Six recent recruits to the horticulture industry have been awarded free places for the IPPS nursery stock industry conference which takes place in Kegworth, Derbyshire on September 25-27.
The six were uncovered through the IPPS' Six Pack scheme which offers places to talented individuals who are new to the sector.
IPPS GB and Ireland president David Talbot said:"We have achieved our goal of unearthing some of the industry’s most highly motivated people and it was very pleasing that the competition for places was close.
"We believe they’ll get a lot out of the conference and that the contacts they make through IPPS will stand them in great stead throughout their horticultural careers."
The six are:
- Pip Blackburn, a horticulture student at Derby College
- Matthew Lohan, from Woodstock Trees & Shrubs, Ireland
- James Rowe, despatch supervisor at John Woods Nurseries, Suffolk
- Sally Crawford, a horticulture student at Greenmount College (CAFRE), Northern Ireland
- Karen Harrison, nursery manager at perennials, shrubs and trees grower Planet Plants, Kent
- Colm O’Driscoll from Young Nurseries, a specialist perennials grower in Limerick, Ireland
In return for their free places, the six will be helping out with all aspects of running the conference, from meeting and greeting other delegates to acting as guides on the conference visits to two of the East Midlands’ most highly regarded nursery businesses – James Coles Nurseries and Welland Vale Nurseries.
The conference includes an international line-up of speakers from New Zealand, the Netherlands, Israel, Ireland and the UK on topics ranging from propagation technology to plant promotion.
Sponsors of the 2013 Six Pack are: Compo, Melcourt, W Godfrey & Sons, Roundstone Nurseries, Grow South, South West Growers and Bord Bia – the Irish food board.
For more information about the conference visit www.ipps.org.uk
