association comment


Final preparation for GCA Conference OutgoingGCA chairman Mike Lind looks ahead to the upcoming GCAConference


Just like that, Christmas is over for another year. Now all of our member garden centres are clearing away their festive displays and getting ready for the next busy period in the gardening calendar. We have been extremely busy here at the


GCA making final preparations for our annual conference, which takes place from 26-29 January, 2020 at the Mercure Bristol, Grand Hotel in Bristol.


There are currently a number of very powerful and important themes dominating our society and the way we live, and during our conference we will be reflecting on, and discussing, these important issues. This year we have environmentalist, Trewin Restorick, speaking to our members on the Monday of the event about corporate social responsibility, behaviour change to combat climate change, green living and charity and business partnerships. We think he will be a real inspiration to our members and will help them to think more about the issues we’re facing, not just as an industry, but as individuals and as a country.


We are also honoured to have Sir Tim Smit MBE joining us on the Tuesday. Smit is the co- founder and executive vice chair of the award-winning Eden Project.


Smit argues that the twin challenges of economic hardship and climate change makes it necessary to embrace the spirit of war – with a radical approach based less on choice and more on responsibility.


He is also an inspiring businessman and will speak to our attendees about the value of leading by example, showing how to engage a team by daring to be ambitious, moving out of your comfort zone, keeping to your principles and meeting challenges head on. This will all certainly be helpful advice for our garden centre managers.


Health, both mental and physical, is also a hot topic, so we are thrilled to have booked Dame Kelly Holmes MBE (Mil) speaking to our members on the Tuesday.


Holmes is a mental health advocate, so she will have lots of helpful advice that our attendees can take away with them and instil in their own teams.


Economist Paul Mason will also be taking to the stage to discuss the political landscape and the impact of Brexit. These are just a few of the important issues we’ll be focusing on during the conference.


Ensuring that we take notice of these issues as an industry and as individuals is imperative, which is why we’ve pulled together a group of speakers who we feel can help, educate and inspire our members.


As usual, we will also see some wonderful presentations from our team of talented inspectors showcasing the best practices and innovative ideas they saw during their visits to members in 2019.


We’ll also be announcing our various competition winners and hosting our annual black-tie gala dinner and awards evening, when the winners of Garden Centre of the Year and Destination Garden Centre of the Year will be announced.


• Mike Lind is the outgoing chairman of the GCA. Mike Burks, managing director of The Gardens Group, takes over for 2020/21


GCU January/February 2020


www.gardencentreupdate.com | 25


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