Pro Landscaper Business Awards 2021

HEADLINE SPONSOR

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Pro Landscaper Business Awards

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register your interest for 2022 Contact the team or visit the web site 01903 777570 www.prolandscaperbusinessawards.com

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Welcome Welcome to this year’s Pro Landscaper Business Awards, the only industry awards which focus 100% on how well companies run their business. Profitability, sustainability, corporate social responsibility, commitment to the landscaping sector and client/supplier relationships are among the areas that are reviewed as part of these awards and are ultimately used to identify the shortlist and to reach the overall winners. This year has highlighted more than ever the importance of green space and the role the landscaping sector plays. The landscape industry has grown, developed and increased its overall importance to the UK economy, managing climate change and the health and wellbeing of us all. The Pro Landscaper Business Awards certainly reflects on and takes pride in the increasing importance of the sector and the ability, desire and commitment shown. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the companies that have taken the time to enter, as well as congratulate all those who were shortlisted and the overall winners. And not only is it important for any awards to have excellent entries, but also to have knowledgeable, impartial and committed judges. Again, what makes these awards different is that our judging panel includes experts from within the landscape sector and also highly successful businesspeople in other industries. We are also thankful to all our sponsors who understand our vision to highlight and promote the business side of the landscaping sector. Special thanks go to this year’s headline sponsor Fresh Horticultural Careers, and Marian Barker who is also celebrating 20 years of business in 2021, which is undoubtedly two decades of commitment to providing excellent service and results to those in the landscape sector. We really hope that you enjoy the day and this spectacular venue, and we look forward to seeing you again next year.

Lisa and Jim Wilkinson Directors, Eljays44

Eljays44 Ltd 3 Churchill Court, 112 The Street, Rustington, West Sussex, BN16 3DA Tel 01903 777 570 www.eljays44.com

With thanks to our headline sponsor

As well as our category sponsors...

Pro Landscaper Business Awards

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TRADE NURSERY OF THE YEAR About ACCOUNTING / TAX / AUDIT ADVISORY / TECHNOLOGY

This category, new for 2021, is open to all nurseries. Considerations for this category include: disease prevention, environmental impact, sustainability, client relationships and retention and a track record of a well-run, thriving business.

The shortlist... Majestic Trees

HERE TO SAVE YOUR

PRECIOUS TIME Azets is an international accounting, tax, audit, advisory and business services group that delivers a personal experience, both digitally and in person. We save client’s precious time – so you can focus on what you do best. We offer a range of services including: • • • •

Accounting Software Advisory Services Annual Accounts and Tax Compliance Bookkeeping

• Wealth Management

To find out how we can help your business, please email

lee.beaumont@azets.co.uk or contact your local Azets office.

PROUD SPONSORS OF THE PRO LANDSCAPER BUSINESS AWARDS 2021 azets.co.uk

#AzetsSMEchampions 4

With a fantastic employee retention rate, Majestic Trees’ ethos from the beginning has been to “hire the best, give them further training, pay them well and keep them”. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic it was able to keep on its entire workforce who were integral to ensuring the company didn’t lose out on work. Since Majestic Trees’ inception, it has followed the highest biosecurity and environmental standards possible and was one of the first in the UK to invest in an electrostatic sprayer to significantly reduce chemical use. It recently hosted a number of successful seminars on biosecurity, the latest of which was hosted by Nicola Spence. www.majestictrees.co.uk

Van den Berk Nurseries

Covering 450ha, Van den Berk is able to offer a wide variety of sizes and quantities not available in the UK – one of the main reasons it won the tender for the Olympic Village in London. It doesn’t just supply trees, though. A third-generation business, running for more than 80 years, the staff at Van den Berk offers its expertise on tree establishment and aftercare, accumulated in its book Van den Berk on Trees. Its virtual tree lab Treevolution continues to build on this knowledge, exploring technological solutions that can increase the performance of trees in cities. www.vdberk.co.uk

James Coles & Sons

Trading for over 100 years, James Coles & Sons has continually shown its commitment to the industry. James Coles Senior and Geoff Coles have previously been president of the HTA and James Coles is currently the BALI regional chair. Moreover, it donates its time and proceeds from company events to charities, schools and associations. This commitment extends to the environment. James Coles & Sons uses Integrated Pest Control Management, working closely with BioLine. The nursery’s plastic pots are made from 100% recyclable materials and its liners and plugs are 100% peat free. www.colesnurseries.co.uk

Pro Landscaper Business Awards

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The winner... SPONSORED BY

W Crowder & Sons Ltd

Customer satisfaction and retention is hugely important to Crowders – one of its KPIs is speed of response, which it has managed to get down to 0.85 days. The nursery truly showed the lengths it will go to in order to support its customers during the recent pandemic, though, when it launched its campaign to help landscapers ‘get back on their feet’. Knowing that cashflow would be a big challenge facing the landscape sector, Crowders offered extended payment terms of up to 120 days. Nurturing bright, young talent is also high on Crowders’ agenda. It regularly recruits and trains young people in its local area of Lincolnshire, supporting Young People in Horticulture Association and employing three apprentices. It’s also in talks with some of its European connections to offer these apprentices a taste of work outside of the UK. Crowders is committed to nurturing and supporting its existing staff too. As well as skilling up through training, staff’s mental health is vitally important; with two mental health first aiders, Crowders is proactive in raising awareness and ensures opportunities to seek help are widely available and promoted. The support of both its staff and customers is paying off. New orders are now up by 135% with future contracts including HS2, East West Rail, EDF Energy and Woodland Trust where it will supply one million trees. But all this work is underpinned by the ethos of Integrated Crop Management which means it continually assesses its impact on the wider environment and favours methods and technology which favour sustained production. www.crowdersnurseries.co.uk Pro Landscaper Business Awards

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Award-winning landscapes start here • Supplying the landscaping and forestry industries for over a quarter of a century

Everything a landscape supplier should offer:

• We are a multi award-winning supplier

Urban Tree Planting and Tree Irrigation

• We stock and supply over 16,000 products • Next day delivery available • Proud to be renowned for our professional advice and excellent customer care • A comprehensive programme of CPD seminars available T: 01423 332100 E: sales@green-tech.co.uk www.green-tech.co.uk @greentechltd

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@greentechuk

Soils, Growing Media and Barks Rural Tree Planting Wildflower Seed and Conservation Ecology, Ponds and Bioengineering Ground, Wind, Weed and Erosion Control Grounds Maintenance

green-tech-ltd

PPE, Workwear and Tools

sponsor Congratulations to all winners

Pro Landscaper Business Awards

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COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPING COMPANY About

In this category, we’re looking to highlight and praise the companies that build and sculpt the public areas, including (but not limited to) city centres, office grounds and communal areas within housing developments.

The winner... SPONSORED BY

Maylim

It’s one of the most prestigious commercial landscaping companies in the UK, known for delivering some of the biggest and most prolific projects in the capital. Maylim has made its mark on the industry – but it refuses to rest on its laurels. The Employee Ownership Trust puts staff, community and the environment at the forefront of its work. Take its approach to training. As well as maintaining strong relationships with external providers, Maylim has introduced its own Internal Training Programme, which is more company specific. A competency matrix ensures minimum requirements are met and its Msite database holds all training information and development progress, ensuring staff are up-to-date and notifying the company when training is due to expire. Maylim also has two- to four-year apprenticeship programmes, aligned with governing bodies and local universities. The company aims to have five apprenticeships in 2021, with plans to grow this target going forward. For staff wellbeing, there are 10 mental health first aiders and 28 team members have been trained in mental health first aid awareness, as part of its commitment to the Building Mental Health Charter. To actively encourage women into the construction industry, Maylim took part in local campaigns for International Women’s Day and Women in Engineering Day. Lowering its carbon footprint is also on Maylim’s agenda. It monitors its energy consumption on a monthly basis, entering the data into SMARTWASTE for each of its projects and exploring ways in which it can reduce it. Forward-thinking, staff-centric and eager to make a difference – it’s easy to see how Maylim stands out from the crowd. www.maylim.co.uk Pro Landscaper Business Awards

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2011 The magazine was first published, and Mark Gregory was our first ever:

Let ’s Hear it From...

2017 The Pro Landscaper TECH event was held at HQ

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2012 We hired our first ever editorial assistant!

