Monday Deadline For GCA Trust Dick Allen Scholarship Applications

GARDEN Centre Association (GCA) members and their teams are being urged to put forward staff for this year’s GCA Trust Dick Allen Scholarship Award Scheme by Monday (March 25, 2024).

The scheme is open to staff within GCA garden centres and the two recipients of the award will be invited to attend the International GCA (IGCA) Congress later in the year in Canada.

GCA Chief Executive, Peter Burks explains: “Will Armitage spoke at our conference in January on behalf of the GCA Trust about funding two places on the IGCA Congress to Canada, August 25-31,2024. For those members who missed his presentation and have staff on their teams who might benefit from this, we’d urge you to nominate them now, as the closing date for applications is March 25, 2024.”

Last year, the GCA Trust selected Louise Kemp from Coolings Wych Cross Garden Centre [main image] and Ashley Bains from Barton Grange [pictured below] to attend the IGCA Congress in Italy.

The pair each received a sponsored place at the event in September 2023 as part of the Dick Allen Scholarship Award Scheme.

Peter adds: “Anyone at our 2024 conference would have also heard from Louise and Ash. They spoke to delegates about how useful and important they found the Congress they attended and what ideas they were able to bring back and implement in the garden centres where they work. 

“This year’s applications are open until March 25, 2024, and from those submitted, two will be chosen to attend this year’s IGCA Congress. The places on offer are only for the Next Generation Study Tour and for delegates aged 18-40.

“If someone on your team or you would like to apply for a place, please email Laura@gca.org.uk with a brief explanation of why they/you would like to attend, along with a supporting email from their/your employer.”

More details can be found on the GCA website www.gca.org.uk/igca-congress-to-canada-25031-august-2024/.

Will Armitage, GCA Trust Chairman, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for any enthusiastic garden centre team member. The GCA Trust will cover the full Congress registration fee, but travel expenses will need to be met by your employer. Other than personal expenses and travel insurance, there are no further costs involved.

“The places are open to all employees of GCA member garden centres, excluding owners and their immediate family, and would be an ideal personal development opportunity for any member of a garden centre’s management, or potential management, team.

“The successful candidates will be expected to spend five minutes, or so, on stage at next year’s GCA conference to tell everyone about their experiences and what they and their garden centre were able to gain from the opportunity. We can’t stress enough how useful this is to members and their businesses. For more information about the Canadian Congress, please visit igca24.ca.

“Get your application in today, as we do need to have made our selection by March 25, so please get in touch with Laura via Laura@gca.org.uk ASAP!”

The object of the GCA Trust is to advance among the general public, and, specifically among horticultural students, education in horticulture, and particularly garden centres, by the provision and administration of scholarships and bursaries, including prizes to foster such education.

The Trust also aims to assist horticultural students to study, research into and gain experience of horticulture.

The GCA represents more than 200 garden centres nationwide.

Through sharing information and its inspection programme the GCA helps members to achieve high standards in customer service, plant quality and reliability.

For further information, please visit www.gca.org.uk.

Source : GCA

Image : Last year’s successful GCA Trust IGCA Congress applicant, Louise Kemp from Coolings Wych Cross Garden Centre with Gary Carvosso, Chairman at Coolings.

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