Nicholsons in “Grower of the Year” Finals
Release date: March 10th 2009

Oxfordshire-based Nicholson Nurseries came away from the prestigious “Grower of the Year” finals as runners-up in the highly competitive Nursery Stock Grower category, earning a Highly Commended accolade from the judges.

“We are absolutely delighted to have achieved this national recognition,” said Niel Nicholson, Director of Nicholsons. “We were up against some of the largest commercial growers in the country, and we felt that simply reaching the final was an achievement. Then, to have been picked out for special commendation, is quite brilliant. It’s a great reward for all the hard work and dedication of our staff.”

The Awards were staged at a special dinner at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on February 26th, hosted by the “Voice of the Balls", Alan Dedicoat and presented by BBC sports presenter John Inverdale. The Awards honour the best examples of excellence, innovation, technical expertise and personal achievement within British horticulture, and cover all aspects of growing, from fruit and hardy nursery stock through to pot plants, vegetables, salads and cut flowers. There are also special categories for those involved in research, development, sales and marketing.

“It’s the top award ceremony of its kind in Britain,” explained Mr Nicholson. “The event is organised by Horticultural Week magazine, and sponsored by some of the biggest names in the industry, including the National Farmers Union, the Horticultural Trades Association and Asda supermarkets. The category we were nominated for; Nursery Stock Grower of the Year, is awarded to the nursery plant grower that most impresses the judges.”

Nicholsons had to demonstrate excellence in a broad variety of areas, including customer satisfaction, corporate growth, innovation, product range, use of technology and equipment, plant hygiene, staff motivation and service. From the thousands of growers in UK, just 34 were shortlisted for the finals, including Nicholsons. In the end the top Nursery Stock Grower award went to the Bransford Webbs Plant Company of Worcester.

“Bransford Webb is one of the UK’s largest growers,” said Mr Nicholson. “They’re a large company supplying many of the major plant centres and retailers, so we’re very pleased to be considered in that context.” Nicholsons cultivates some 80,000 trees, container-grown hedging plants, shrubs and bare-root stock each year from a 25-acre site in North Aston, near Deddington. Founded in 1979, Nicholsons celebrates its 30th anniversary this year as a family-run business.

Four representatives from Nicholsons Plants Division attended the glittering dinner; Niel Nicholson (Director), Cat Hillier (Sales Operations Manager), Catherine Post (Plant Centre Manager) and Merlin Brooke-Little (Nursery Manager).