2018

2013 Produced an article on the National Three Peaks Challenge

2019 Our biggest ever redesign!

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CORE DRIVE Gravel Driveway Stabiliser

Keep Your Gravel In Its Place... Cost Effective One of the most cost effective surfacing solutions - also reduces the cost of gravel as less is required

No Weeds

£

The grids have a high quality weed membrane heat welded to the underside, eliminating weeds and reducing the risk of gravel migrating under the cell wall

Easy to Install

Strong

The grids can be laid extremely quickly and can save time on installation

The grids are able to withstand a wide variety of vehicle types across the range, from domestic cars up to HGV

DDA Compliant

SuDS Compliant

The grids are suitable for both wheelchair users and those with walking aids

The grids are completely porous, making them SuDS compliant - no need for planning permission

Stabilises Gravel The grids are designed to be virtually invisible once filled, thanks to their unique honeycomb design

Landscape COREProducts 10

0800 118 2278 Awards Pro Landscaper Business

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sales@corelp.co.uk

www.corelp.co.uk

@CORE_LP_HQ

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GROUNDS MAINTENANCE COMPANY

The winner... SPONSORED BY

Glendale Managed Services

Glendale Managed Services has a history of collaboration with local communities, providing 52,271 hours of social value initiatives. As well as this, Glendale undertakes school career talks, community project volunteering, garden makeovers, outdoor volunteering classes and biodiversity projects and community ‘clear ups’. It was during the pandemic that Glendale really showed its commitment and care, as its staff stepped in to help waste management contractor Biffa to ensure front-line services could be maintained to local communities. Recognising that its staff are intrinsic to the success of operations, Glendale Managed Services commits a minimum of 0.5% of its total turnover to staff training and development. Between 2017 and 2019, this amounted to an annual average of £235,768 spend and 2,786 training days. A key component of this staff development offering is its apprenticeship programme – a member of the 5% club (a commitment to a minimum of 5% of staff in apprenticeship positions), apprentices made up 8.0% of its workforce in February 2021. Glendale takes its staff wellbeing seriously, positively contributing to greater standards of living and reduced inequality for staff. It never utilises zero-hour contracts, instead providing a contract with clearly defined hours, a competitive salary, pension scheme and holiday entitlement. Glendale also delivers mental health training to all contract managers annual, which includes the implications of mental health issues, how to spot symptoms and how to provide help. Driving forward environmental excellence, Glendale has committed to achieving net carbon neutrality by 2027 with hopes that it will inspire the rest of the industry to make similar goals. www.glendale-services.co.uk Pro Landscaper Business Awards

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About

We are looking for the unsung heroes of our industry who consistently undertake the crucial everyday maintenance tasks which many take for granted, with the upmost precision and pride. The judges will be looking at your staff training and development, investment in apprentices and corporate social responsibility.

The shortlist... Tony Benger Landscaping Ltd

One of Tony Benger Landscaping’s long-standing aims and core company values is to “be a great place to work”. Socialising is an important part of this, with a WhatsApp group, photo competitions, social events and designated breaks areas bringing the team together. These were obviously put on hold this year as the pandemic hit, but Tony Benger Landscaping supported its staff in different ways, paying them to stay home if they’ve been exposed meaning everyone was safe, but finances weren’t a concern. This team includes 15 team leader roles, created and developed over the last six years, most of which have been taken by people developed from within the company, starting with no landscaping experience. In addition to its in-house training, Tony Benger Landscaping puts all its maintenance staff through City and Guilds safe use of herbicides. The company is heavily involved in its local community, helping to organise and run Axe Vale Festival which raises money for local charities, as well as offering discounted rates to local schools and sensory garden initiatives. As well as working closely with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Tony Benger Landscaping has a strong relationship with Devon wildlife Consultants on habitat and species identification training for team leaders. www.tonybenger.com

Ground Control

With a hugely generous training budget accounting for 36% of its turnover, Ground Control is fully committed to training and developing its employees. As well as the usual skills training and personal development, Ground Control also offers behavioural – from listening to managing difficult conversations – wellbeing and brain training. In addition to this, the company has worked alongside Government to make training courses more accessible to those with special education needs, taking away formal academic barriers. One of the company’s other big goals is caring for the environment. Ground Control’s Evergreen Fund receives 5% of the company’s annual profits, dedicated to sustainability and environmental initiatives. Over the next five years, it will invest £5m in early-stage environmental ventures. Ground Control has also committed to helping the UK reach its net-zero goal by both transitioning to 100% electric vehicles and putting in infrastructure to achieve this change. Ground Control also has a commitment to its local community. During the recent pandemic and subsequent school closures, Ground Control donated 20 laptops with new SSD storage to pupils so they could partake in online lessons while at home. What’s more, the joint Ground Control and The Gritting Company Winter Maintenance team supported Billericay's Lake Meadows Park with some much-needed work. www.ground-control.co.uk

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Pro Landscaper Business Awards

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CGM Group

A family-run business, The CGM Group has been built on ethical principles which permeate through every aspect of the business – from its staff recruitment and business expansion to day-to-day operations. It’s proud of its apprenticeship scheme which helps create a pipeline of future talent, ensuring continual and organic growth within the business. This sees the company employ a minimum of 20 apprentices a year. Alongside this, The CGM Group offers introductions and training sessions on person skills and office-based roles such as CV writing, interview techniques, sale techniques and PR training. The company is also part of the Government's Kickstart scheme which provides funding to employers to create job placements for 16 to 24-year-olds in Universal Credit who may be at risk of long-term unemployment. Roles have been made available across all of its depots, so as many young people can apply as possible. This has so far been successful and The CGM Group has plans to create more positions once grass cutting season begins. This support extends to local businesses, especially small to medium-sized ones. This includes approaching local suppliers before national ones, training workshops in its centre, free consultancy services and advice on business management, presentation on industry best practise and mentorship and support on site. www.cgmltd.co.uk

Beechenlea Maintenance Ltd

Recognising that investing in training and development will benefit staff but also clients, each employee at Beechenlea Maintenance has their own personal development plan which includes training objectives and is reviewed annually. Beechenlea Maintenance’s contracts director is currently being sponsored by the company to undertake a Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship which will ultimately benefit him in his role. Experience has also shown that its staff see this as the company investing in them personally and are more likely to remain at the company. In fact, its employee attrition for 2020 averaged at just 1.3%. Though it is a relatively small company, Beechenlea Maintenance still recognises the responsibility it has to give back to its community. This includes economic regeneration through local contracting, residents through the development of new skills and experience and ultimately job creation, and the environment through its work to reverse the damage of climate change. Its size has no bearing on the support it offers its staff either, with its commitment to the health and wellbeing of staff, subcontractors, and wider partners going beyond regulations. Able-Futures provides a telephone advice service for staff, combined with in house assistance and external HR support. In addition to this, the company has embraced occupational health monitoring for safety and non-safety critical roles. www.beechenlea.com Pro Landscaper Business Awards

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ARBORICULTURE COMPANY About

This category will enable arb companies wanting to highlight their business success to do so. Entrants must be able to demonstrate examples of commitment to the industry, staff retention/morale and constant good business practices.

