Horticulture

​As we reach the halfway point of 2025, Rae and I have had the chance to reflect on what’s already been an exciting and rewarding year in the world of commercial recruitment for garden retail suppliers and the wider horticulture sector. From insightful industry events to inspiring charity initiatives (and even a bit of golf and climbing!), the past six months have been packed with opportunities to connect, learn, and give back. Here’s a snapshot of some of the highlights from our journey so far this year.HTA Regional Meeting at Hozelock – 11th MarchWe kicked off the spring with the HTA Regional Meeting, hosted at Hozelock. These meetings always offer a great chance to connect with peers and get a pulse on regional industry trends. It’s events like this that remind us how collaborative and forward-thinking our sector truly is.GIMA Day Conference - 25th MarchAI in horticulture? The GIMA Conference this year was a game-changer. Centred around the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence, the day delivered fresh insights on how tech is transforming garden retail, from streamlining marketing and operations to revolutionising customer engagement. Rae released a fantastic blog about how we can all utilise AI in our working life. You can take a read here. It’s fair to say the conference left us buzzing with ideas, and it’s exciting to see how AI will continue to shape the commercial horticulture industry, but also how we can use this to support our day-to-day roles.GIMA President’s Dinner Co-Hosted by MorePeople – 24th AprilIt was a real privilege for MorePeople to co-host the GIMA President’s Dinner. Here at MorePeople, we run monthly Executive Network Dinners, uniting industry leaders to create a space for networking, discussing success stories and also challenges. The format of our Executive Networking Dinners worked perfectly—great food, great people, and some truly valuable conversations. It’s always inspiring to hear directly from those shaping the future of the garden retail supply chain.GIMA Golf Day - 5th JuneSome fun in the sun (and a bit of fundraising too)! We had a great time at the GIMA Golf Day—raising money for the brilliant Greenfingers Charity while trying our best to keep the ball on the fairway. We returned a decent score, with a few moments of brilliance and the odd "character-building" shot. Shout-out to the best caddie in the business, Rae Goss—couldn’t have done it without her.HTA National Plant Show – 18th JuneAs ever, the HTA National Plant Show delivered an inspiring showcase of new varieties, innovative displays, and passionate growers. Events like this keep our enthusiasm rooted firmly in the sector—there’s nothing quite like being surrounded by the latest in horticultural excellence to remind us why we love what we do. Whether it be promoting roles for the next generation or working with businesses considering their upcoming hiring needs, NPS proves invaluable to us every single year. You can check our my colleague Sarah's article on NPS here.Climbing the 02!Internally, Rae and I were both lucky enough to qualify for MorePeople’s quarterly incentive. This time it involved climbing the O2 in London—a brilliant experience and a great way to celebrate hard work. It was also a reminder of the strength of our team culture and how important it is to recognise and reward success.Of course, at the heart of everything we do is our work… connecting great people with great businesses in the garden retail and horticulture sectors. The first half of 2025 has seen us supporting a range of clients in attracting top commercial talent, from account managers and sales execs to senior leadership roles. It’s incredibly fulfilling to play a part in shaping the future of such a vibrant and growing industry.Rae and I are always here to discuss all things commercial within the horticulture and garden retail sectors. Whether you are considering your hiring plans, or looking to take your next career leap.Contact me

