View the latest newsletter from British Growers here – including updates on seasonal labour, Horticulture Crop Protection, SEDEX audits and more.
Round 1 of the 2024 Young Horticulturist of the Year Competition (YHoY) is well underway and the closing date Thursday 29th February is approaching fast! We have a new platform, a new look registration and single link access to the round making it quick and easy to register and take part!
The competition is open to anyone across the UK and Ireland, who is under 30 on 31st July 2024. Whether you are a student, apprentice or working in the industry, or know someone who is, this is a fantastic opportunity to test your horticultural knowledge and network with a wide range of individuals from across the industry.
The winner of the competition gain’s the prestige title of ‘Young Horticulturist of the Year’ and will receive a £2,500 travel bursary from The Percy Thrower Trust, generously provided by the Shropshire Horticultural Society. The winner can undertake a trip, anywhere in the world, to study, complete work experience or embark on visits related to their chosen field of horticulture.
The Grand Final will be held on Thursday, May 9th, 2024 at Hestercombe House and Gardens, Taunton.
Hestercombe has a rich and diverse history, with the first written record of the estate in 682. It is famous for its unique collection of gardens which span three centuries of garden history and design, first mentioned in a medieval charter in 1249. The formal Garden is hailed as one of the finest examples of the world-renowned partnership of Gertrude Jekyll and Sir Edwin Lutyens, skilfully restored to its originally glory after the original Jekyll planting plans were discovered undisturbed in the potting shed for nearly 70 years when restoration
Victoria George, the National Organiser said “it is another exciting year, Round 1 is in full swing and entries are racking up from the colleges and industry across the whole of the UK and Ireland. It has been great to see such a wide range of entrants, and I can’t wait to announce the Round 1 winners on Friday 1st March”.
To find out more about the competition and how to take part, visit the Young Horticulturist of the Year page.
If you are interested in sponsoring the 2024 competition, please contact the Chartered Institute of Horticulture – Email: yhoy@horticulture.org.uk
British Onions Producer Association (BOPA) announces groundbreaking Fusarium research project funded by Innovate UK under DEFRA’S Farming Innovation Programme.
View the press release here: INNOVATE UK – FUSED – Press Release
Defra has launched its consultation into fairness in the supply chain for the fresh produce sector. The consultation is one of the key commitments made at the Downing Street Farm to Fork Summit in May 2023 and builds upon work already underway to improve fairness in the pork, dairy and egg supply chains.
The consultation is aimed at finding out more about …
- how the UK fresh produce sector currently functions
- the nature of the relationships across the supply chain
- whether the fresh produce supply chain could be improved and how
And getting a better understanding of the issues around fairness and transparency that exist within the sector.
The hope is that this will enable Defra to design future policy aimed at promoting better business practice and making the supply chain fairer for all.
This is the link to the online consultation.
The consultation closes on 11:45pm on 22 February 2024.
British Growers will be making a submission to the consultation so if anyone wants to send us their thoughts and ideas for incorporation into the submission, please let us have them as soon as possible.
View the latest newsletter from British Growers here – including updates on Horticulture Crop Protection, Defra supply chain review, fruit & vegetable aid scheme and more.
British Growers Join OFC Organisers
Stepping up and getting involved is very much at the heart of the Oxford Farming
Conference (OFC) ethos and, following the retirement of the previous Secretariat, British
Growers Association has joined the ranks.
The British Growers Association, which has all the skills needed at its fingertips with its work
providing a centralised shared administrative, accountancy, events and conference services
for its existing members, is already busy ensuring the smooth running of the OFC.
Lisa Eagles, Managing Director of British Growers, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have
been given the opportunity to work with The Oxford Farming Conference, a prestigious
annual event which brings together the farming industry to discuss and debate big issues”.
“The Oxford Farming Conference Secretariat appointment enhances our portfolio of clients
and we look forward to developing a strong partnership.”
Pauline Sutton, Client Manager at British Growers, is heading up the secretariat team which
is responsible for administration, ticket sales and outreach programmes (Inspire, Scholars
and Bursaries), as well as the wider organisation administration and management of the
voluntary Board.
They join Hawk AV, Jane Craigie Marketing (JCM), and Clare Greener (partnership and
sponsorship).
The theme for this year’s conference, the Power of Diversity, aims to celebrate all aspects of
diversity – people, farming systems, genetics, and markets, to name just a few. True to the
mission of the OFC, it will also explore the diversity of thought and opinion.
Chair of #OFC24, Welsh beef and arable farmer Will Evans, 45, praised British Growers for
taking on the “key role” of conference secretariat.
“I’m delighted to be working with British Growers,” said Will. “They bring a wealth of
experience to this key role and it’s great to know that with them at the helm all the
information will be in place for a fantastic conference.”