Congratulations to all who were shortlisted for the arboriculture company category

The shortlist... Thompson Tree Services

Thompson Tree Services recognises employees as its most important resource. It is committed to training and developing its staff – from ensuring competency in practical tasks to training in the company’s policies and procedures. www.thompson-treeservices.co.uk

Glendale Managed Services

PROARB

spring 2021 PROFESSIONAL TREE CARE FOR T REE SURGEONS

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Boasting an impressive year-on-year retention rate of 93.5% for full-time permanent staff, Glendale’s dedication to its staff is evident. In fact, in February 2021, apprenticeships made up 8% of its workforce. www.glendale-services.co.uk

W H AT A S H D I E B A C K MEANS FOR ARBORISTS

MEET WOODCRAFT TREE SERVICES WHY I T’S A PEOPLE T HING

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T R E E P R E S E R VAT I O N O R D E R S – ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW AUTUMN 2020 PROFESSIONAL TREE CARE FOR T REE SURGEONS

G U I D A N C E F R O M C O N S U LTA N T J O N AT H A N H A Z E L L

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Beechenlea has steadily grown to a 24-strong team, and is working towards becoming an Arboriculture Association Utility Approved Contractor. The company invests 1.56% of its annual turnover into staff training and development. www.beechenlea.com

SUMMER 2020 PROFESSIONAL TREE CARE FOR T REE SURGEONS

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Advanced Tree Services

For Advanced Tree Services, looking after its staff starts from day one. New operatives are given a one-day health and safety induction and full company structure breakdown, and internal training is carried out quarterly. www.atstrees.co.uk

Arbor Cultural

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Arbor Cultural founder Tom focuses on keeping things up to date – whether that’s training, best industry practice or embracing the latest technologies. He chairs the Consulting Arborist Society and set up the Digital Arboricultural Practice Group. www.arbor-cultural.co.uk

Pro Landscaper Business Awards

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The winner... SPONSORED BY

Connick Tree Care

Celebrating its 35th anniversary last year, Connick Tree Care has become a well-established and reputable business in the sector. Over more than three decades, the Surrey-based company has grown to a team of 60 staff, and Connick sees these team members as its most valuable resource. Right from their induction, staff are provided with training, with initial appraisals to identify skills gaps and allow for individual training programmes to be developed. Connick is striving for as many employees as possible to achieve the Professional Tree Inspector qualification, with 13 members of staff having achieved this so far. Around 3% of its turnover is spent on training and sharing good practice. Those who show the drive to succeed in a career at the company are enrolled on an arboriculture course at college whilst continuing to work. A full-time wage is offered to those studying, depending on their age and skillset, and they are provided with the necessary equipment and PPE. Over the last three years, Connick Tree Care has successfully trained and employed four arborists through this. Not only is Connick dedicated to its staff, but it is also committed to the communities in which it works. In East Sussex, for instance, a local group identified a number of hotspots of elm disease in the area and an action day was held to fell these trees and try to deplete the beetle population levels. Connick Tree Care was amongst the volunteers. Over the next two years, volunteer days were run, and the felling of the infectious trees had the desired effect. Managing director Mike Connick has also explored the use of biomass heating systems in hospitals, designing and implementing one at Tunbridge Wells Hospital, reducing carbon emissions by 471,000kg/m3. www.connicktreecare.co.uk Pro Landscaper Business Awards

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INDUSTRY COLLABORATION GREAT BRITISH

british trees

TREES

Grown with Skill & Care When you choose your trees from Hillier, you can be confident of the care that has gone into growing them, with production techniques developed over more than 150 years.

About

Partnerships are everywhere within our industry. Judges will be looking at examples on how a partnership has helped – whether it has saved money, delivered a better service and either enhanced or had a major impact on completed work.

The shortlist... Tris Williams Garden Design

As a new garden designer, Tris Williams utilised leading expertise on a complex multilevel garden. Tris worked with Ade & Bygga, Outdoor Creations, Anderson Gardens, London Stone and Creepers Nurseries to complete the project to a high standard. www.triswilliamsgardendesign.com

Our trees are British grown and the majority have been in our fields in Hampshire from seed through to maturity — up to 25 years of our nurturing! Through our production expertise they will have been transplanted up to five times, the roots individually hand trimmed to develop the strongest possible root system and each canopy carefully pruned. We propagate over 20,000 trees through our specialised Hillier budding system, continuing a time honoured production skill.

Tivoli Group Ltd

Contact us today to find out more about our wide range of highest quality semi-mature trees.

Working with Scottish Water since 2019, Tivoli has been undertaking grounds maintenance at more than 3,000 sites in Scotland. This presents a unique hazard set which pushed Tivoli to produce a bespoke health and safety training video giving staff necessary information and Scottish Water confidence and reassurance. www.tivoliservices.com

Rosie Wilkins Landscape Design

Rosie Wilkins Landscape Design and James Bird Landscapes have established a successful relationship whereby Rosie produces comprehensive design packages and James’ team constructs them. This collaboration gave Rosie the opportunity to build a client base and today James offers quality business advice. www.rosiewilkinslandscape.co.uk

Kate Charles Landscape Design

Collaborating with PGE Landscaping, Kate Charles Landscape Design developed template garden designs and planting places for the housebuilding sector. This pushed Kate to improve her technical skills and in turn has improved business outcomes while allowing her to have a positive environmental influence. www.katecharlesgardendesign.co.uk

Chameleon Design hillier.co.uk/trees trees@hillier.co.uk 01794 368 733

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Commissioned to design a garden for a wheelchair-bound client who suffered from a severe brain injury, Chameleon Design worked closely with Emotive Landscapes to ensure that there was minimal disruption during the construction phase – which could have caused distress. www.chameleongardens.co.uk

Pro Landscaper Business Awards

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The winner... SPONSORED BY

VaRa Garden Design

At the Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People in Loughborough, VaRa Garden Design was commissioned by Greenfingers Charity to extend and redesign the Remembrance Garden. Supporting nearly 400 families with life-limited children and young people, the hospice aims to bring some support and light during a dark time and encourage the capturing of memories. The garden played its part in this, as VaRa Garden Design ensured its longevity and created a more curated space, all while sensitively working around the existing plaques and individual memorials. VaRa Garden Design was inspired by the individual care, sensitivity and happy, ‘colourful’ attention each family received. It created a familycentred space with both private and restful spaces for year-round visits. The project saw the hospice, charity and VaRa Garden Design approach a number of specialists and suppliers to make the most of funds. The response was fantastic, and very early on landscapers Alfresco Landscaping Ltd responded positively and sensitively, further helping to make the most of funding by re-using what was on site. Joining the collaboration, fabricators Caltef Designs created a life-sized metal remembrance tree and glassmaker Lynn Jackson ran workshops with bereaved families to make personalised glass leaves to commemorate those they had lost. Through discussions, very open communication, and a great deal of flexibility, everyone involved was able to bring ideas to the table. This included the reuse and blend of seating materials, tree positioning and finishing details such as the bullnosing. The end result was more than anyone originally thought it would be. www.varagardendesign.co.uk Pro Landscaper Business Awards

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SUPPLIER AND SERVICE PROVIDER

About

Quality offering, strong relationships and staff retention are some of the points the panel of judges will be looking for in this category. We’re looking for the company that offers the best value for money and has earned an impeccable reputation.

The shortlist... Azpects

Hard landscaping product supplier Azpects Ltd has been working in the horticulture sector for more than 10 years. It has become widely known for its EASYJoint product. The Suffolk-based company prides itself on its ‘family feel’, with a close-knit community within the business. www.azpects.co.uk

Brett Landscaping

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WHO WERE SHORTLISTED FOR THE SUPPLIER AND SERVICE PROVIDER CATEGORY

Brett Landscaping says its philosophy is encapsulated in its motto – Built on Relationships. Its approved installer scheme has been successful in retaining clients and its Brett Rewards Scheme allows clients to claim points and be rewarded for the products they install. www.brettlandscaping.co.uk

Caribbean Blinds

Focusing exclusively on external shading, Caribbean Blinds aims to be the top UK supplier in its field. Its products are developed based on customer and end user feedback, building a reputation for a high-quality offering, and it is extending its factory to meet rising demand. www.cbsolarshading.co.uk

Outdoordesign

Outdoordesign specialises in designing and making bespoke metalwork. It has provided products for a range of projects, from small domestic gardens to prestigious commercial schemes and award-winning show gardens. www.outdoordesign.co.uk

Re-flow

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Workflow management software Re-flow was launched just over three years ago. It recently introduced a new version of the software, which is tailored for the landscape industry and over the next five years will be focusing on flexibility to meet the needs of clients. www.re-flow.co.uk

Pro Landscaper Business Awards

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The winner... SPONSORED BY

Green-tech

Green-tech is already a multi-award-winning company. Since it was founded in 1994, the Yorkshire-based supplier has become a market leader, offering more than 16,000 products to a wide customer base. A customer survey last year showed that 99% of respondents would recommend Green-tech and 99% said they believed Green-tech is an honest and reliable company that demonstrates integrity. This reputation has been built not just on the quality of its products and the support of its sales staff, but also through its commitment to the industry. It works closely with trade associations, such as sponsoring the BALI National Landscape Awards for the last six years. Chairman Richard Kay holds the position of national chairman for the BALI board of directors and sales director Richard Gill is vice chairman of the Yorkshire and North East regional committee. Green-tech also supports the Green Roof Organisation, with business development director Mark Wood sitting on the committee. To encourage young people to join the industry, Green-tech took on its first group of apprentices in 2017. It also helps to recognise those who are up-and-coming by sponsoring Pro Landscaper’s 30 Under 30: The Next Generation awards. Eager for its own staff to win such accolades, Green-tech focuses on staff development and progression with its own training and development plan for each member of staff. Prior to the pandemic, the sales team would undertake a 12-week customer service training programme. Sustainability is also a growing concern for the company, which is working towards reducing single-use plastic in landscaping products. It has already introduced more environmentally-friendly alternatives to its range but Green-tech plans to expand its portfolio further to encourage biodiversity. www.green-tech.co.uk Pro Landscaper Business Awards

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LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE STUDIO

About

This category is for the landscape architect practice that can demonstrate continued good business practices, strong industry relationships and an invaluable and positive workforce.

