Once again MorePeople have teamed up with the HTA to help them promote the importance of staff training and personal development in the success of their member garden centres and retail nurseries. The Shop Care and Plant Care Training Awards are designed to reward excellence in their categories and the 2008 Candidates of the Year, Margaret Shurlock and Jane Earthy, certainly demonstrated very high standards of achievement and were worthy winners of the titles.

Margaret and Jane each receive £500 to be spent on additional training, a horticultural study trip or relevant training materials to further their horticultural careers. Both of these prizes were sponsored by MorePeople.

• Margaret Shurlock, (pictured with, left to right, David Gwyther, Guy Moreton and Bob Hewitt, MD of the Klondyke Group) from Klondykes/Strikes Garden Centre, Northallerton is the winner of the HTA Shop Care Award candidate of the year. Assessors commented that Margaret was ‘a superb candidate whose knowledge is far wider than is recognised by the assessment. Furthermore, because she really understands the underlying subjects she can convey the right information to the customer in an understanding way’.

• Jane Earthy, (pictured right) From Monkton Elm Pet and Garden Centre in Taunton is the winner of the HTA Plant Care Award candidate of the year. Assessors were impressed by Jane’s exceptional knowledge of all sections and recognised that she must have put in a huge amount of work and effort.

The two winning candidates were presented with their awards at Glee 2008 by Guy Moreton Director of MorePeople, and David Gwyther, Director General of the HTA.

Guy said “Business is getting tougher and business owners, directors and managers need to keep focused on their customers’ needs at all times. As members of the HTA we are delighted to be involved with this Award as it not only rewards the talent and enthusiasm of team members but also recognises the efforts that the business owners have gone to in developing their people”.