​Last week, we had the pleasure of exhibiting at the National Plant Show – and what a brilliant two days it was. As always, it was a fantastic opportunity to catch up with candidates, clients, and friends, and remind myself of everything the industry has to offer – from the latest plant launches to key sector news and conversations.There was more conversation than ever before around technology and automation in horticulture. From smarter growing systems to supply chain innovation, it’s clear that businesses are thinking ahead.Alongside that, there’s still a very real, ongoing need for people, especially in commercial growing roles. In my opinion, one of the biggest challenges continues to be changing perceptions of horticulture. Too often, the industry is misunderstood or dismissed as ‘just grass cutting’ or ‘what you do if you’re not academic.’ In reality, it’s full of opportunity – whether you’re keen to get your hands dirty or carve out a career in business, marketing, operations, or science. There’s something here for everyone.One thing that stuck with me is the sheer volume of new plant varieties being introduced each year. These new products are the result of years – sometimes decades – of work behind the scenes: breeding, trials, testing and refinement. Being a keen amateur gardener myself, I find the process behind the scenes fascinating. It made me think - do the general public realise what really goes on behind the scenes? Do they understand what goes into bringing a brand-new plant to market? Would they be interested if they knew? It’s a story that deserves to be told more loudly, and a story that my colleague Emily recently witnessed first hand at the Rochfords Rose Trials. You can read all about her experience here.The Young People in Horticulture Association (YPHA) hosted a networking event on day one, giving members the chance to meet new faces, share experiences and build new connections. Events like these are so important for building confidence and a sense of community, especially in a sector that can feel lonely at times.We also launched an exciting new collaboration with Barclays Life Skills, giving YPHA members access to seven online learning modules, covering topics from Mental Resilience to Business Planning. Giving young minds access to these resources is vital, whilst making them aware of all the opportunities within Horticulture that they can kickstart a career in.It was also encouraging to see more businesses bringing their younger team members along to the show. A few senior leaders told me they made a point of it, to inspire and energise the next generation – and with free tickets, there’s really no reason not to.The National Plant Show is a perfect snapshot of why horticulture is such an exciting, diverse, and evolving industry. It’s multi-faceted, fast-paced, and full of genuine passion. For anyone thinking of entering the industry – or just starting out – I couldn’t recommend it more. You’ll leave with new ideas, new contacts, and a fresh sense of what’s possible.I am always available for a chat about getting into the industry. You can contact me here.  

​On Tuesday 3rd June, Felicity and I had the pleasure of attending the Rochfords International Rose Trials as part of a HTA Members Regional Event – and we left with a renewed appreciation for both the complexity of rose breeding and the quiet innovation happening behind the scenes of UK horticulture.RIRT is the only independent site in the UK where unnamed seedling roses — varieties not yet commercially available — are trialled on behalf of breeders from around the world. Judged over two years using WFRS (World Federation of Rose Societies) standards, it’s a rare opportunity to see the future of the rose market taking shape, long before these plants reach garden centres.The trials form part of Rochford's broader CSR commitment. In addition to supporting breeders and growers, the initiative places a strong emphasis on education and outreach, engaging schools, colleges and horticultural societies to help promote horticulture to a wider and younger audience.A Unique Space in the MarketThe day began with a welcome and introduction from the HTA, followed by a tour through the trial beds. It was such a valuable chance to witness how innovation and product development are unfolding at the breeder level. These are the formative stages of varieties that could become bestsellers — or never even make it past this field.One particularly exciting development from our visit was the announcement of RIRT’s collaboration with the RHS, which will allow top-performing roses from the trials to be considered for the Award of Garden Merit. For breeders, this could be the bridge they need between trial success and commercial recognition. Also announced during our visit was the launch of the Peter Seabrook Award for Novelty in Rose Breeding. The award, in memory of the late journalist and plant trial advocate, will be judged by Kerry French and Robert Wharton, with the first winner to be named in 2025!Industry Questions with No Easy AnswersDuring the Q&A session, much of the discussion focused on the public perception of roses. A key question emerged: Should we be encouraging consumers to view roses as part of a mixed border, rather than relegating them to traditional rose beds?This led to a broader debate around responsibility. Should garden centres be rethinking how roses are displayed and marketed? Or should breeders and growers be doing more to simplify care instructions and ensure varieties are accessible to less experienced gardeners?While no clear consensus was reached during our Q&A, it was really great to hear this kind of dialogue taking place. The fact that the issue remains unresolved highlights the complexities of connecting plant development, marketing, and consumer behaviour — a challenge familiar to many of the people working in the horticultural supply chain.Observations from the FieldOne of our favourite aspects of the day was the opportunity to cast a vote alongside other HTA members. We assessed fragrance and overall appeal — it became clear that Felicity and I have very different taste in roses, while she opted for a much more classic silhouette, I love the simpler plants with smaller, less elaborate flowers. For those of us working on the people side of horticulture, it was a reminder of just how many disciplines contribute to getting a new plant to market — and how many conversations are still being had around innovation, accessibility and consumer engagement.RIRT may be a quiet player in the public eye, but its role in shaping the future of rose breeding in the UK is significant. With a focus on both quality and inclusivity, it offers a model for how public opinion around growing roses can evolve, not just for experts, but for the next generation of gardeners and growers.As the trials progress, it will be interesting to see how many of these currently unnamed seedlings actually find a place in the wider market — and what kind of support, branding and education they’ll need to thrive once they do.

