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Trade associations are where business owners tend to turn to prove their reputation as landscapers, designers and specialists in specified fields. We look to them when growing our businesses and seeking advice and help. There are two giants in the landscaping industry - The Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) and British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI). Alongside these are The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), Grounds Management Association (GMA), BIGGA and Landscape Institute. Other registers and associations such as the manufacturer led ones include Marshalls, Brett, Bradstone, London Stone and of course the team here at The Landscaper’s Circle.
So why should you join an industry specific trade association such as these?
A reputation tool – It’s key to helping your business gain a trusted reputation within industry and works both online and offline as a marketing tool. It shows potential clients that you are a serious business and have invested in yourself.
A great part of your marketing strategy – You have an online profile that you can update and through the association’s presence at industry events you gain visibility too. Through most of the associations and registers you will gain more enquiries.
To gain recognition – When you are starting out in your landscaping and design business you need to get recognised. Industry awards are great for getting your work out there and recognised by the industry and peers. Awards are also important for marketing to potential customers, helping build their trust in your business.
Peer-to-peer support – There are opportunities to be a part of round table discussions at local cluster meetings. You can also meet fellow landscapers, designers and other experts in your field at regional and national awards held yearly, as well as meetings and at industry events.
Training – many associations provide opportunities for up-levelling skills and and for adding to your continuing professional development (CPD).
It puts you in front of the right customers – If you are looking to gain better quality clients being a part of these associations and registers are key. Potential customers are always looking to avoid rogue traders and by being a part of one of these associations will give them greater confidence in you and the service you provide.
Collaboration opportunities – What better way to build relationships and explore collaboration opportunities than with other companies who are part of the same associations as you.
Discount on products/services/ free helplines
– This can range from paving to insurance to points schemes and free telephone advice helplines.
And there are many more! This is just a list that continues to grow and grow.
As Phil Tremayne of The APL says: “The benefits of joining a trade association are not always clear cut but many. As a member of the APL you will benefit from accreditation, benchmarking, market information, training opportunities and support. Now more than ever we feel that the real benefit of being part of an association like us at the APL is the community.The APL provides a place where likeminded industry professionals can share best practice and gain support.”
Do not dismiss how important these associations and affiliations can be to your business. Particularly when it comes to marketing and growing. Just be mindful of cost versus benefit to you and your business.
As always should you need some advice on associations, affiliations or just need to speak about marketing your landscaping business please give us a call on 02381 800108 or email info@thelandscaperscircle.co.uk
The Landscaper’s Circle is the only online platform exclusively for business owners in the landscaping industry to learn how to market and run their business better. Become part of the #TLCTribe today for training and support. If you need our help please email at info@thelandscaperscircle.co.uk | www.thelandscaperscircle.co.uk
With this year’s National Landscape Awards now closed for entries the submissions are now with their allocated judges who are performing their site visits, as well as reviewing paper-based submissions. This is all in time for their deliberation meeting at the end of August where the panel will return to Landscape House for a threeday meeting to present their findings to each other, the Chairman of the Judging Panel John Melmoe, Chief Executive Wayne Grills and Events Project Manager Emily Feeney. Each entry is presented, discussed and scrutinised to ensure consensus of the panel.
Winners will be announced at the start of September where promotion of winners and sponsors will be taking place through multiple industry publications, social media and via winners themselves. This is why there is no better time to support the Awards through the many sponsorship opportunities available.
Sponsoring the largest landscaping Awards in Europe, which welcomes over 1,000 guests annually, promises to elevate your business with brand awareness and generating new business. It reinforces client confidence in your brand, builds trust, significantly expands your reach and positions your company as an integral part of the landscaping industry – don’t just take our word for it.
Of the awards, MCM, Accredited Supplier member and sponsor of the National Landscape Awards says: “To play such a prominent part in the Awards Programme puts us in a stronger position in branding, communication, reach and engagement and allows us to reinforce client confidence, focus and reputation in our key market sectors.”
The British Association of Landscape Industries award ceremony is due to take place at JW Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor House, London on December 3, 2021.
Limited sponsorship opportunities remain available, for further details contact Diane McCulloch via at diane.mcculloch@bali.org.uk.
For general enquiries contact Emily Feeney at emily.feeney@bali.org.uk.
