Archive for September 28, 2011

Enhancing the Leadership Potential of Businesses

Established in 1995, Lincolnshire's Winchester Growers are the UK's leading grower/packers of daffodil bulbs and flowers and one of the few UK flower growers to export products to Europe and the USA.

Working with our specialist training division, MorePerformance, and taking advantage of funding from Lantra LandSkills East Midlands CMYK (jpg) small.jpgLandSkills East Midlands, Winchester employees were able to receive bespoke training that was designed specifically to enhance their understanding of leadership, build personal confidence and help them operate more effectively.

Craig Wilcox, Winchester Growers Operations Manager, stated that "Having implemented new systems and work practices, we recognised we also needed to get the 'people side' of things right as well. We put 32 colleagues through a 2 day programme designed specifically for us by MorePerformance and as a result, now have a re energised group of team leaders who understand more clearly how people interact with each other, build rapport and can break down barriers that can exist within any team. That's a great asset to have in a diversified work environment like ours."

If you would like to discuss bespoke training for your business or to see what funding opportunities are available, please call Jan, Peter or Louise for an informal chat on 01780 480530.

Defra Logo small.jpgRDPE EU logo small.jpgsolutions for business logo.jpg

This course/project is funded by LandSkills East Midlands, managed by Lantra, as part of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE). RDPE is funded by Defra and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

Garden Retail Awards Finalist!

homebase1 web small.jpgIn 2006 MorePerformance and Homebase started working together to develop a training programme that could deliver core horticultural skills and product knowledge on a consistent and accessible level to a wide range of their retail colleagues.

Today the Homebase Gardening Licence is a fully accredited award recognised by City & Guilds and delivered at 20 regional centres across the UK and Ireland. The programme not only includes three face to face seasonally themed training sessions but now also incorporates integrated online backup and formal knowledge validation via the company's 'Learning Zone' intranet system. This is further supplemented by learning exercises held back in store in between the formal store based training days.

GRA_2011_finalist web small.jpgThat's 5 years of hard work, cooperation and teamwork between MorePerformance and the Homebase Garden World team that's seen nearly 1500 employees undergo horticultural training and over 300 potential 'graduates' lined up to complete the first C&G approved Gardening Licence programme this year.

So naturally we are delighted that this unique programme has seen Homebase shortlisted as finalists in the 'Commitment to Staff Development Category' at the 2011 Garden Retail Awards, held this year on 31st October at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane.

It's great accolade to be nominated but of course it would be even better to win it so please keep fingers, and everything else, crossed for us on the 31st!

Amenity Sales Exec (ref:3755)

Location: Leicestershire (East Midlands)

Salary: Circa £25,000

Job Type: Full-Time

Duration: Permanent

Our client is one of the UK's leading amenity nurseries who supply a wide rang of stock to landscape contractors, local authorities & designers across the UK. They are currently seeking an office based sales person with excellent HNS knowledge to join their busy sales team.

Working closely within the Sales Team, the role will occupy an important position in the Company with responsibilities for:

  • Conducting Sales Activity and encouraging additional sales;
  • Providing Pricing Quotations, Availability and Horticultural information to customers;
  • Promoting good Customer Relations;
  • Filling in Tender and Contract documents;
  • Making accurate, rapid Cost Calculations.

Ideally, you will have experience in wholesale nursery sales and have a sound working knowledge of computerised stock control programs. You will be a team player, possessing a positive attitude to work, able to accept responsibility and work on your own initiative. Your initial salary will be negotiated in relation to your experience and qualifications.

Graduates (ref:3684)

Location: Lincolnshire (East Midlands)

Salary: £Excellent

Job Type: Full-Time

Duration: Permanent

We have an option here for promising candidates who are looking to get into fresh produce. The range of responsibilities vary from commercial or account management or trading routes open. Our client is a category leading fresh food marketing business with an excellent reputation within the sector and relationships with a number of the UK's leading multiple retailers.

Person specification:

  • You should have a passion and ambition for a career in fresh produce; relevant degrees and work experience will make you stand out from the crowd.

Graduates (ref:3684)

Location: Lincolnshire (East Midlands)

Salary: £Excellent

Job Type: Full-Time

Duration: Permanent

We have an option here for promising candidates who are looking to get into fresh produce. The range of responsibilities vary from commercial or account management or trading routes open. Our client is a category leading fresh food marketing business with an excellent reputation within the sector and relationships with a number of the UK's leading multiple retailers.

Person specification:

  • You should have a passion and ambition for a career in fresh produce; relevant degrees and work experience will make you stand out from the crowd.

Garden Centre Manager (ref:3686)

Location: Somerset (South West)

Salary: £28,000 ~ £32,000

Job Type: Full-Time

Duration: Permanent

An outstanding Garden Centre Manager is required for Avon based garden centre. Our client is seeking an energetic, plant focussed retailer with drive and ambition. The successful candidate will have good retail management experience, and a garden centre background, ideally with some plant knowledge. This role would suit either someone seeking their first general management role or someone with a little more experience.

Garden Centre Manager (ref:3686)

Location: Somerset (South West)

Salary: £28,000 ~ £32,000

Job Type: Full-Time

Duration: Permanent

An outstanding Garden Centre Manager is required for Avon based garden centre. Our client is seeking an energetic, plant focussed retailer with drive and ambition. The successful candidate will have good retail management experience, and a garden centre background, ideally with some plant knowledge. This role would suit either someone seeking their first general management role or someone with a little more experience.

Graduates ~ Sales or Procurement Support (ref:3693)

Location: Lincolnshire (East Midlands)

Salary: £20,000 ~ £25,000

Job Type: Full-Time

Duration: Permanent

We have an option here for promising candidates who are looking to get into fresh produce. The range of responsibilities are within the firm's tropical team with roles varying from Sales to Procurement support.

Company description:

This business is part of a massive organisation and is recognised as one of the leaders in the categories in which it competes, including tropical, citrus and deciduous fruits.

Person specification:

You should have passion and ambition for a career in fresh produce and educated to degree level, with some experience.

Our client is looking for candidates with real language skills, ideally French or Spanish.

Graduates ~ Sales or Procurement Support (ref:3693)

Location: Lincolnshire (East Midlands)

Salary: £20,000 ~ £25,000

Job Type: Full-Time

Duration: Permanent

We have an option here for promising candidates who are looking to get into fresh produce. The range of responsibilities are within the firm's tropical team with roles varying from Sales to Procurement support.

Company description:

This business is part of a massive organisation and is recognised as one of the leaders in the categories in which it competes, including tropical, citrus and deciduous fruits.

Person specification:

You should have passion and ambition for a career in fresh produce and educated to degree level, with some experience.

Our client is looking for candidates with real language skills, ideally French or Spanish.

Trainee Manager (ref:3756)

Location: Hampshire (South East)

Salary: Circa £15,000

Job Type: Full-Time

Duration: Permanent

Dynamic future managers with a passion for horticulture required to join an outstanding Trainee Management Scheme. Our client is seeking the garden retailers of the future. Candidates should be keen to pursue a career in Garden Centre Management - have some horticultural knowledge or some garden centre experience, enthusiasm and a good work ethic. Excellent career opportunities available for the right candidates.