Premier

Planting Soil

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ASA Landscape Architects on winning Landscape Architecture Studio in the Pro Landscaper Business Awards 2021

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The shortlist... Zebra Landscape Architects

Zebra Landscape Architects prides itself on its collaborative nature within the practice as well as with wider technical disciplines. Its successes are "collective” and it celebrates these "as a team acknowledging the contribution of all”. During the recent pandemic, the directors were incredibly mindful to prioritise staff’s health – not just physical but also mental by scheduling working breaks and encouraging at home exercise such as walking and cycling. They were also acutely aware that social cohesion and communication needed extra attention, so they arranged wider group online socials, quizzes and working sessions. At the heart of every project, environmental betterment is at the top of Zebra Landscape Architects’ agenda. It pushes the use of locally imported species and seeks out suppliers from the local region. It also looks inwardly at how it can minimise its own impact on the environment. www.zebralandscapes.co.uk

Cemetery Development Services

With a history in the bereavement sector – working on new and refurbishment projects for cemeteries and crematoria – Cemetery Development Services is pushing the green agenda within this industry. It looks to minimise its energy consumption on every project, challenging existing practices by designing holistically and utilising technologies. One of its biggest focuses has been on granite. With a large carbon footprint, it is usually very popular for memorialisation. It has set up a working group to explore sustainable alternatives. As with so many other companies, Cemetery Development Services had to adjust when the pandemic hit. It paid particular attention to individuals who lived alone, at one point delivering food parcels to their homes. In recognition of the huge difficulties faced by so many during 2020, instead of the usual secret Santa gifts, employees donated the money they would have spent to a local food bank. www.thecdsgroup.co.uk

Pro Landscaper Business Awards

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The winner... SPONSORED BY

ASA Landscape Architects

Alongside the usual annual staff performance reviews, ASA Landscape Architects has a programme of Continuing Professional Development holding an event every month. In addition, it recently conducted a Belbin analysis of team roles to identify staff strengths and weaknesses. This helped identify what the company did have, but also where there were possible skills gaps which could then be addressed through additional training or new employees. Recently, ASA Landscape Architects enabled a staff member to undertake a marketing course and the employee has, as a consequence, updated the website, embarked on a social media campaign and worked as an external social media consultant to develop and cement this strategy. ASA Landscape Architects has even set aside £10k per annum towards this. With a strong relationship with Sheffield University’s Landscape Department, ASA Landscape Architects has, for the past two years, sponsored a prize for Best Dissertation, promoting critical thought in landscape architecture. ASA Landscape Architects has developed a tool centred around intelligent mapping of landscape assets for Portsmouth City Council and a business park. This enabled the asset to be monitored over time allowing for transparency and future maintenance budgeting. While technology is important, ASA Landscape Architects believes in the importance of personal contact, combining both to deliver a client’s vision. The success of this can be seen through its longstanding client relationships and that the majority of its work is gained through personal recommendations. www.asalandscapearchitects.co.uk Pro Landscaper Business Awards

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Outdoor living all year round. Create your special place. Both waterproof and stain resistant, porcelain is the ideal product to create, not only an attractive low maintenace patio, but complementary features too. The heat resistant properties of porcelain make it an ideal product to create both beautiful and practical fire features, enabling you to extend your time outside by adding a warming fire table, fire pit or outdoor fireplace.

casatuaoutdoor.com 22

Pro Landscaper Business Awards

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GARDEN DESIGN COMPANY

The winner... SPONSORED BY

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Sarah Eberle Landscape & Garden Design

Multi-award-winning garden designer Sarah Eberle has a host of achievements to her name. For a start, the chartered landscape architect and RHS associate of honour is a Chelsea stalwart and is recognised as the most decorated designer at the world-renowned show. Sarah is continually looking to broaden her knowledge – as an RHS gardens advisor, regularly attending conferences and events, and undertaking training on specialist issues, but also through her show gardens. When she designed The Resilience Garden at Chelsea in 2019, Sarah researched climate change and pests and diseases, spending time with researchers and staff at the Forestry Commission facilities at Bedgebury Pinetum, Westonbirt and with senior staff at Kew Gardens. Since completing this Chelsea garden, Sarah set out to build an experimental resilience garden, and has purchased a property in Lower Normandy with 7.5 acres where she can explore environmental sustainability and resilience. It will be a space which supports mental wellbeing and encourages interaction between people and nature, as well as providing a training facility. This is part of Sarah’s legacy planning, and though initially self-funded it will hopefully attract alternative funding and bursaries as it progresses. Corporate social responsibility is important to the practice, such as working in unpaid roles including as a trustee and judge for the RHS. Throughout her career, she has been vice chair of her regional BALI committee and education chair of the SGD. Sarah says: “Although I have not been involved in traditional business expansion for the creation of wealth, I have created a unique and personal small business through hard work and commitment that is both successful and rewarding, and contributes to the industry.” www.saraheberle.com Pro Landscaper Business Awards

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About

This category is open to any garden design company with less than three employees. The judges aren't basing their scores on a specific design but on the business itself. They want to see a proven track record of a well-run company that continues to excel and stand out from the crowd.

The shortlist... Sarah Naybour Design Ltd

Sarah started her own practice in 2009 and was joined by Olivia Stewart nine years later. Since then, the partnership has allowed the business to develop, and the practice has seen a huge improvement in its processes, detailing and capability to take on larger, more complex projects. For example, the pair have added project monitoring to their repertoire as a chargeable service, and they are now considering bringing an additional member of staff on board to handle the additional workload and help expand their aftercare service too. www.sarahnaybour.co.uk

Ruth Willmott Associates

This successful London-based design practice has been around for just over a decade. Run by director Ruth Wilmott – alongside two employees who have been with the practice for seven years – the company dedicates a share of its turnover to training and sharing good practice, such as SGD short courses or online learning programmes. Ruth also encourages team days out to visit gardens to further expand the practice’s knowledge. It also gives back to the community, including donating wellies and rain clothing to deprived children at a local school. The business is now looking ahead, with a show garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in September. www.ruthwillmott.com

Rachel Bailey Garden Design

Sustainability is at the heart of Rachel Bailey Garden Design. The Scottish practice minimises waste where possible and encourages plant-heavy designs with the aim to improve biodiversity in the domestic gardens on which it works. The two-strong team is currently looking to calculate its footprint through carbon calculator Pathfinder 2.0 and has recently added a full environmental policy on its website. Going forward, Rachel Bailey Garden Design is hoping to extend its portfolio by undertaking gardens which require a ‘more unusual approach’ and is aiming for its gardens to meet the Carbon Positive Challenge of nine years for domestic gardens. www.rachelbaileydesign.co.uk

Gerbera Designs

Owner Joanne Evans has used the past year to take advantage of the raft of online courses available, including improving SketchUp skills to be able to offer 2D and 3D designs to clients. Gerbera Designs also undertook and passed the Award of Social and Therapeutic Horticulture with Thrive, enabling the practice to develop a programme of therapeutic horticulture for vulnerable groups in North East Scotland and inform design projects for its work with Trellis, Scotland’s network for therapeutic gardening. Gerbera Designs has become an accredited garden design member of the Association of Professional Landscapers too. www.gerberadesigns.co.uk

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Pro Landscaper Business Awards