To find out more visit www.ofc.org.uk
Have you applied for the LSA Fellowship Scheme?
The application window is open for the 2024 LSA Fellowship scheme. We are looking for the future leaders of the UK’s horticulture industry to take part in the Fellowship.
KEY FACTS
- 2-year Fellowship scheme
- Exposure to all elements of the UK’s horticultural industry
- Herbs to Hardy Nursery Stock production.
- R&D to marketing
- £3,000 bursary to cover your Fellowship event & meeting expenses
- Attendance at events in the UK and overseas
- Part of a group of 12 Fellows, developing a close network with your peers
- Connect with key representatives from across the industry.
- Supportive network of Fellowship Alumni
“The Fellowship provides an excellent opportunity for up-and-coming executives in the horticulture industry to widen their perspective, create a network and equip themselves for a future role in leadership of the industry. These are exciting and challenging times for horticulture, and the LSA Fellows will be vital in shaping our sector for the future.” Commented Martin Emmett, LSA Trustee
Libby Rowland graduated from the scheme in 2022, she encourages others to apply for the scheme:
“Being one of the first cohort on the LSA CT Fellowship was a brilliant experience. It gives you a fantastic support network of other young people in the industry, each with their own network to draw learnings and experience from. We’ve attended countless different events, from nursery visits and conferences to meetings with policymakers and I’ve come away from it wiser, more confident and with pride at being part of such a great initiative.”
During the last 12 months the Fellows taking part in the 2-year scheme have attended events such as Cultivate 2023, Fruit Logistica, Horticulture Food Loss Network, HTA Plant Show and the International Blueberry Conference. Enabling the Fellows to expand their interests, get an insight into future opportunities and innovations and network with different sections of the industry.
The Fellowship is a fantastic opportunity for anyone interested in horticulture to gain experience in all sectors of the industry. The Scheme is now recruiting it’s 6th cohort and has the support of such prestigious organisations like the National Farmers Union, British Growers Association, The Horticultural Trades Association, and The Chartered Institute of Horticulture. With this backing, the Fellowship will no doubt continue to empower talented, knowledgeable leaders in the commercial horticulture industry for years to come.
To apply for the scheme please visit: www.lsactfellowship.org. Applications open on 1st September 2023. The deadline for applications is 31st October 2023.
For more information on the scheme please visit the website www.lsactfellowship.org or contact Coral Clark at British Growers on coral.clark@britishgrowers.org , or call: 01507 602427.
Attention all aspiring horticulture professionals!
The 6th intake for the Fellowship will be opening for applications on September 1st, 2023.
If you’re looking to develop your career within the horticulture industry, then this is the perfect opportunity for you. The Fellowship is designed to nurture future leaders in the commercial horticulture industry and is supported by some of the industry’s leading organisations, including the National Farmers Union, the British Growers Association, The Horticultural Trades Association and the Chartered Institute of Horticulture.
One of the key benefits of the Fellowship is the opportunity to broaden your perspective, create a network, and equip yourself for a future leadership role within the industry. The Managing Agent for the Scheme, Coral Clark, commented, “These are exciting and challenging times for horticulture, and the LSA Fellows will be vital in shaping our sector for the future.”
Here are the top 5 reasons why you should apply for the Fellowship:
1) Increase your understanding of the commercial horticulture industry and the role that trade bodies play in the development of industry strategies.
2) Our two-year scheme increases your knowledge of current research and wider industry issues.
3) Opportunity to attend meetings and study tours across the horticulture sector, covering technical, strategy, and marketing.
4) Chance to experience the entire horticulture industry; from Lettuce production to Hardy Shrub production.
5) You will be awarded a bursary of up to £3,000 which you can draw down on to cover your activities within the scheme.
Lauren Hladun, a 2021 Fellow, had this to say about her experience, “The Fellowship has been a superb opportunity to meet similar like-minded individuals from across all sectors of the industry. Each fellow brings a different set of skills and knowledge to the group, and together we have been able to share experiences and learn from each other, as well as attend various industry meetings, and conferences, and visit business and research facilities throughout the UK which are pivotal to the development of the sector. I would highly recommend the LSA fellowship scheme to any young person who is looking to expand their knowledge and understanding of the horticultural industry.” Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to take your career to the next level!
The Fellowship opens for the 2023 intake on the 1st September and closes on the 31st October. Application forms and scheme information can be found on our website www.lsactfellowship.org. For more information, please contact Coral Clark at British Growers on coral.clark@britishgrowers.org or 01507 602427.
Read the latest updates here including the Downing Street Farm to Fork Summit, House of Lords inquiry, peat ban update, upcoming events and more.
Following the recent Horticulture Crop Protection Annual General Meeting, read the latest update here.
