Yorkshire Garden Centres, a prominent group based in Bradford, has announced the creation of three strategic roles to support its expansion across six sites.
These newly established positions aim to bolster the company’s operations and enhance customer experience as they integrate recent acquisitions.
New Roles to Foster Growth
The group operates garden centres in Tong, Tingley, Otley, and Bingley. Following the recent acquisition of Dean’s of York and Dean’s of Scarborough, the group has appointed new roles to streamline operations across these locations. The positions include Group People and Culture Manager, Group Catering Operations Manager, and Giftware and Christmas Team Lead.
Group People and Culture Manager
Steph Harrison, who joined Yorkshire Garden Centres in 2022, has been promoted to the Group People and Culture Manager role. Her responsibilities encompass overseeing the People and Culture team, collaborating with the team’s head to develop and implement the People and Culture strategy, and ensuring the seamless operation of this department.
Giftware and Christmas Team Lead
Lisa Passant, also a member of the Yorkshire Garden Centres team since 2022, has advanced to the position of Giftware and Christmas Team Lead. Ms. Passant will manage the giftware section, lead her team, and oversee stock rotation to ensure a vibrant and attractive offering for customers.
Group Catering Operations Manager
Joining the team from British Garden Centres earlier this year, Thomas Waller brings a wealth of experience as a catering operations specialist. Mr. Waller will drive the group’s catering operations, focusing on maintaining high standards and compliance across all sites.
Leadership and Development
Mark Farnsworth, Managing Director of Yorkshire Garden Centres, expressed his confidence in the new appointments, stating:
“Steph and Lisa have worked hard to earn their promotions and Thomas has joined the business at a very exciting time. All three appointments will help to prepare us for future growth.”
The company places a strong emphasis on staff development, with initiatives such as the in-house leadership development programme, Great By Nature. This programme aims to cultivate leaders who inspire excellence among their colleagues. The business also funded Steph Harrison’s CIPD Level 5 People Management qualification, demonstrating their commitment to professional growth within the team.
Yorkshire Garden Centres: A Growing Network
The Yorkshire Garden Centres group includes Tong, Tingley, Otley, and Bingley garden centres, alongside the newly acquired Dean’s York and Dean’s Scarborough locations. The Otley and Bingley centres were previously known as Stephen H Smith’s before being acquired by the group in 2022.
Yorkshire Garden Centres’ strategic appointments reflect their dedication to growth and excellence across their sites. By investing in skilled professionals and focusing on leadership development, the group is well-positioned to continue its expansion and enhance customer satisfaction.