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Rolawn is proud to sponsor the Design & Build category at the Pro Landscaper Business Awards Congratulations to the shortlisted companies Tony Benger Landscapes McQueen Landscapes Ltd Landscape Brothers Jupiter Play & Leisure Harrington Porter Ltd

Britain’s Finest Turf • Topsoil • Bark www.rolawn.co.uk

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DESIGN AND BUILD COMPANY

The winner... SPONSORED BY

Tony Benger Landscaping Ltd

Tony Benger Landscaping appreciates that good training is a big motivator, keeping staff engaged. Recent examples of training include glass balustrading and Millboard decking, and every year the company organises digger and dumper training, chainsaw crosscut and maintenance, first aid and manual handling. Recently, the APL also provided training in brickwork and surveying. This training continued throughout the pandemic, where Tony Benger Landscaping created ‘bubbles’, not only for safety purposes but also as a way of sharing knowledge. The company even has a dedicated training manager who can provide in-house training across all areas of landscaping. As well as providing excellent workmanship on the ground, Tony Benger Landscaping gives practical advice for maintaining the landscaping work, often making return visits to gardens to check customers are 100% satisfied. It’s imperative that the build quality and landscaping installation is of the highest quality and this has been demonstrated through its seven BALI construction awards – one of which was a Principal Award. As COVID-19 restrictions ease, it’s important to Tony Benger Landscaping that it establishes new policies that provide its staff with additional ways to look after their own health. It is looking to develop an on-site gym, and also has a close relationship with Bodyworx, a soft tissue therapy expert who solutions and support to people with strains and muscle problems. It also provides a free service to employees from a local chiropractor. www.tonybenger.com Pro Landscaper Business Awards

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About

In this incredibly competitive market, we are looking for the company that provides a top-quality service plus a little something else that makes them stand out from the crowd. You don’t have to be the biggest business to impress our judges; they want you to show how you run your business to the highest standard. We want to see examples of commitment to the industry, staff development opportunities and client testimonials.

The shortlist... McQueen Landscapes

McQueen Landscapes strives to bring out its staff’s creativity, so every year it heads to America to take part in seminars and workshops to further skills. In the coming years, it aims to create a workshop space to provide even more training as well as meetings and as a space for staff to express their needs. Adding water to gardens is a huge company passion, not just due to its calming impact on clients, but also as a way to bring life to a garden. It is committed to encouraging more gardens to bring water into the space, and its looking to collaborate more to do just that. www.mcqueenlandscapes.co.uk

Landscape Brothers

As well as the usual internal training on garden installations, working with equipment and external training, Landscape Brothers also regularly provides training on the installation of new materials that have appeared on the market. It spends 4 to 5% of its profits on training, but it aims to increase this. As a company, it supports an initiative every year. It has been supporting the Royal Regiment of Scotland with donations for many years. A few years ago, Landscape Brothers designed and built a garden for patients in a palliative ward, collaborating with Queen Margaret Hospice Garden Group in Dunfermline. www.landscapebrothers.co.uk

Jupiter Play & Leisure

As a small family business, it is important to Jupiter Play & Leisure that every staff member feels valued and sees an opportunity to succeed. The recent pandemic brought a more structured approach to meetings, personal development, appraisals and one-to-ones. This has hugely benefited the development of staff and given staff more time to pursue specific interest and evolve areas of expertise. Jupiter Play & Leisure ensures that it’s setting aside time and resources to research and engage the needs of children with disabilities. This includes time spent at SEN schools, campaigning at political level or educating other areas of our industry. www.jupiterplay.co.uk

Harrington Porter

Staff at Harrington Porter are nurtured from the bottom up. It also believes in playing to people’s strengths and structuring roles deliberately to allow employees to choose their direction. Since restructuring, the company now outsources a proportion of project construction and funds relevant training despite them being independent from Harrington Porter. The business is currently identifying how a packaged approach might allow it to scale without impacting output. This will be achieved by creating Harrington Porter Premium Design, Harrington Porter Design, Harrington Porter Aftercare and Harrington Porter Lifestyle. www.harringtonporter.com

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Sun. Shade. Shelter.

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Winner BEST GARDEN BUY

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LANDSCAPING COMPANY UNDER £1M TURNOVER

The winner... SPONSORED BY

Landscapia Ltd

Landscapia Ltd is ambitious. The design and build company, based in Worcestershire, wants to be seen as the leading company of its kind in the West Midlands, with a target each year of increasing its annual turnover by 5% and profit by 10%. It’s preparing to purchase its own building this year to provide an office, design centre and storage as well as a show garden. Alongside this, Landscapia wants to increase its design service and include an in-house planting and maintenance team. It is also working towards offering its clients their designs in virtual reality to stand out from the crowd. A large part of its success so far is down to its in-house training, says Landscapia. It has implemented a skills training matrix system which is industry specific and allows all employees to be evaluated on their individual skill levels. The banding for each section has a minimum and maximum salary bracket to encourage growth and ensure fair pay. In 2018, Landscapia took on two apprentices who have both since completed their qualifications and become full-time junior landscapers. Their success has led to the company employing another apprentice towards the end of last year. Supporting other local businesses is important to Landscapia, and so it began collaborating with a local planting company last year to complement its design offering. The company also sponsors a local youth football team. Since it was founded in 2006 – becoming a limited company 10 years later – Landscapia has become a trusted and well-known business in its local area, and there’s little reason to think it cannot extend its reputation and success across the whole of the West Midlands. www.landscapia.co.uk Pro Landscaper Business Awards

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About

This category has been created with the intention of giving the smaller landscape companies a presence against the larger multi-million-pound companies. Running a successful business is not necessarily about the number of staff you employ or the amount of money you turnover; it’s about your commitment to the industry, relationship with suppliers and training and development of staff.

The shortlist... The Landscaping Centre

For Scottish company The Landscaping Centre, staff retention is important, and it starts from day one. From induction, new employees receive training, starting with the Standard Operating Procedures which were developed to ensure all staff are trained to the same standard and use the same methods. The Landscaping Centre has also enrolled two employees on driving courses so they can obtain their licences. Technology is also a core aspect of the business; it uses cloud-based software to better manage projects and enable easy communication, uploading timesheets and requesting holiday. www.thelandscapingcentreoban.co.uk

Landscape Brothers

From an initial £300 investment more than a decade ago to buy the basic tools, Landscape Brothers has grown year on year – and it still believes in investing part of its profits back into the company to buy new equipment and improve its processes. It also gives back to its local community, such as sponsoring a local amateur football club and designing and building a garden for patients in the palliative ward in cooperation with Queen Margaret Hospice Garden Group in Dunfermline. The company is also working towards building its own show garden, the first such garden in Fife. www.landscapebrothers.co.uk

Land Technology Ltd

Edinburgh-based Land Technology Ltd has been trading for less than two years, but within that time it has built an eight-strong team which continues to grow its skillset and take on larger projects. The training it encourages its staff to undertake helps to broaden the company’s remit. For instance, one of its managers completing his SVQ 4 in construction has enabled the company to achieve contracts with larger building contractors. To engage with the local community, Land Technology Ltd provides free materials, advice and labour to maintain and develop a sensory garden at Pinewood School, West Lothian. www.land-technology.co.uk

FirstLight Landscaping

FirstLight Landscaping’s short-term ambitions are simple – to streamline its work processes, both on site and in the office. It has produced a Procedures Manual for office staff and a 52-page Code of Practice which sets the standards for all construction specifications. The company is now looking to incorporate more video tutorials to train staff and ensure a clearer understanding of each process. All staff are given information regarding the Skills Progression Program too, making sure new employees are aware of the training available and that they are on a career path with clear goals. www.firstlightlandscaping.co.uk

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Employee Excellence

What makes an employer stand out? Marian Barker shares her advice for those looking to attract and retain staff Over the course of the last 20 years, we have heard a plethora of opinions from employees as to what makes the best employer. As we all know there is a critical shortage of candidates throughout our sector, so employers need to stand out from the crowd to attract and retain the

