Mark says cheese for Swiss experience

The Garden Centre Association (GCA) Trust has announced this month (March, 2016) its first successful candidate to join the Study Tour Group at the International Garden Centre Association (IGCA) Congress.

Mark Scott from Gordale Garden Centre has won the Dick Allen Award funding for a UK garden centre employee to attend the event in Switzerland in August 2016.

Sue Allen, Trust Chairman said: “The Study Tour is aimed at younger family members of family-run garden centres and the staff of centres from 19 countries.

“During the six-day annual Congress, the delegates work together analysing the retailers they visit and discussing a huge range of issues common to all of them, from improving profit, reducing staff turnover, dealing with stress to any other points anyone wishes to raise. Valuable contacts and firm friendships are made.

“Seven excellent applications were considered by the Trustees, who found it very hard to select only one lucky recipient for the award.

“Interestingly, all of those applicants work for garden centres that already understand and appreciate the value of the IGCA Congress. It is hoped that in future years far more centres will support this initiative and realise the benefits for their staff and themselves.

“Mark is absolutely delighted with the opportunity to attend and we’re all really looking forward to hearing about the event when he returns.”

The object of the Trust is to advance among the general public and, in particular among horticultural students, education in horticulture, and particularly garden centres, by the provision and administration of scholarships and bursaries, including prizes to foster such education.

In his application, Mark said: “I am hungry for more. More ideas, more inspiration, more opportunities to expand my knowledge, to indulge my passion for garden centre retailing and to strive towards excellence.”

The Trust aims to assist horticultural students to study, research into and gain experience of horticulture and landscaping.

Sue added: “We have every confidence that Mark’s trip will provide the inspiration and greater knowledge he is looking for, in fact all of that and more.”

Bumper year of hand-outs from GCA Trust

The GCA Trust has just completed its best year ever of approving grants to students of horticulture. 

More than £10,000 has been awarded to 10 students studying on a wide range of courses including sustainable horticulture, RHS levels two and three, diplomas in garden design and a BSc in Horticulture. 

Sue Allen, Trust Chairman said: “Pershore, Capel Manor, Askham Bryan, Bridgend and Schumacher College Dartington were the colleges involved, ensuring that students across the country benefitted.

“At our recent Trust meeting we also sadly accepted the resignation of Jeffrey Bernhard as the longest standing and one of the original Trustees. He was instrumental in the creation of the Trust in 1987 and over the last 29 years has helped guide the Trust wisely, ensuring its healthy continuation.

“The newly appointed Trustees are Derek Bunker of Alton Garden Centre, Will Armitage, immediate past Chairman of GCA and Rik Tarbatt, who has been the Trust’s treasurer for many years.

“It is hoped that 2016 will continue to see deserving applications for grants, which can be the deciding factor when a student is faced with so many expenses, not least the high course fees. However, the Trust will be putting greater emphasis on courses specifically related to Horticulture rather than Garden Design in the future.

“Without the generous support of donors from within our industry the Trust will be unable to continue its work and we are urging industry members to consider making a donation or bequest to the GCA Trust. For further information contact Pat Adams at the GCA, who is the Trust Administrator, on 0118 930 8918 or email pat@gca.org.uk.”

The object of the Trust is to advance among the general public and, in particular among horticultural students, education in horticulture, and particularly garden centres, by the provision and administration of scholarships and bursaries, including prizes to foster such education. Its aim is to assist horticultural students to study, research into and gain experience of horticulture and landscaping.

Capel Manor student Sian receives GCA Trust award

Our Trust recently (July, 2015) handed out its annual award for Exceptional Plant Knowledge.

This year’s recipient was Capel Manor College student Sian Davis who received her award from Carol Paris, Chief Executive of the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), on our behalf at the college’s award ceremony event.

Sue Allen, our Trust Chairman said: “We were delighted to give our annual award to Sian and would also like to thank Carol for being there to present the certificate and prize of £100 on our behalf. 

“This is one of several annual awards made by our Trust to students at our leading horticulture colleges. In addition the Trust also supports students of horticulture by making grants on an annual basis to help with course fees and other costs. 

“To add to this, this year also sees the launch of our new initiative to encourage young or potential management team members within garden centres to visit centres in Europe for up to two weeks. Information about this scheme, which is called the Dick Allen Travel Award, and the other grants available through the Trust can be found on our website www.gca.org.uk.”

Sian has just completed her course at Capel Manor College.

She said: “I was delighted to have won this award for plant identification.

“I would like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to all at the GCA Trust for sponsoring this award. As an adult learner returning to studying, it was really great to receive an award in recognition of all the hard work I have put in. I am now really looking forward to starting my career in horticulture.”