Procurement Roles

• Management Trainees

Beyond these titles, as a business MorePeople has placed a number of roles within the sector across all functions: Operations Managers, HR Managers, Finance Directors, Technical Managers and more.

As a wider business, MorePeople are on hand to support with all functions within the sector, with the team growing to 38.

Insights from Our Podcast

In a year of firsts, Rae and I decided to launch our first-ever episode together on the MorePeople Podcast.

We outlined our achievements, a review of the year and shared some of our key insights from the industry. This will be released very soon! Some of the insights discussed were the impact of NI and Living Wage increases on recruitment for businesses, counter-offers and retention strategies.

Personal and Team Milestones

Beyond business, 2025 was a year of big personal milestones for the team:

• Lucy joined the commercial team and was promoted to Divisional Manager

• Rae celebrated her 4th work anniversary, Brian his 3rd, and Lucy her 2nd

• Rae bought a house and got engaged!

• I became a dad in November, welcoming a new addition to the family

These moments matter as they shape who we are, how we work, and the relationships we build with our clients and candidates

Looking Ahead to 2026

If 2025 taught us anything, it’s that the garden retail and horticulture supply sector remains dynamic, resilient, and full of opportunity. We’re already seeing strong hiring activity in early 2026, with businesses continuing to invest in their teams to drive growth.

We’re excited to:

• Attend more industry events

• Deepen partnerships with GIMA members and businesses from the wider sector

• Support more companies with strategic hires

• Help talented professionals progress their careers within the industry

Here’s to another year of growth, collaboration, and success!