EMPLOYEES NEED TO FEEL PART OF THE BUSINESS AND HAVE A CLEAR PERCEPTION OF HOW THEY CAN DEVELOP AND GROW WITHIN IT best people. Irrespective of the size of the business there are many ways to improve your employer profile. Fundamental to this is how the best employers demonstrate investment and commitment to their staff. A worker who feels you are invested in them will feel invested in your business. This investment does not necessarily need to be financial. Employees need to feel part of the business and have a clear perception of how they can develop and grow within it. This could be something as simple as providing them with a mentor, a more experienced member of staff perhaps to learn from and be guided by. Most employees welcome the opportunity to improve their skillset and qualifications. Encouraging employees – and funding, where feasible – to undertake practical or formal training is of great importance to most employees. Healthcare packages

profit share schemes are also seen as valuable incentives but ultimately the best employers are those that ensure their staff feel appreciated. Being treated with respect regardless of the job grade – being made to feel that their job is in is an integral part of the whole operation is key to your employees feeling of self-worth. Employees cite a variety of different reasons that contribute to job satisfaction and a feeling of empowerment. Regular reviews ensure employees feel supported and provide an opportunity for them to discuss concerns before they become major issues that could ultimately leave them to seek employment elsewhere. Outlining plans and goals for individuals leads to a sense of empowerment and can help employees feel that they have a career path to work towards. Over the course of the last two decades candidates have reported a variety of ways which have made them feel valued. Team building activities, such as annual staff days out have always proved to be popular when numbers permit. However, something as simple as a monthly newsletter outlining progress on projects and new contracts also allows staff to identify the direction the business is taking and the sense that owners/management are investing in the business and, ultimately, in their future. By demonstrating that the business has a clear plan in place of where it is heading aids staff retention as everyone feels part of the plan and it gives employees greater confidence in the business as a whole. As we all know, the landscaping sector is not for the fainthearted; it is often physically demanding and requires staff to work in all weather extremes. Above all, an

About Marian Barker Marian has spent her entire career within the recruitment sector and has worked as a senior manager for major high street companies. In 2000, she took the plunge and started Fresh Horticultural Careers, originally as known as Andersplus. For the past two decades her passion for recruitment has become a passion for horticulture, and the business has become one of the go-to recruiters which focuses on the landscape and horticulture sector. www.freshhortcareers.com appreciation of the rigors and demands placed on staff is paramount. A perceived lack of acknowledgement is probably the most frequent complaint we hear from candidates and often the reason for deciding to move on over and above financial gain. Gaining greater commitment through investing in training seems to be a key trait for the majority of employees and job seekers believe it to be a key indicator of what makes an excellent employer. Investment in their future leads to greater commitment not only for the employee but also for the future of your business.

Pro Landscaper Business Awards

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Congratulations to all of the nominees

LANDSCAPING COMPANY £1M - £5M TURNOVER

About

This category was created to celebrate the achievements of those with a turnover between £1m-£5m. Judges will be looking for examples of brief fulfilment, industry relationships, staff morale and prospective development opportunities.

The shortlist... The Garden Company

Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow

Conducting fair, ethical and sustainable business practices is high on The Garden Company's agenda. It exceeds the Living Wage for all its employees, funds tickets to one or more RHS flower shows for all staff and signposts employees with personal difficulties at home to appropriate support. Nurturing an environment where the quality of what it produces is paramount, it doesn’t believe in achievement-driven bonuses as there is a risk of encouraging speed and compromising on quality. The company prides itself on making the process easy for clients, remaining open and proactive if there are unforeseen delays or problems. It also believes in interacting with clients as human beings – that means providing a bespoke service and not relying solely on is standardised operating procedures. As well as previously joining Pro Landscaper’s small project BIG IMPACT judging panel, director James Scott is also a registered member of the SGD, serving on its council for many years and became instrumental in organising the SGD annual awards process as well as establishing Registered Practice membership. To achieve its revenue target of £2m by 2023, The Garden Company plans to offer premium services. Its strategic priorities are to improve its brand identity, develop its staff and succession planning, review the company’s location and work on its sustainability. www.thegardenco.co.uk

GreenBlue Urban are proud to have supported in creating greener, healthier cities for all.

greenblue.com 01580 830800

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The winner... SPONSORED BY

Acre Landscapes

As a company, Acre Landscapes has a passion for the industry and seeks to promote standards. Its managing director, Nigel Bowcock, is vice chairman for BALI where he offers his experience to more than 950 registered members. Within this role, he co-founded GoLandscape which champions the importance of finding the next generation of horticulturists. Nigel is also part of an All-Party Parliamentary group at the Houses of Parliament to both share knowledge of horticulture and increase awareness of its important role. As well as in-house training and mentoring programmes, Acre Landscapes allocates a minimum of £1,650 per employee so they can enrol on external training opportunities with recognised providers. Staff are also encouraged to attend a minimum of three industryspecific events or seminars a year. When setting individual goals, employees have the autonomy to steer their professional development in any specialism relating to their role. Acre Landscapes finds this instils a sense of responsibility and motivation to go above and beyond. Acre Landscapes prides itself on its client-centric approach, with clients constantly kept up to speed through its dedicated point of contact. It has gone the extra digital mile to refine its Quality Management Systems and personalised care. Looking forward, Acre Landscapes has ambitions to achieve £5m turnover within the next four years whilst remaining true to its values. This year, it plans to continue to invest in staff development, redefine its unique selling point, relaunch its company website, develop a customer relationship management system and continue to reduce its carbon emissions. www.acrelandscapes.com Pro Landscaper Business Awards

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Leading a Greener Future...Together

Let us take care of your world with our collection of green space services. Glendale began creating and maintaining beautiful green spaces in 1989 and our desire for bringing them alive is stronger than it’s ever been. A multi award-winning green space management specialist, our success over 30+ years has seen us extend our service offering to include total landscape management from design and specification, through to installation and ongoing maintenance. epd offers a unique combination of skills in landscape architecture, heritage and horticulture resulting in a multi-disciplinary consultancy fit to deal with even the most challenging of sites. We provide our clients with inspirational, flexible and sustainable solutions ranging from initial designs to project implementation and maintenance. Civic Trees has been supplying, handling, planting and relocating large, semi-mature trees for over 50 years. We are proud of our reputation for efficient, cost effective and reliable services.

Glendale is proud to sponsor the Grounds Maintenance category for the Pro Landscaper Business Awards 2021 and has been shortlisted in the ‘Grounds Maintenance Company’ and the ‘Arboriculture Company of the Year’ categories.

Glendale Services www.glendale-services.co.uk

Civic Trees

Pro Landscaper Business Awards 38 www.civictrees.co.uk

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Find us at:- The Stables, Duxbury Hall Road, Duxbury Park,Chorley PR7 4AT

T: 01257 460 461

www.epdlandscape.co.uk

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LANDSCAPING COMPANY OVER £5M TURNOVER About

This is a new category for the 2021 awards. We’re looking for the best-run business with a turnover more than £5m. The judges will be looking for strong relationships with suppliers, a commitment to the industry, and how you train, develop and retain your staff.

The winner... SPONSORED BY

Mitie Group Plc

As one of the largest UK facilities management companies, Mitie takes its responsibility to deliver ‘the exceptional, every day’ seriously. It has seen a 43% increase in its turnover over the last five years, with more than 600 clients to its name, and has plans in place to ensure care of its clients, employees and social responsibilities. In March last year, it published its Social Value Report which has five pillars: employment, focusing on apprenticeships, diversity and the Real Living Wage; responsibility, to SMEs, VCSEs and its supplier management framework; community, focusing on armed forces, health and wellbeing, and colleague volunteering; environment, having launched its Plan Zero initiative last year; and innovation. Its Plan Zero City Landscape Service uses only electric vehicles and battery-powered equipment. It includes a commitment to using no single-use plastics and generating zero landfill waste. Mitie has also launched a zero-emission gritting service for commercial use. To ensure staff progress and develop at Mitie, each member has an annual development plan, put together by their line manager and the HR learning & development team. Company investment in training has increased significantly over the last two years, with this year’s budget having more than doubled since that of 2019. Mitie is a major contributor to the Apprenticeship Levy too, with 573 apprentices as of 31 March 2020. It also became one of the first employers to make the UK Government’s Skills Pledge in 2007. Mitie undoubtedly goes above and beyond to deliver a high-quality service and to ensure its staff are not only well-equipped for the work but also happy to carry it out on behalf of an excellent employer. www.mitie.com Pro Landscaper Business Awards