​We recently caught up with Emily, a Recruitment Consultant within the Horticulture Industry, after completing her first year at MorePeople! From understanding the industry language to applying growing tips and tricks to her own garden, here's a look back at some of the takeaways that shaped Emily's first year.What's been your biggest growth moment so far?Learning to speak the horticultural language and developing a mental map of all the key players in our sector... and being able to keep up in conversations. When I first started, I felt like I’d never be able to hold my own; now I often feel like that scene of Charlie Day in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia in front of the crazy evidence wall. Has there been a role you have worked on that really surprised you? Was it not as you expected?Roles in seed breeding never fail to surprise me. I’ve had the opportunity to help candidates prepare project proposals for genotyping in parsnips previously, and while I can’t offer technical advice, I always find my eyes opened to the incredible amount of work that goes into producing our food. I feel very fortunate for the insights we can gain as honorary members of this industry.Has working in Horticulture recruitment changed your hobbies – are you a plant mum now? Or has it unearthed any unexpected personal growth?The month I started with MorePeople was also the month I was able to get to work on the garden in my new house so I think I was always destined to take the job home. I absolutely love picking up tips from different growers and applying them to my own plants, although I’m definitely still much more successful with veg than orchids. If you were a plant, what would you be and why?!Probably mint because I smell nice, but I’m incredibly invasive and like to know all of your secrets.What are you most looking forward to in year two?As we know, Horticulture is an incredibly seasonal business, and I’m really excited to be entering the summer with some more experience and connections this year! I plan to be out and about visiting as many people as possible and attending all of the trade shows that I can squeeze in. On that note if you are considering your career options or curious about the Horticulture market, drop me a message! I'd be more than happy to schedule a confidential chat about how I can help in your next adventure.Click here to contact Emily.📞01780 480 530📩 emily@morepeople.co.uk​

My Day at the GIMA Conference: How AI Can Be Your New Work BFF (And Yes, AI Wrote This) When I walked into the GIMA Conference yesterday, I expected to learn about AI’s role in business. What I didn't expect? To leave with a full-blown existential crisis about how much time I’ve wasted not using it.Oh, and in case you missed the memo: This entire blog was written by AI. Meta? Absolutely. Cheating? Not even a little—just working smarter. Key Takeaways: AI as Your Overqualified Personal AssistantReza Yaghoubi from Manchester Metropolitan University set the tone early: AI isn’t just a fancy search engine—it’s your most efficient employee. He urged us to think of AI as a co-pilot for thinking, not just a tool. Need a letter drafted? AI’s got it. Struggling to structure market research? Let AI compile insights while you focus on strategy. Even better, use it to sense-check your own ideas, like a brutally honest (but always polite) colleague.Then came Edwin Meijer of Green Solutions, who showed us the power of AI to decode 11,390 customer reviews in the horticulture industry. Imagine knowing exactly why customers love (or loathe) a product without spending weeks sifting through feedback. AI doesn’t just spot trends—it hands you the cheat sheet to fixing problems before they escalate.Robert Patten from Empathy took it further, demonstrating how AI chatbots can handle FAQs for gardening businesses. Instead of answering the same question about wilting ferns a hundred times, let AI manage routine queries while your team focuses on high-value conversations.Finally, Jonathan Stobart from Smart dropped the mic on manual marketing. Why waste hours agonizing over product descriptions when ChatGPT can generate 10 compelling options in seconds? Or manually track competitors when AI can summarize their moves for you? He even shared his secret weapons: Canva for AI-generated visuals, Copilot for taming spreadsheets, and Otter.ai to transcribe meetings—meaning you can finally stop pretending to take notes.​My Big Realisation: AI Isn’t Cheating—It’s Just LeverageHere’s the uncomfortable truth: I’ve been wasting time on tasks AI could’ve handled before my coffee got cold. But the bigger revelation? Using AI isn’t "cheating." It’s refusing to do things the hard way just for the sake of it.As a Senior Recruitment Consultant at MorePeople, I see AI as the ultimate admin sidekick. Will it replace my industry expertise or the relationships I’ve built? Absolutely not. But will it draft emails, summarize candidate profiles, and keep me out of spreadsheet hell? Sign me up.​How Recruiters (and Everyone Else) Should Use AIThe message was clear: automate the tedious, enhance the human. AI won’t replace recruiters, but it will make us faster, sharper, and free to focus on what really matters—like actually talking to candidates instead of drowning in paperwork. Tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, and Otter.ai aren’t just nice-to-haves; they’re the difference between working late and leaving on time. Conclusion: The Irony Isn’t Lost on MeThe fact that AI wrote this blog about AI is either hilarious or terrifying—I’m still deciding. But one thing’s certain: if you’re not experimenting with AI yet, you’re not just falling behind—you’re volunteering for burnout.So, here’s my challenge to you: Pick one task this week and let AI handle it. Draft that email. Summarize that report. Then, when you realize how much time you’ve saved, come back and thank me. (Or thank the AI. Either way.) P.S. No robots were harmed in the making of this blog.​On a serious note, if you are considering your next career move within the commercial horticulture industry, or looking to expand your commercial team, get in touch!Rae Goss | Senior Recruitment Consultant | Contact me

