-
Garden Centres
The Shortage of Horticultural Professionals within Garden Retail
The garden retail industry is currently grappling with a significant challenge: a shortage of professionals possessing strong horticultural knowledge. As interest in home gardening continues to rise, the need for well-informed staff in garden centres and nurseries becomes increasingly critical. Unfortunately, this demand is not being met, leading to a noticeable gap in expertise that affects customer satisfaction and business performance. This shortage can be attributed to several key factors, each contributing to the growing disparity between the industry's needs and the available talent. A lot of experienced professionals are nearing retirement, and their departure from the industry is creating a vacuum that younger generations have not been adequately prepared to fill. At the same time, shifts in educational priorities have seen fewer students choosing horticulture as a career path. The focus on technology and business in modern education has overshadowed traditional fields like horticulture, leading to a decline in students pursuing this area of study. This trend is further compounded by a general lack of awareness and appreciation for horticultural careers. Many potential candidates do not realise the diverse and rewarding opportunities available in garden retail or a career within horticulture, often perceiving the field as limited in scope and growth potential. The industry often operates on tight profit margins, which can limit the resources available for staff training and development. This lack of investment in education means that many employees do not receive the necessary training to develop their horticultural skills, resulting in a workforce that lacks the depth of knowledge required to provide high-quality service. The implications of this knowledge gap are far-reaching. For customers, a lack of expert advice can lead to poor plant choices, improper care, and ultimately, dissatisfaction with their gardening experiences. Inaccurate information about plant care, pest management can also result in increased returns and losses for businesses. Moreover, the inability of garden centre staff to maintain healthy plants due to insufficient knowledge can lead to higher wastage rates and reduced sales, only yesterday I was speaking to a business where this keeps happening which impacts the financial performance of the business which is to its detriment, especially with the awful season most businesses have already had this year. To address this issue, the garden retail industry should take steps to try to change this. Investing in education and training is crucial. Businesses should prioritise training programs that provide staff with the necessary knowledge and skills, potentially through partnerships with colleges and extension services. Promoting horticultural careers is also vital. The industry can collaborate with schools and community organisations to highlight the varied opportunities within horticulture, helping to attract new talent. Fostering a workplace culture that values horticulture and encourages continuous learning can inspire employees to deepen their expertise and passion for the field. In a nutshell, the shortage of horticultural expertise in the garden retail industry is a multifaceted challenge that requires a concerted effort to overcome. By investing in education, raising awareness about the value of horticultural careers, and fostering a culture of learning, the industry can bridge this gap. Addressing this shortage is essential not only for improving business outcomes but also for promoting sustainable practices. As we nurture a more knowledgeable and passionate workforce, we lay the foundation for the future for the garden retail industry. How can we help?As garden retail recruitment specialists, we have an in-depth understanding of the garden retail industry, including its unique challenges, trends, and the specific skill requirements for various positions. We provide valuable market insights to garden retail businesses, including information on salary trends, the competitive hiring landscape, and talent availability. With experience working closely with both candidates and clients, we conduct thorough screenings and assessments to ensure that candidates possess the necessary skills, experience, and cultural fit for our clients. Additionally, we collaborate with hiring managers to streamline onboarding processes and relay candidate feedback on interview experiences. We specialise in recruiting for roles within garden retail, such as Plant Area Managers and Horticultural experts, and also cover a wide range of other functions within the industry. If you would like to contact us to discuss any recruitment problems you're currently facing you can call us on 01780 480 530 or email felicity@morepeople.co.uk, ben@morepeople.co.uk or michail@morepeople.co.uk and we'll be happy to assist! Felicity Mitchell, Ben Woodward & Michail MichailouRecruitment Consultants for Garden Centres
-
GIMA Associate Members
GIMA (Garden Industry Manufacturer’s Association) is a membership organisation of around 170 companies representing the majority share of suppliers and manufacturers operating within the UK gardening industry. MorePeople are proud to have been associate members of GIMA for the past 10 years. As part of MorePeople's core industries, we spend a lot of time working within the gardening industry – we have dedicated teams for supporting businesses in; Garden Centre Retail –Ben, Felicity and Michail recruit for garden centres across the UK for a range of roles including GCM’s, Plant Area Managers, department managers and more, including more junior positions. Commercial –Rae and Brian cover all commercial roles within the Gardening industry including buyers, account managers, sales executives and so on. Horticulture –Sarah looks after our more technical horticulture roles in terms of growers, nursery managers, Irrigation specialists for example. GIMA provides a host of events for its members over the year, which the team always enjoy attending to network and learn from industry experts – you can read more about our experience of this year’s day conference, 2023’s day conference and 2022’s day conference.We have been The GIMA Awards Raffle Sponsor for many years now and are pleased to announce our involvement once again with the 2024 Awards! Rae and Brian represented the team last year, enjoying yet another fantastic evening. We look forward to seeing everyone again on the 7th November for the 2024 GIMA Awards!If you’d like to read more of our Garden Centre content, click here.