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EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR

The winner... SPONSORED BY

Tony Benger Landscaping Ltd

Tony Benger Landscaping has a long history of supporting apprentices, not seeing it as a box ticking exercise but an opportunity to train for the job with the apprentices often involved in work outside of the scope of their course. This is because they are taken on with the assumption that they will continue working for the company once they graduate. The company’s overall aim is not only to recruit, train and retrain, but also to develop. On top of in-house training, the company aids in the funding of formal qualifications. It currently has two members of staff studying towards their Level 2 certificate in Arboriculture, one working towards a Level 3 diploma in Horticulture and another studying for the Level 6 professional diploma in Arboriculture. Six more members of staff are working towards an ILM Level 3/5 award in leadership and management and Tony Benger Landscaping is currently organising a SuDS training day for its commercial grounds maintenance teams. Communication is a key part of empowering staff at Tony Benger Landscaping. This is typically done face-to-face at the start and end of each day and is invaluable in exchange of information, and in building good working relationships. This was put to the test during the pandemic, but it succeeded proving the policies and techniques it had in place work. As part of its encouragement of a healthy work-life balance, Tony Benger Landscaping has an early finish on a Friday, encourages staff to finish on time and ensures that all allocated holiday is always taken. It also fosters a flexible work environment, enabled by its skilled and experienced staff who are able to cover jobs at short notice. www.tonybenger.com Pro Landscaper Business Awards

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About

This category incorporates all aspects of being a well-respected employer. We want to celebrate the slick and professional recruitment processes, positive staff experiences and exceptional training and development opportunities as well as focusing on the employment of apprentices and their retention.

The shortlist... Nurture Landscapes

Though it now employs more than 1,200 staff, Nurture Landscapes remains a family-run business with a 93% staff retention rate and strives to keep the feel of a small local company throughout its offices. Staff wellbeing is regularly reviewed and adapted to enhance teams working experience, and at the head office an outdoor area with Wi-Fi, table tennis and a games area allows staff to relax and unwind together. Despite its size, Nurture Landscapes still provides staff with unlimited free drinks, pizza days and staff BBQs. Staff training is aided by the three fully qualified Lantra-approved trainers in-house. Training is monitored via a matrix which has a colour coded 60 and 30-day reminder of expiring certificates. Nurture Landscapes currently has 51 people on apprenticeship programmes and aims to retain them on completion of their training. www.nurturelandscapes.co.uk

Mitie Group Plc

With 77,500 employees across the UK, communication can be challenging at Mitie. It recently invited colleagues to attend Team Talk Live 2019 to meet the executive team and hear more about Mitie’s strategy – in 2020 it was held virtually. This is bolstered by Landline, Mitie’s weekly landscape newsletter. As part of its communication strategy, Mitie recently replaced 1,629 laptops and increased the memory in 1,301 devices. Mitie recognises that pay plays an important role in enabling people to manage their work-life balance. In November 2019, the Living Wage Foundation granted Mitie Recognised Service Provider status. As it continues to make Mitie a place where staff can thrive, providing opportunities for people to develop is key. Mitie paid £5m into the Apprenticeship Levy scheme in FY 19/20 and had 573 apprentices as of 31 March 2020 working across over 50 apprenticeship routes. www.mitie.com

Indoor Garden Design

Starting out as a small family business 45 years ago, Indoor Garden Design has managed to keep the same approach to this day. It supports employees both via professional services such as BUPA as well as via compassionate managers. 70% of these employees have been with the company for over five years and all of its management team have risen through the ranks into their current positions. Indoor Garden Design makes sure every single staff member equally has the chance to work on high profile projects including the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Indoor Garden Design has had various Dutch students over the years, offering summer work experience and offering the opportunity to work in all areas of the business. It also takes on students from Capel Manor College and Writtle University College. www.indoorgardendesign.com

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CGM Group

In its final stages of setting up an employee wellbeing committee, The CGM Group takes its staff’s mental health seriously. It strives to be proactive and so far, the committee has brought together a wellbeing policy. In addition to the training required to do the job, The CGM Group encourages employers to look at other qualifications. In 2019, it worked with the KEITS organisation, a leading training provider, to offer Level 2 qualifications in the Principles of Customer Service, Safeguarding and Prevention and Team Leadership Skills. Alongside this, it has its own training centre which can facilitate group training sessions. The CGM Group commits to onboarding a minimum of 20 apprentices a year to continually replenish the industry. As well as an internal buddy system, apprentices are also able to liaise with an external mentor to ensure they are getting sufficient training. www.cgmltd.co.uk

Ground Control

At Ground Control, leading by example is key. Managers are encouraged not to set meetings out of core hours or send emails late at night. Just before the pandemic, the company had been introducing informal flexibility to working hours, which in hindsight was fantastic timing. Another part of Ground Control’s core strategy is learning and development programmes. The University of Ground Control offers more than 60 courses internally from basic Excel skills to 12-day residential leadership courses. Ground Control also offers all its staff the opportunity to become a Mental Health First Aider. As well as its own training, Ground Control continues to support several universities to offer degree-level apprenticeships. It has also partnered with Sandwell School to participate in a scheme to help support apprentices with learning difficulties. www.ground-control.co.uk

Garden Club London

At Garden Club London, the company culture is centred on helping employees progress down their chosen career path and it is more than willing to give them the finances, time and coaching needed to do so efficiently. Though plans have been put hold due to COVID-19, Garden Club London has in the past supported the next generation by supporting under 25s out of work to see what apprenticeships and opportunities it could offer. To promote and happy and healthy workforce, Garden Club London has all its employees enrolled on Vitality Private Healthcare. This gives access to immediate medical care at no cost to them. During the recent pandemic, the company took out additional cover for the full Mental Health Care package. This included making a significant investment into unlimited access to CBT, outpatient treatment, talking therapies and access to Headspace meditation. www.gardenclublondon.co.uk Pro Landscaper Business Awards

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to all the nominees for the 2021 ProLandscaper Busines Awards

Despite what the last 12 months have thrown at us, we have clearly emerged stronger and more creative than ever.

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SUSTAINABLE COMPANY OF THE YEAR

The winner... SPONSORED BY

Ground Control

Ground Control is fast becoming synonymous with sustainability – it seems as though the green service provider makes an announcement most weeks as to a new initiative or a progress update which will help to tackle climate change. So, it makes sense that its tagline is: ‘Caring for the environment’. Last year, the company – which has its headquarters in Essex – launched the Evergreen Fund, with 5% of Ground Control’s annual net profits going to a £5m Impact Venture Fund. This is dedicated to environmental initiatives and carbon sequestration and seeks to show business as a force for good. Earlier this year, Ground Control was certified as carbon neutral by the Carbon Trust, which it says is a significant milestone in its journey to reduce emissions across the country. It’s not the end goal, though, as Ground Control looks towards the next step of setting Net Zero Science Based targets to contribute to the UK’s commitment to becoming carbon net zero by 2050. Part of Ground Control’s efforts is reviewing its fleet to lower emissions. With 95 Tesla EVs, Ground Control has the largest fleet of its kind in the UK; the stylish yet sustainable vehicles make up 80% of the company’s passenger cars. The company also looks at ways in which it can optimise the routes travelled by its teams to reduce mileage and therefore emissions. On the ground, it is converting to battery-powered kit and has set itself a target of planting one million trees by 2025, by working with its clients and with the support of the Evergreen Fund. Ground Control has also created a new 9ha woodland in Essex, planting 22,000 native trees and shrubs. With significant achievements and ambitious goals, Ground Control is a deserving winner of this category’s inaugural year. www.ground-control.co.uk Pro Landscaper Business Awards

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About

This is new for 2021 and highlights companies that have achieved sustainable development. The award is open to companies that can demonstrate commitment to managing their social, environmental and financial obligations. We will look for ethical leadership, clear environmental management systems and how sustainability has impacted your business and/or the community.

