The Grow Landscapers 10 Minute Business Tips Podcast Series

In this week’s 10-Minute Business Tip (ok, maybe a bit longer 😅), I’m joined by the legendary garden designer, RHS judge, and BBC presenter Manoj Malde We dive into 3 unmissable business tips for landscapers and designers:1️⃣ Get yourself a great accountant – save time, stress & serious £££2️⃣ Build strong relationships – collaboration is the secret sauce3️⃣ Protect your reputation – your clients are your best marketing team!Plus, we talk attracting young talent into the industry, the value of investing in your garden (and your team), and why the cheapest quote often costs the most in the end!

“If you don’t focus on your strengths and test your ideas before diving in, you’re not building a business—you’re just spinning your wheels.” — Steve Walley In this episode of the Grow Landscapers 10 Minute Business Tip Series, host Nick Ruddle welcomes back Steve Walley, a familiar face from the first series and a key figure at London Stone. Steve brings his wealth of experience to the table, sharing practical, no-nonsense tips to help landscape business owners sharpen their focus, boost efficiency, and grow smarter. Key Takeaways:1. Play to Your Strengths:  - Resist the temptation to chase every new idea—stick to what you’re best at to avoid diluting your business.  - Steve shares how straying into commercial paving and interior tiles cost time and money before refocusing on London Stone’s core strengths.  - Focus on being exceptional in one area rather than average across many.2. Daily Accountability:  - Set clear daily goals for yourself and your team to stay on track and avoid reactive firefighting.  - Steve introduces the “stand-up” meeting—a quick daily check-in to review yesterday’s progress and plan today’s priorities.  - This simple habit keeps everyone aligned, accountable, and free to work without constant oversight.3. Test Before You Invest:  - Before committing time and money to a new venture, test the market demand first.  - Steve recounts advising a friend to gauge interest in tailored gym meal plans via Instagram, saving six months and significant costs when the idea flopped.  - Start small, prove the concept, and scale only when you’ve confirmed the demand.4. Attracting Talent to Landscaping:  - Encourage hands-on skills in kids early on—Steve credits his dad’s garden projects for sparking his interest in physical work.  - Highlight the industry’s creativity and “cool factor,” from stunning gardens to rock-star status at events like Chelsea.  - As AI takes over desk jobs, trades like landscaping will rise in value and appeal.5. Lifelong Learning:  - Stay inquisitive—every person you meet knows something you don’t, so listen closely.  - Leverage free resources like YouTube, TikTok, and podcasts to keep your skills sharp.  - Steve’s tip: truly hear what people say instead of waiting for your turn to speak.Resources Mentioned:- London Stone: londonstone.co.uk- Steve’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@stevelondonstoneConnect with Steve Walley:- Website: londonstone.co.ukFinal Thoughts:Nick and Steve urge landscapers to hone their focus, test ideas smartly, and embrace daily habits that drive success. Whether it’s sticking to your strengths or inspiring the next generation, these actionable tips can transform your business—and your life. Start today, keep it simple, and watch the results pile up.

Claire Belderbos from Chelsea award-winning Belderbos Landscapes shares essential strategies for landscaping business success. This episode explores the importance of thorough project planning, building resilience through challenging times, and setting SMART goals for long-term growth. Claire discusses attracting young talent through local school engagement and emphasises the value of mentorship, industry events, and continuous learning. Discover how structured planning and networking can transform your business approach and drive sustainable growth.In this episode, we unpack:(01:43) Planning pays dividends on every project(02:48) Building resilience for business challenges ahead(05:33) Setting SMART goals and clear milestones(09:10) Attracting talent through local school visits(13:17) Learning through bite-sized industry magazines(15:25) Using social media for visual inspirationLinks mentioned in this episode:Belderbos Landscapes Website: https://belderbos.co.uk/ Connect with 'The Grow Landscapers 10 Minute Business Tips Podcast Series':Acast: https://shows.acast.com/the-grow-landscapers-10-minute-business-tips-podcast-seriesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thegrowlandscaperspodcast