​Recently, our Horticulture team, Sarah, Kieran, and Emily, stepped out of the office and hit the road for an exciting adventure. Over the course of seven days, they embarked on two action-packed trips, covering over 800 miles and 11 client visits! Immersing themselves in horticulture advancements, networking, building key relationships, and more, the team had a truly productive seven days and left with invaluable discoveries.From ornamentals to protected salads, soft fruits to vines, Sarah and her team had the privilege of meeting incredible growers whilst learning more about their operations. They could see first-hand where the magic happens, and this research provided them with even more industry knowledge, supporting them in placing the best possible candidates with the best possible clients! The team are always looking for new ways to stay up to date with Horticulture news, allowing them to continue supporting their clients.Key visits included Tangmere Airfield Nurseries, Double H Nurseries, Farplants, Fleurie Nursery, Orion Future Technologies, S&A Produce and Oakover Nurseries!With 22 hours of driving, two days spent in Chichester and another two in Kent, the journey was demanding but undoubtedly rewarding, leaving the team with fresh perspectives and strengthened relationships. In the ever-growing industry, where will the horticulture team visit next?Want to learn more about recruitment in the Horticulture sector? Get in touch with us, we'd love to hear from you!Sarah Want| Team Manager | Sarah@morepeople.co.uk​​​

​The UK's wine industry has been on an impressive journey over the past decade, with vineyard acreage doubling and English wines earning international coverage. However, 2024 has thrown a curveball, presenting challenges that have tested even the most experienced viticulturists. One vineyard owner, with over 23 years under his belt, described this year's harvest as "the most difficult he has ever encountered." The relentless wet weather led to significant crop losses, with some regions reporting up to a 70% reduction in yields. This damp climate created a perfect storm for diseases like downy mildew and grey mould. Fred Langdale, vineyard director at Exton Park in Hampshire, shared his struggles, noting substantial losses due to downy mildew. Provisional data from WineGB indicates that wine production volumes have plummeted to an estimated 6-7 million bottles in 2024, a dramatic drop from the 21.6 million bottles produced in 2023. Economic factors have added to the industry's struggles. Rising interest rates and inflation have driven up production costs, leading to higher prices for consumers. Industry experts warn that these financial pressures, coupled with tax hikes, may result in increased prices and fewer choices for wine enthusiasts. Despite these hurdles, the UK's wine industry remains resilient. Innovations in viticulture practices and strategic investments are being explored to combat the impacts of climate change and economic fluctuations. However, the current landscape suggests that smaller producers may face significant challenges, potentially leading to industry consolidation as a survival strategy. The future of UK viticulture will depend on its ability to adapt to these evolving challenges while preserving the quality and uniqueness that have earned it global recognition.I spent a lot of time recruiting within viticulture, therefore it is paramount that I understand the struggles this industry is facing, and how it can affect recruitment. If you’d be interested in discussing your thoughts on the horticulture sector, or specifically within Viticulture, please get in touch! Kieran | kieran@morepeople.co.uk | 01780 480 530Data sourced from Wine GB and Decanter. 