Toro Student greenkeeper finalists revealed
BIGGA and Reesink Turfcare reveal the finalists of the 2021 Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards
After a year’s hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards are returning for 2021, with the search on to find the country’s best up-and-coming greenkeepers.
Each year the awards enable BIGGA (The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association) to work alongside turf maintenance equipment manufacturer Toro and distributor Reesink Turfcare to celebrate the next generation of talented and dedicated greenkeepers.
A record 49 nominees from across the United Kingdom participated in regional interviews. These candidates were nominated by their employers or colleague tutors and from those candidates a final 12 have been chosen to contest the grand final this September.
The finals will take place at Celtic Manor Resort near Cardiff. September’s event will be the 32nd staging of the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards and just the fifth time the Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award, open to greenkeepers aged 21 or under.
The Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year finalists are: 1. Leon Brant, assistant greenkeeper at Wexham Park
Golf Club 2. John Le Cappelain, apprentice greenkeeper at
Royal Jersey Golf Club 3. Daryn Curtis, greenkeeper at Royal Mid-Surrey
Golf Club 4. Matthew McCreadie, greenkeeper at Daventry &
District Golf Club 5. Matthew Milligan, first assistant at Rudding Park
Golf Club 6. Michael Russell, greenkeeper and ecology manager at Preston Golf Club
The Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year finalists are:
1. Rhian Barton, apprentice greenkeeper at The Wisley
Golf Club 2. Greg Manson, apprentice greenkeeper at Mortonhall
Golf Club 3. Callum Marjoribanks, apprentice greenkeeper at
Mortonhall Golf Club 4. Ross McKie, apprentice greenkeeper at
St Andrews Links 5. Will Pallister, apprentice greenkeeper at Cleckheaton & District Golf Club 6. Cameron Shanks, apprentice greenkeeper at
Bothwell Castle Golf Club
The Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year winner will receive an eight-week all expenses-paid scholarship to America when restrictions allow, including a sixweek residential turf management study course at the University of Massachusetts, a trip to the Golf Industry Show in San Diego, California, and a visit to Toro manufacturing facilities.
The Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year winner will receive a work experience placement at the exclusive Vidauban Golf Club in southern France. They will also receive a trip to Continue to Learn at BTME and enjoy a five-night package that includes hotel, four days of education, travel and £125 expenses, plus a Toro training voucher.
Sami Strutt, head of learning & development at BIGGA, says: “I was delighted to learn that a record number of student greenkeepers had been nominated for this year’s award, especially after the challenges of the past year. For so many employers and tutors to recognise the commitment of the students, despite the difficulties we have all faced, is testament to what a wonderful industry we are working in. There can be no better introduction to the greenkeeping community than a nomination for these awards and, these 12 finalists should be incredibly proud of everything they have achieved thus far.”
The Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year finals take place at Celtic Manor Resort on Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 September 2021.
Budding horticulturists find success
In July more than 14 horticultural students gathered at environmental charity Bankside Open Spaces Trust’s award winning Red Cross Garden to celebrate passing the Trust’s Future Gardeners Programme. With two previous graduations disrupted by covid, the event saw three groups of students mark their successes.
Launched in 2016, Future Gardeners is an innovative training and work experience scheme, giving participants core skills to gain entry level jobs in the horticulture industry without having any previous experience or specialist education. The programme is run by Bankside Open Spaces Trust with support from the Worshipful Company of Gardeners, the Royal Parks Guild, Walworth Garden and Roots and Shoots. Future Gardeners is entirely funded by donations and is free for the trainees – giving opportunities to the long term unemployed and those who have struggled to access education.
The speakers at the event included; Richard Barley, Director of Horticulture and Learning at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Dr. Heather Barrett-Mold, Immediate Past Master, Worshipful Company of Gardeners; and Robert Halbert-Pereno, Gardener, Lancaster West Estate and previous Future Gardeners student.
The programme has been running for five years and has seen 115 students through its doors. There is an overall completion rate of 81%. Out of the students who finish the course 75% have gone on to employment in the industry.
Nine students graduated from Future Gardeners 11, the most recent course that ended on the day of the graduation. They had reason to celebrate as seven out of the nine students had already been successful in gaining employment in the industry with the likes of Bartholomew Landscapes, Gavin Jones and Willerby Landscapes.
The Trust will welcome the next round of students in September 2021.