The shortlist... awSCAPE Ltd

Landscape architecture practice awSCAPE Ltd has a core value of ‘bringing everyday nature to everyone’s doorstep’, as sustainability for the company is about having access to nature, wildlife and food outside your front door wherever you are. It also means ensuring each project is tailored to its location, rather than a one-size-fits all approach, such as including local variety fruit trees within its recent Worcestershire projects. In the last 12 months, awSCAPE has branched into SuDS design, taking on projects that will see SuDS and green infrastructure retrofitted into urban settings. Sustainability is not limited to its projects, though. The practice, located in Stoke-on-Trent, has switched banks recently to Starling Bank, which it says has ethical values and chooses its clients and investments based on their own sustainable and ethical values. www.awscape.co.uk

Cemetery Development Services

Whilst Cemetery Development Services’ core business has historically been the bereavement sector, working on new and refurbishment projects for cemeteries and crematoria, it has now expanded its portfolio to education, health, green space and sports facilities. The Bedford-based firm puts its green agenda at the centre of each of its projects, seeking to minimise energy consumption and drive down energy demand through passive building design and operation techniques. It always aims for biodiversity net gain, with planting trees and establishing wildflower meadows as a priority. CDS is also striving to reduce the use of imported granite, a common material for memorials but one which has a big carbon footprint. The firm is a founding partner of the newly launched Environmental Stewardship Group, which addresses the bereavement sector’s aims to drive change by 2025. www.thecdsgroup.co.uk

Composite Prime

Decking and cladding brand Composite Prime is dedicated to manufacturing environmentally friendly materials. In just over six years, the Leeds-based company has saved the equivalent of 100 million plastic milk bottles from landfill by each square metre of its composite decking containing the equivalent of more than 280 plastic bottles. The majority of its products contain recycled plastics and Forest Stewardship Council 100% certified hardwood timber from responsible and sustainable sources. It is also the only composite brand member of the Timber Trade Federation. To encourage school children into horticulture and to embrace sustainability, Composite Prime donated composite decking to the teaching garden at RHS Garden Harlow Carr and hopes it will raise awareness of recycled materials amongst children. www.composite-prime.com

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Landscaping Solutions

Landscaping Solutions strives to go LANDSCAPING S O L U T I O N S beyond sustainability – its tagline is: ‘We care more’, reflecting its passion and commitment to protect and enhance the environment. The company looks to create ‘regenerative gardens’ which aim to enhance biodiversity and improve a client’s connection to nature. Last year, it introduced an Environmental Assessment Process (EAP) to inform its in-house design process and enable it to pass on insights to other designers where possible. Managing director Ben West also incorporated permaculture principles to the EAP, having studied with and now being a member of the Permaculture Association. Since learning about carbon calculator Pathfinder 2.0 through a series of sustainability webinars, Landscaping Solutions now uses this alongside its EAP to gauge the carbon footprint of its projects and further assist with its own decision making. www.landscapingsolutionsltd.co.uk

Mitie Group Plc

Mitie has pledged to reach net zero carbon by 2025 with the launch of its Plan Zero at the start of last year. There are three pillars to the plan: eliminate carbon emissions from power and transport; eradicate non-sustainable waste; and enhance inefficient buildings to meet the highest environmental standards. One year in, Mitie has one of the UK’s largest fleet of electric vehicles at 900, with more than 625 charge points installed. It has signed up to three business-focused initiatives from The Climate Group. Celebrating the anniversary of the pledge, Mitie has committed to additional pledges, including operating 2,021 pure electric vehicles in its fleet by the end of 2021. In August 2020, it launched its Plan Zero City Landscaping Service, aiming to reduce emissions in high-pollution areas. Mitie also launched the UK’s first zero emission gritting service for commercial use this February. www.mitie.com

Vestre

More than 10 years ago, Vestre became the first climate-neutral outdoor furniture manufacturer in the world, and it has committed to nine of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. Vestre’s own Vision Zero means it will not make a product that is not intended to last forever, which it says is possible through proper use and maintenance as well as offering the option to return worn furniture to its factory for restoration. Its production process uses 100% renewable energy, and its new factory – which is currently under construction – is on target to be the world’s most sustainable furniture factory, using 90% less energy than a similar ‘standard’ factory and achieving BREEAM Outstanding. For 2021, Vestre’s catalogue contains carbon and energy information for each product to enable its customers to make more informed choices and ensure it stands out amongst its competitors. www.vestre.com/uk Pro Landscaper Business Awards

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Supreme Winner Tony Benger Landscaping Ltd

“

THE JUDGES FELT THIS COMPANY WAS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF AN EXCELLENT, WELL-RUN BUSINESS BUILT ON VERY STRONG FOUNDATIONS.

AFTER 30 YEARS OF TRADING, AND DESPITE CONSIDERABLE EXPANSION IN RECENT YEARS, TONY BENGER LANDSCAPING HAS HELD ON TIGHT TO ITS INCLUSIVE CULTURE AND FAMILY FEEL. THE WELL-ESTABLISHED MOTTO OF ‘TONY BENGER LANDSCAPING – A GREAT PLACE TO WORK’ SAYS IT ALL. WITH A ‘COACHING’ APPROACH TO MANAGEMENT, AN EXTENSIVE TRAINING MATRIX AND A PREFERENCE FOR INTERNAL PROMOTION, THE COMPANY IS DETERMINED TO GROW THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF ITS PEOPLE. THE COMPANY HAS THIS YEAR FOCUSED ON ‘POSITIVE MINDSET AND WELLBEING’ TRAINING, EMBRACING MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT NETWORKS AND SEEKING NEW WAYS TO REWARD STAFF FOR PROMOTING COMPANY VALUES. IT HAS INVESTED IN EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION, PEER-LED LEARNING AND ERADICATING BLAME CULTURE TO CREATE A BUSINESS WHICH IT SAYS IS MORE AKIN TO A FAMILY OR A LARGE GROUP OF FRIENDS AND LIKE-MINDED INDIVIDUALS. QUALITY LANDSCAPING, FOLLOWING BEST HORTICULTURAL PRACTICE AND NURTURING ITS STAFF HAVE LED TO THE SUCCESS OF TONY BENGER LANDSCAPING. A GREAT COMPANY, A GREAT YEAR AND A GREAT FUTURE – AND A TRULY WELL-DESERVED ACCOLADE. WELL DONE TO ALL AT TONY BENGER LANDSCAPING, PRO LANDSCAPER’S SUPREME WINNER THIS YEAR.

“

Marian Barker Owner, Fresh Horticultural Careers

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Judges

Adam White Director, Davies White Ltd

Adrian Wickham Director of business & development, Oracle Solicitors

Alison Warner Founder, Evolve and Grow Coaching

Andy Corcoran Operations director (South), Places for People

Ewan Oliver Public realm development manager, Lendlease

Gemma Murphy Director, View HR

Helen Taylor Director, Hosta Consulting

Jonathan Hazell Owner, Jonathan Hazell Consultants

Ken White Managing director, Frosts Landscape Construction

Lee Beaumont Partner, Azets

Lynn Hunter Owner, Pro-Motion

Nick Ruddle Business coach, ActionCOACH UK

Paul Downer Managing director, Oak View Landscapes

Phil Jones CEO, Cultura Group

Richard Gardiner Managing director, NAG Solutions

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winners list Industry Collaboration

Sponsored by

Employer of the Year

Sponsored by

Sustainable Company of the Year

Sponsored by

Trade Nursery of the Year

Sponsored by

Supplier and Service Provider

Sponsored by

Arboriculture Company

Sponsored by

Landscape Architecture Studio

Sponsored by

VaRa Garden Design

Tony Benger Landscaping Ltd

Ground Control

W Crowder & Sons Ltd

Green-tech

Connick Tree Care

ASA Landscape Architects

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Design and Build Company

Sponsored by

Garden Design Company

Sponsored by

Landscaping Company Under £1m Turnover

Sponsored by

Landscaping Company £1m - £5m Turnover

Sponsored by

Landscaping Company Over £5m Turnover

Sponsored by

Commercial Landscaping Company

Sponsored by

Grounds Maintenance Company

Sponsored by

Supreme Winner

Sponsored by

Tony Benger Landscaping Ltd

Sarah Eberle Landscape and Garden Design

Landscapia Ltd

Acre Landscapes Limited

Mitie Group PLC

Maylim

Glendale Services

Tony Benger Landscaping Ltd

Pro Landscaper Business Awards

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Pro Pro Landscaper Landscaper Business Business Awards Awards

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