​The Horticultural Trades Association has recently launched its Plant Retail Success Initiative, providing HTA members with resources & guidance to help increase horticulture commercial sales.Resources such as digital training, consumer insights and helpful guides have been collated together to push commercial results. The HTA provide detailed retail analysis to construct this Initiative, allowing its commercial members to adapt to an ever-changing climate with guidance and support. It also includes real-life case studies & ideas from fellow businesses; a great example of how the horticultural industry benefits from sharing ideas to help one another. We take pride in being recruitment experts in the commercial horticulture & garden centre industries. However, we wouldn’t be able to do our jobs well if we did not immerse ourselves in the industry. It's paramount that we take time to fully understand industry challenges, as well as innovations and projects, such as the Plant Retail Success Initiative. You can click here to see what other industry topics we have immersed ourselves in!This, in turn, helps us to provide better support for you, whether we are finding your newest team member, or we are finding you your next role that matches your career climbing criteria. The Plant Retail Success Initiative is a great example of why I love working in the horticulture industry. Over the past two and a half years, I’ve learned how horticulture businesses thrive when they come together to share ideas and support one another. The initiative gives the retailers the tools, training and insight they need to thrive in what has been a challenging market of late; it’s all about helping businesses to grow and adapt. As a recruiter, that’s exactly what I aim to do; help people and businesses find the right fit to succeed. It’s this collaborative spirit that makes the horticulture sector so special to be a part of. The willingness of individuals to share knowledge and best practices ensures that the industry continues to thrive. You can get in touch with me or Rae for all of your commercial recruitment needs within the horticulture, agriculture and garden retail industries!Read more about the HTA Plant Retail Success initiative here.Contact us!Brian McGeachy | Senior Recruitment Consultant | Brian@morepeople.co.ukRae Goss | Senior Recruitment Consultant | Rae@morepeople.co.uk01780 480 530

​This year, I attended IPM Essen in Germany for the first time. With over 2,000 exhibitors and 40,000 visitors across a four-day event, it was unlike anything I’d experienced before.The halls were filled with a vast array of industry experts from around the world—growers, breeders, machinery specialists, growing media suppliers, fertiliser companies, and more.Having never attended the event before, I didn’t go in with a long list of expectations. My goal was to gain a deeper understanding of the European market, explore collaborations with UK partners, and catch up with several of my contacts.One of my biggest takeaways was just how much I learned about the industry. Seeing the sheer scale of horticulture and its global impact was incredibly humbling. But beyond that, the level of innovation, passion, and forward-thinking among attendees and businesses left me feeling even more excited about the future of the industry.As with any trade show, the face-to-face interactions were invaluable. Ironically, I ended up spending more time with people based in the UK in Germany than I do with them back home! But that’s exactly what these events are for, right?I had the chance to reconnect with candidates and clients I’ve worked with previously, while also building new relationships both in the UK market and beyond.Essen was packed with industry advancements—where do I even begin?Air-Pot® launched a new generation of containers.Selecta showcased an innovative propagation system using cuttings rooted offshore in paper bags without substrate. The samples I saw produced healthy plants with strong root systems.Modiform introduced a new sustainable tray designed to accommodate multiple pot sizes, offering great benefits for growers with diverse crops.And of course, there were countless new plant varieties, machinery developments, and more.One key lesson for next time: plan meetings in advance and book them close together. I naively assumed I’d bump into people as I do at UK trade shows, but given the scale of IPM Essen, that wasn’t the case. In fact, I ran into more familiar faces at the airport than at the event itself!For any other first-time attendees, here are a couple of my top tips: wear comfy shoes, everyone is in trainers, and I did 22,000 steps a day so comfy shoes are a must. Plan your visit strategically. It’s about a 15-minute walk between Hall 1 and Hall 8 so where possible, get meetings booked methodically! The app is one of the best I’ve seen. It has everything you need to know on there.Attending IPM Essen reinforced the importance of staying immersed in the industry. Understanding new innovations and trends first-hand means that when we get back to the day job, we genuinely know what we’re talking about. Events like these help us continue to be true horticulture recruitment experts. So, on that note, drop me a message or let’s schedule a chat to talk through any of your horticulture recruitment needs! ​Sarah Want | Horticulture Team Managersarah@morepeople.co.uk | 01780 480 530​