Current BALI national chair Adrian Wickham shares essential leadership principles for growing landscaping businesses. This conversation explores the importance of listening, taking responsibility, and maintaining work-life balance whilst building sustainable operations. Adrian discusses attracting new talent to the industry, personal development strategies, and the critical responsibility business owners have towards their employees and their families' livelihoods.In this episode, we unpack:(00:00) Listen first: one mouth, two ears(02:05) Taking responsibility drives career growth  (03:12) Your decisions affect employee families(05:35) Showcasing diverse landscaping career paths(08:19) Sustainability attracts environmentally conscious talent(10:24) Networking and feedback fuel business growth(12:33) Health and well-being underpin everythingLinks mentioned in this episode:Adrian Wickham's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-wickham-mba-cemap-cbuae-847a1318/ Connect with 'The Grow Landscapers 10 Minute Business Tips Podcast Series':Acast: https://shows.acast.com/the-grow-landscapers-10-minute-business-tips-podcast-seriesYouTube: https://www.YouTube.com/@thegrowlandscaperspodcast

International award-winning garden designer Peter Donegan shares his business wisdom from decades in the landscaping industry. The conversation explores his three golden rules for client selection, the importance of placing value on design work even when doing charitable projects, and the power of building strong professional relationships. Peter also discusses attracting young talent to horticulture and keeping current through continuous learning, networking, and industry engagement.In this episode, we unpack:(01:48) Three golden rules for client selection(04:16) Placing value on design work matters(07:42) Surrounding yourself with the very best(11:02) Celebrating the 'freaks' attracts talent(19:50) Three ways to keep learning(21:46) Industry support through genuine connectionLinks mentioned in this episode:Peter Donegan's website: https://doneganlandscaping.com/ Connect with 'The Grow Landscapers 10 Minute Business Tips Podcast Series':Acast: https://shows.acast.com/the-grow-landscapers-10-minute-business-tips-podcast-seriesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thegrowlandscaperspodcast

Award-winning landscaper and expert witness Alan Sargent shares 56 years of industry wisdom in this compelling episode. Alan introduces his unique 'Scrabble board system' for tracking business connections, emphasises the importance of mastering British standards, and discusses building professional credibility through evidential knowledge. At 77 and still working six days a week, Alan also addresses recruitment challenges and advocates for collaborative industry efforts to attract young talent through school career programmes.In this episode, we unpack:(00:00) Evidential work and continuous learning requirements(02:06) Scrabble board system for tracking connections  (06:50) Building libraries of products and standards(11:46) School outreach for attracting young talent(13:18) Industry collaboration through trade associations(15:15) Expert witness work demands lifelong learningLinks mentioned in this episode:Alan Sargent's Website: https://alansargent.co.uk/ Connect with 'The Grow Landscapers 10 Minute Business Tips Podcast Series':Acast: https://shows.acast.com/the-grow-landscapers-10-minute-business-tips-podcast-seriesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thegrowlandscaperspodcast

Richard Bickler from Arbour Landscape Solutions shares hard-earned wisdom from three decades in landscaping. This conversation focuses on the critical importance of documented processes, managing cash flow effectively, and leveraging team insights for business growth. Richard discusses practical strategies, including stage payments, setting boundaries with clients, and using weekly strategy meetings to stay ahead of industry trends.In this episode, we unpack:(00:00) Getting everything signed and documented properly(05:09) Setting boundaries to protect your time(07:25) Cash flow management and stage payments(09:28) Collaborative industry approach for new talent(11:53) Weekly strategy meetings with your teamLinks mentioned in this episode:Richard Bickler's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-bickler-11472915/ Connect with 'The Grow Landscapers 10 Minute Business Tips Podcast Series':Acast: https://shows.acast.com/the-grow-landscapers-10-minute-business-tips-podcast-series YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thegrowlandscaperspodcast

Alistair Bayford of Frost Landscapes returns with three principles that separate thriving landscape businesses from the rest. He covers why your relationships with employees, suppliers and clients are your greatest asset, how innovation and technology can bridge the – not just quality of work – is what earns long-term trust.In this episode, we explore:(00:00) Why educated risks are the foundation of growth(00:22) Introduction and welcome back to Alistair Bayford(01:05) Building strong relationships with employees, suppliers and clients(03:28) Embracing innovation and technology to close the skills gap(05:32) Customer satisfaction – from first enquiry to long-term maintenance(08:14) Managing expectations in domestic vs commercial landscaping(10:07) Why the industry struggles to attract new talent — and what could change(13:48) How Alistair continues to grow as a business ownerLinks mentioned in this episode:Alistair Bayford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alistair-bayford-fli-74034738/ Frost Landscapes: https://www.frostslandscapes.co.uk/ Connect with ’The Grow Landscapers 10 Minute Business Tips Podcast Series’:Acast: https://shows.acast.com/the-grow-landscapers-10-minute-business-tips-podcast-seriesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thegrowlandscaperspodcast