The team at a Bradford-headquartered garden centre group is celebrating after being shortlisted for two national HR awards.

Yorkshire Garden Centres Group has reached the final in both the Retail Company of the Year Award and the Innovation of the Year at the British HR Awards which celebrate organisations and individuals that are driven by delivering a world-class people experience. Yorkshire Garden Centre’s Head of People and Culture, Neil Barwise-Carr, is delighted with the news, adding:

“We have a great team at Yorkshire Garden Centres so we’re very proud that they have been recognised with a place in the final of not one, but two awards."

“We are delighted and proud that our commitment to the environment and sustainability has earned us a place in the final of the Innovation category and our commitment to nurturing and developing our team has been rewarded with a shortlist for the Retail Company of the Year award.”

Nate Harwood, Founder of New Possible and British HR Awards judge said: "With a 40% increase in the number of entries this year, judging was both a great privilege and a real challenge. Congratulations to all the Finalists who have demonstrated the passion, commitment, and talent at the beating heart of British HR."

The stellar lineup of 13 judges includes representatives from Shelter, The AA, Lloyds Pharmacy and Iceland Foods.

Yorkshire Garden Centres faces competition from Heron Foods, Holland & Barrett and Selfridges for the Retail Company of the Year Award and DHU Healthcare, Egress, inploi, Jaguar Land Rover, Live More Offline, Sedulo Group and Speedy Services for the Innovation of the Year Award. The winners will be announced at a celebration event in Central London on 16th April.

The British HR Awards is powered by New Possible, a next-generation employee insight platform. New Possible helps leaders build healthier organisations by providing meaningful insight that can drive real change.

The Yorkshire Garden Centres (YGC) group comprises Tong, Tingley, Otley and Bingley Garden Centres and the recently acquired Dean’s York and Scarborough. Otley and Bingley Garden Centres were known as Stephen H Smith’s before they were acquired by YGC in 2022.