The MorePeople Podcast

In this episode of the MorePeople Podcast, Associate Director Sarah is joined by Stuart Lowen, Chairman of the Colgrave Seabrook Foundation, and Tim Kerley, trustee and former scholarship recipient, to explore the vital role the charity plays in supporting careers across horticulture.They discuss the foundation's history, the scholarships and bursaries available, the impact these opportunities have had on hundreds of individuals, and why passion and enthusiasm matter more than age or background.Tim also shares his personal experience of receiving a scholarship that helped fund a year in the USA, and how the contacts, knowledge and experience he gained continue to shape his career decades later.Whether you're a student, career changer, employer, or simply passionate about the future of horticulture, this episode highlights the importance of investing in people and developing the industry's future talent.

The horticulture industry is facing huge challenges - from labour shortages and regulation to an ageing workforce and a declining number of commercial nurseries.But what happens when the industry faces those challenges together?Sarah Want is joined by Derek Jarman, Chairman of the British Ornamental Association (BOA), to discuss his career in horticulture, the role of the BOA and why collaboration could be one of the industry's greatest strengths.From securing access to the Seasonal Worker Scheme for ornamental growers, to sharing knowledge at industry events and making better use of available funding, Derek explains why businesses don't have to tackle every challenge alone.Because the challenges facing horticulture are significant - but so are the opportunities when the industry works together.

In this episode of the More People Podcast, we sit down with farm business consultant, mental health advocate, and content creator Tom York.Tom shares his remarkable journey from a challenging childhood, struggling with confidence and undiagnosed ADHD, to becoming a leading voice in agriculture, mental health awareness, and resilience. Along the way, he reveals how fitness transformed not only his physical health, but also the way he manages life's toughest challenges.Whether you work in agriculture, business, or simply want to build greater resilience in your own life, this episode is packed with practical insights and inspiring lessons on mindset, mental health, and personal growth.

When leadership gets difficult, what do you do?Andrew Fitzmaurice is joined by Mark Kitson, an experienced business leader and consultant with a career spanning Whitbread, Costa Coffee and senior leadership roles across the food and hospitality sector.They explore what really happens when things don't go to plan - from failed strategies and business crises to conflict, difficult conversations and the isolation that can come with leadership.Mark shares some honest lessons from his own career, including why failure can be one of the most valuable teachers, why leaders need to stop avoiding uncomfortable conversations, and how coaching isn't always about giving people the answers.Because leadership isn't about having all the answers. Sometimes it's about having the confidence to say: "This isn't working. What do we do next?"

In this episode of the MorePeople Podcast, Sean Sankey joins us to unpack one of the biggest challenges facing modern organisations: helping talented people communicate effectively when the stakes are high.Drawing on his work with leadership teams across multiple industries, Sean explores why communication, confidence, and conflict management have become critical business skills. From boardroom disagreements and executive presentations to talent development and team performance, he shares what separates high-performing teams from those that become stuck in conflict, misunderstanding, or stagnation.