-
Garden Centres
UK Garden Centre Spotlight 2023
As Garden Centre recruitment specialists, we're always looking for ways to keep ourselves up to date with the latest industry news. Savills recently released a report 'UK Garden Centre Spotlight - 2023' we summarised the findings:The garden centre sector in the UK has shown resilience, with consumer spending on gardening goods surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Moreover, operational costs have been affected by factors like wages, energy, and inflation, potentially impacting margins in 2023. Garden centres are implementing strategies to adapt and diversify income streams. The investment market is active, with major brands acquiring smaller garden centre operators. Sale and leaseback structures are becoming more common for growth. Sustainability and ESG considerations are gaining importance, leading garden centres to focus on reducing environmental impact, promoting circularity, and supporting community engagement and employee wellbeing. The industry is depicted as adaptable and resilient, addressing current challenges while preparing for future growth and investment opportunities.Here are some figures to highlight...Garden Centre Industry in the UK:There are 2,300 garden centres in the UK. The largest garden centre chain is Dobbies with 80 sites, and the second largest is British Garden Centres with 62 sites. Financial Performance:The average turnover per square foot is £100. Compared to 2019, the turnover per square foot was 86% in 2020, 107% in 2021, and 113% in 2022. Wages account for 20-30% of the turnover. Retail Inflation on Garden Products: Foliage Houseplants increased by 8%. Weedkiller increased by 9%. Hardy Plants/Shrubs/Trees increased by 5%.Plastic Pots increased by 12%. Growing Media increased by 10%. Concessions and Cafes:The top concession is Maidenhead Aquatics with 62 stores, and the second top concession is Sainsbury's Food Hall with 54 stores. Cafe contribution to turnover can be up to 20% at maximum. Property Valuations: 52% of properties saw a reduction or no change in rateable value as of April 2023. The maximum increase in rateable value was +68%, and the maximum decrease was -196%. Garden Centre Investments: The yield range for garden centre investments is 5-6%.The buyer profile of the ex-Wyevale portfolio is: Private Equity 26%, Public Sector 5%, Closed 9%, and Other 60%. You can read the full report hereIf you would like to have a conversation regarding your recruitment challenges or career goals within the Garden Centre retail industry, you can contact our Garden Centre team on 01780 480 530 or email info@morepeople.co.uk.
-
Workplace Culture in the Garden Centre Industry
In the ever-evolving landscape of business, one foundational element remains constant: the importance of a positive workplace culture. A positive work environment is the cornerstone of organisational success. From fostering employee well-being to driving productivity and innovation, here's why creating a positive workplace culture is not just beneficial but essential. At the heart of a positive workplace culture lies engaged and satisfied employees. When employees feel valued, respected, and appreciated, they are more likely to invest themselves fully in their work. A culture that prioritises open communication, recognition of achievements, and opportunities for growth cultivates a sense of belonging and loyalty among team members. This, in turn, translates into higher levels of employee satisfaction, reduced turnover rates, and increased retention of top talent. It’s important for businesses to clearly define the core values that they stand for. These could include a passion for plants, commitment to customer service, environmental sustainability, community engagement, and teamwork. Ensure that these values are communicated to all employees and integrated into daily operations. Leadership plays a crucial role in shaping organisational culture. Management should lead by example by embodying the values and behaviors they want to see in their employees. This may be done by regular training on technical knowledge around plants so everyone is confident on helping customers with their purchases. It may be regular staff meetings so everyone is kept up to date on what’s going on so staff can do the best job they can to engage with the community. Providing employees with opportunities to make decisions and have their say can empower employees to use their creativity and judgment fosters a sense of autonomy and investment in their roles. Management putting up posters without all staff being aware of exactly what when and how won’t breed a culture of community engagement and teamwork. Providing opportunities for employee development and growth is also essential. Offering training programs on customer service skills, leadership development and progression. Encourage employees to pursue certifications or further education related to horticulture and gardening. When something is done regularly and consistently with support from all leaders, it doesn’t take long for that to be normal and for all employees to live and breathe the culture of your garden centre. If you would like to talk about workplace culture or finding the right candidate/ workplace for you, contact the Garden Centre Team on 01780 480 530 or email info@morepeople.co.uk and we'll be happy to discuss further!
