Yearly Archives: 2025
GCA Westland Rising Stars 2025
Our very own Aaron, External Gardening Assistant here at Thetford Garden Centre, has been nominated by our management team for the for the GCA Westland Rising Stars 2025 award.
Aaron is a valuable member of the Thetford Garden Centre team and was chosen for his passion and dedication for plants and wildlife. Being part of the Rising Stars award programme is an exceptional opportunity for Aaron to enhance and hone his skills while being mentored by experts in the garden centre industry. Candidates selected for the award programme will participate in a series of workshops and attend various locations and events throughout the year. The workshops will focus on personal skills, presentation skills, and gaining a broader understanding of the garden centre industry.
As part of the award programme candidates are asked to create a project centered around environmental or sustainability themes. Aaron’s project, titled ‘Circle of Life’ is inspired by the growing loss of wildlife habitats due to new housing developments. Aaron designed and created an eco-friendly garden in the Thetford Garden Centre that anyone can replicate in a modern home. The garden shows how even small changes can make a big impact. With the right plants and a bit of care, your garden can become a sanctuary, not just for you, but for the wildlife that depends on us all.
Aaron said ‘By planting wildlife-friendly flowers, shrubs, and trees, we can help rebuild the delicate balance of our local ecosystems. Many plants that bloom in spring and summer attract aphids- tiny insects that might seem like pests but are actually a vital food source for a host of helpful garden allies. Ladybirds, hoverflies, lacewings, and earwigs all love to feast on aphids, helping to keep them in check. And these beneficial insects are also food for a wide variety of other creatures, like birds, spiders, frogs, dragonflies, and even other ladybirds!
When you create a garden rich in plant variety, you’re not just planting for beauty, you’re planting a buffet for nature. Birds eat beetles and spiders. Hedgehogs snack on slugs, snails, and insects. Bats, shrews, and mice all play a role too, while centipedes help control spider populations. And the best part is by supporting this natural food chain, you’re less likely to need chemical pesticides. A balanced ecosystem is its own form of pest control!’
Aaron’s project will be assessed throughout the year to review the various elements on which he received coaching. The best performing finalists will be invited to the 7th workshop and will then be invited to the annual GCA Conference in January 2026 where they will present the progress made on their project idea to the conference.
We’re rooting for you Aaron!
Come and explore the Circle of Life garden on your next visit and discover how easy it is to create a garden that supports nature. All featured plants are available to purchase, and our friendly team is on hand to help you get started.
12 wildlife-friendly flowers you can add to your garden:
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
• Geranium (Pink Pouffe/Rozanne)
• Sunflower (Brown Eyed Girl)
• Mint
• Salvia (Hotlips)
• Scabious (Pink Mist)
• Roses
• Poppy (Patty’s Plum)
• Alliums (Lavender Bubbles)
• Ferns (Dryopteris Jurassic Gold)
• Nepeta (Six Hills Giant)
• Winter Jasmine
Head Baker
Are you passionate about baking and ready to lead with creativity and flair? Our award-winning restaurant is seeking a talented Head Baker to join the kitchen team.
As Head Baker, you’ll take charge of creating an exceptional selection of cakes, pastries, and sweet treats that delight our loyal customers every day. You’ll have the freedom to bring fresh ideas and seasonal inspiration to our menu, backed by a supportive and enthusiastic team.
What we’re looking for:
- Experience in a similar role – you know your way around a bakery kitchen
- A positive attitude and leadership skills – you’ll be guiding the baking side of the kitchen
- A passion for quality, presentation, and consistency
- Creativity – we welcome new ideas and love to innovate
- Reliability and excellent organisational skills
Working Hours:
- Daytime hours only
- Flexible schedule – ideal for achieving work/life balance
Why work with us?
- Family-run, friendly team
- Creative freedom in a respected, well-established restaurant
- Competitive pay (based on experience)
- Staff discounts across the garden centre and restaurant
If you’re ready to take the next step in your baking career and want to work somewhere where your ideas are valued, we’d love to hear from you!
Please send your CV to – matt@thetfordgardencentre.co.uk
Here at Thetford Garden Centre, we’re working to create a more diverse, inclusive team that will bring skills, energy, & enthusiasm to our workplace.
Marketing & Events Manager
Are you a creative and experienced marketing professional ready to take the lead in driving brand growth and customer engagement along with managing a full events programme across the Garden Centre.
Thetford Garden Centre, a long-established independent family-run business, is seeking a passionate and innovative Marketing & Events Manager to oversee and elevate our marketing strategy. With further exciting development plans, we’re looking for someone who brings energy, vision, and a results-driven mindset.
- Key Responsibilities
- Develop and execute a dynamic marketing strategy aligned with brand guidelines
- Create and manage website content, social media, email campaigns, and visual communications using Adobe Creative Cloud, Meta Business Suite and MailChimp.
