Speakers announced for HTA's Member Investment and Success panel at Horticulture, The Conference
25 July 2025
The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has today announced four more speakers who will join the line-up at this year’s Horticulture, The Conference, on Thursday 25 September at the Barbican Centre in London.
The Member Investment and Success panel will hear directly from HTA members who have made bold decisions during challenging times. Chaired by HTA President Will Armitage, topics will include technology upgrades and site redevelopment.
Panellists, including Dave Richardson of Forestart, Nigel Thompson of Sipcam Home & Garden, Keith Nicholson of Westland Horticulture, and Alan Ginn of Sunnyside Garden Centre, will discuss the reasons behind their recent business investments, the methods they used, and the impact of these changes.
Will Armitage, President of the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), said:
“In what has been a busy year so far for the horticultural sector, I’m looking forward to hearing from our members about their investments and successes.
“I understand first-hand some of the challenges our industry faces, but I also know the proactive steps our members are taking to navigate these tough times. It’s going to be an enjoyable and enlightening discussion, filled with honest stories and practical ideas to take home.”
Panellist Dave Richardson joined Forestart – a company specialising in tree seed collection, extraction, storage, and breeding - in 2006. As part of a team of three senior managers, he is responsible for finance, investment, and some production functions.
Dave Richardson commented:
“Our business doubled in size from 2016 to 2021, then doubled again between 2021 and 2025. This led us to develop our third site in 10 years.”
The HTA has already confirmed other conference speakers, including:
- Dr Tim Leunig, Economist and Policy expert
- Josh McBain, Global foresight expert
- Business Leaders panel: Alan Roper (Blue Diamond), Natalie Boynton (Happy Plants), Colin Stephens (Evergreen Garden Care) and chair, BBC Breakfast presenter Jon Kay
- and Jeremy Vine as the After-Dinner Speaker
More speakers and details about Horticulture, The Conference will be announced in the coming weeks.
Early bird pricing and group discounts:
HTA Members are invited to take advantage of exclusive early-bird rates, with group discounts available for bookings of three or more from the same company, starting at just £99 per person. The early bird offer is available until 31 July.
For more information and to secure tickets, visit hta.org.uk/conference.