-
Garden Centres
Why does sustainability in garden centres matter more than ever?
Environmental consciousness is becoming increasingly important, every industry is called upon to reevaluate its practices. Among these, garden centres stand out as spaces where sustainability takes on a particularly significant role. Sustainability is not just a trend, but something that needs to be taken seriously as garden centres could have a huge impact in changing practices and inspiring people to work towards a better future. Sustainability in garden centres is not just about being that little bit more eco-friendly but I think it’s so important to recognise that these spaces have the power to not only mitigate environmental impact but to influence, teach and educate individuals including the younger generation. At the recent GIMA conference, Mike Burks from The Gardens Group highlighted the importance of implementing sustainability in garden centres, wherever and however you can. He spoke about how The Gardens Group have already implemented guidelines for their business and where possible will follow them. Whilst it’s clear that there are massive benefits from being more sustainable such as creating a brighter future for everyone, there are also positives such as attracting the right kind of staff to your business. I spoke to a few of my colleagues and asked them how they think garden centres could be more sustainable and the answers were very similar; no single-use plastic, solar panels, collecting rainwater for irrigation- these were just a few of their suggestions. Of course, being more sustainable will incur extra costs to businesses and in some instances, changes can’t be made overnight. Some garden centres are embracing alternative materials for their products. For instance, a few businesses that we work with instead of traditional plastic pots, offer biodegradable options made from materials like recycled paper or plant-based plastics. These eco-friendly alternatives decompose naturally, minimising the environmental impact of discarded pots. Water conservation is another crucial focus area for sustainable garden centres. Many are promoting water-saving techniques such as drip irrigation systems and rainwater harvesting. By demonstrating these methods to customers and offering products that facilitate water conservation, garden centres empower individuals to minimise water waste in their gardens. Education plays a crucial role in fostering sustainable practices among customers, and garden centres are seizing the opportunity to educate and inspire. Through informative signage, workshops, and online resources, they guide on topics ranging from organic gardening techniques to eco-friendly pest control methods. By empowering customers with knowledge, garden centres encourage them to make environmentally conscious choices in their gardens. These sustainable practices can also benefit garden centres from a marketing perspective. Embracing sustainability practices demonstrates a commitment to environmental responsibility, which can enhance the garden centre’s brand image. Customers increasingly prefer to support businesses that prioritise sustainability, leading to a positive perception of the garden centre among environmentally-conscious customers. Implementing sustainable practices can help garden centres differentiate themselves from competitors. Ultimately, garden centres are embracing sustainability as a guiding principle in their operations. By prioritising eco-friendly practices such as responsible sourcing, water conservation, biodiversity conservation, composting, energy efficiency, and education, they are not only reducing their environmental impact but also inspiring their customers to do the same. As these green initiatives take root, garden centres are not just places to buy plants—they are becoming hubs of sustainability, nurturing both gardens and the planet. If you would like to discuss this with me or how I can help find like-minded people for your business email felicity@morepeople.co.uk or call Felicity on 01780 480 530
-
Greatest Christmas Awards Prizegiving
On Monday 5th February, Garden Centre Recruitment specialists Ben Woodward and Michail Michailou travelled to the NEC in Birmingham to attend the Greatest Christmas Awards prizegiving at the Spring Fair. MorePeople were given the pleasure of sponsoring the 'Greatest Festive Retail Food Hall Team' award. The award was judged against a list of criteria, and Pugh's Radyr came out victorious. Ben and Michail were asked to come onto the stage and present the award to the winners.The runners-up and finalists include:Silver WinnersGarsons Esher & Old Railway Line Bronze Winner Barton Grange Finalists Bents, Chessington Garden Centre, Klondyke Mortonhall, Longacres Bagshot, St Peters Worcester & Whitehall LacockMichail Michailou, Recruitment Consultant, comments;"The event was delightful, it provided us with the opportunity to network with industry professionals and gain a great insight into their perspective of our industry. And again, congratulations to the winners, runners-up and finalists!" Our Garden Centre team are always looking for new ways to connect with industry professionals, if you would like to have a conversation about your career goals or recruitment strategies please call Ben, Michail or Felicity on 01780 480 530 or email info@morepeople.co.uk