Applications Are Open For The 2025 GCA Trust Dick Allen Scholarship

GARDEN Centre Association (GCA) members are being invited to put forward team members for this year’s GCA Trust Dick Allen Scholarship Award Scheme (May 2025).

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

Will Armitage, GCA Trust Chairman, says: “This is an amazing opportunity for any aspiring members of garden centre teams to see how garden centres operate in South Africa, while furthering their personal development with an opportunity to network with other garden centre operators from all over the world in a more informal environment. 

“Speaking from personal experience, the successful applicants will have the opportunity to forge lasting professional relationships with likeminded people from all over the world and make some great friends. 

“The two successful candidates will be expected to take to the stage at next year’s GCA conference to give a brief presentation of their experiences and what they and their garden centre were able to gain from this opportunity.” 

Applications are now open and from those submitted, two will be chosen to attend this year’s International GCA Congress, which takes place in South Africa from October 19-25, 2025.

For full details please visit: www.igca25.co.za/igca25/. 

They will not only travel to the destination but will participate in the ‘Interactive Tour’ group and take part in discussions. 

Through the wider conversations within the delegate group, they will gain an understanding of how garden centres operate within the host country, as well as in other countries, including their own. 

Applications can be made online here www.gca.org.uk/bursaries-and-grants/ and must be endorsed and supported by the applicant’s employer. The closing date for applications is June 30. The places for the Next Generation Study Tour are for delegates aged 18-40. 

The GCA Trust will cover the full Congress registration fee including accommodation, but travel expenses will need to be met by the employer. Other than personal expenses and travel insurance, there are no further costs involved. 

The object of the GCA Trust is to advance among the general public and, in particular 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. 

Tickets for the GCA’s 2026 Annual Conference go on sale on July 1, 2025.

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

Source : GCA

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