- Develop and manage an exciting events programme across all departments
- Work closely with the Senior Management Team to boost sales, footfall, and profitability
- Champion our brand across all customer touchpoints and marketing initiatives
- Lead promotional efforts across product categories and events
What We’re Looking For
- Proven experience in marketing, ideally within a retail environment
- Fluency in Adobe Creative Cloud Suite is essential
- Photography, Videography and editing experience is preferable
- Strong web and digital content management skills using WordPress
- Creative flair with a keen eye for design and detail
- Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities
- KPI-focused and confident in collaborating with cross-functional teams
What We Offer
- Competitive salary
- 28 days holiday
- Company pension scheme
- Staff discount and subsidised staff menu
- Uniform provided
- Access to welfare support
- A chance to join a strong, supportive, and forward-thinking team
If you’re ready to bring your marketing talent to a vibrant retail environment with a loyal customer base and growth mindset, we’d love to hear from you!
Please send your CV to – julian@thetfordgardencentre.co.uk
Mr Julian Chittock, Thetford Garden Centre, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2RL
Seasonal Weekend Till/Trolley Assistant
Thetford Garden Centre is a long-established independent family business, continually evolving and striving for impeccable retail standards.
Main duties to include:
- To operate the tills and take payment
- To manage trollies in the designated trolley park
- To provide excellent customer service as standard
- To ensure tills and other areas of the business when required
- Must be flexible to cover holiday and overtime
Applicants must be confident, enthusiastic and able to learn quickly. You will be a lasting impression to our customers and so you will have a great responsibility to provide a high level of customer service at all times. Retail experience is preferable but not essential as full training will be given.
Hours of work:
Saturday: 11am – 3.30pm
Sunday: 11am – 3.30pm
CVs to – marie@thetfordgardencentre.co.uk
Thetford Garden Centre, Kilverstone, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2RL
Barista
This is a great opportunity to join an established family business in our very busy restaurant. Working as a key member of our Front of House team, preparing and serving hot and cold drinks to a consistently high standard whilst keeping your workstation, utensils and equipment clean.
Key Skills Required:
- Previous Barista experience is essential
- A flexible and friendly attitude
- Customer service skills and knowledge
- Enthusiastic to task at hand and the desire to develop new skills
- Ability to do latte art is a big bonus!
Please send your CV to – juan@thetfordgardencentre.co.uk
Here at Thetford Garden Centre, we’re working to create a more diverse, inclusive team that will bring skills, energy, & enthusiasm to our workplace.
Pizza Chef
Are you looking for a career change? This is a great opportunity to join our restaurant, Norfolk Pizza Co. Working as a key member of our kitchen team, serving all fresh, locally sourced produce with a potential for career progression.
Key Skills Required:
- Passion is everything, no experience needed and full training will be provided
- Creativity – the ability to assist in creating new dishes with a hands-on approach and eye for detail
- A positive attitude and outgoing personality are a must
- Have a flexible approach to working
Please send your CV to – james@thetfordgardencentre.co.uk
Here at Thetford Garden Centre, we’re working to create a more diverse, inclusive team that will bring skills, energy, & enthusiasm to our workplace.
Kitchen Porter
This is a great opportunity to join an established business in our successful restaurant. This is a position within our Kitchen team offering full time hours per week in various shift patterns.
The right candidate will need to have experience in a busy working environment, be a good team player and have an interest in good food service. This role can be an opportunity for career progression.
Main duties include:
- To lead and motivate wash up team
- Ensure crockery/cutlery and pots are thoroughly cleaned
- Clean food prep areas and equipment
- Unload food and equipment
- Keep stockroom/fridges/freezers well organised
- Keep work surfaces, wall and floors clean and sanitised
- A positive, can-do attitude is a must
- Applicants must be 18+
Here at Thetford Garden Centre, we’re working to create a more diverse, inclusive team that will bring skills, energy, & enthusiasm to our workplace.
Please send your CV to james@thetfordgardencentre.co.uk .
Weekend Front of House Shift Leader
- Create a positive team environment
- Set clear team objectives and delegate tasks
- Oversee day to day operations training
- Ensure excellent customer service at all times
- Recognise high performance and reward accomplishments
- Excellent communication and leadership skills
- Organisational and time-management skills
- Decision-making skills
- A positive attitude
- Experience in ordering and stock control
This role is for weekends only!
Please send your CV to juan@thetfordgardencentre.co.uk
Thetford Garden Centre, Kilverstone, Thetford IP24 2RL
Here at Thetford Garden Centre, we’re working to create a more diverse, inclusive team that will bring skills, energy, & enthusiasm to our workplace.