{"id":185,"date":"2012-12-06T10:43:00","date_gmt":"2012-12-06T10:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/109.228.13.31\/news\/2012\/12\/06\/the-london-garden-society-awards\/"},"modified":"2026-06-10T17:28:08","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T16:28:08","slug":"gardening-franchise-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edsgardenservices.co.uk\/news\/2012\/12\/06\/gardening-franchise-awards","title":{"rendered":"Gardening franchise awards"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We are honoured to have been nominated for various franchise awards, and we love seeing our gardeners receive recognition for their hard work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Female entrepreneur of the Year<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:70%\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We are so proud of our Ed&#8217;s gardener, Sarah Whaley, for being the runner up in the The Zimbabwe Achievers Award for Female Entrepreneur, for which Sarah had to demonstrate a commitment to excellence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;When I received the call about my nomination I was knee deep in well-rotted horse manure, and feeling anything but the entrepreneurial business woman flying her national flag high!&#8221; Sarah said. &#8220;It is an incredible honour to be nominated by this burgeoning bud of positive Zimbabweans who are striving to make a difference here in the UK.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sarah described how grateful she is for the support Ed&#8217;s provides, saying &#8220;Ed\u2019s has been a hugely supportive part of my business growth, and a mix of wonderful clients and hardworking, passionate employees have allowed me to grow my business during a time of recession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;I think a large part of this is due to my Zimbabwean upbringing,&#8221; she continues. &#8220;A phrase I was weaned on was &#8216;We\u2019ll make a plan&#8217; if things went wrong. Friends in the UK have taught me a new one: &#8216;Fancy trainers and kissy lips won\u2019t get you across the finish line&#8217; &#8211; something I often repeat to myself during the wettest, bleakest and lonelist days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;My parents and brothers taught me the importance of integrity, of doing what you say you\u2019ll do, and of supporting those around you. I have aspired to bring this with me into my business and have been lucky to have clients who have been flexible and supportive during the growth stages.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/edsgardenservices.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/SarahWhaleyPortrait2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/edsgardenservices.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/SarahWhaleyPortrait2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-post-185 wp-image-2971\" srcset=\"https:\/\/edsgardenservices.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/SarahWhaleyPortrait2.jpg 480w, https:\/\/edsgardenservices.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/SarahWhaleyPortrait2-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;People often ask me if I want to go \u2018home\u2019, but Zimbabwe is with me in the way I speak, the person I am, the friends and family I have, and in so many of my memories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;The UK has offered me an incredible opportunity to start and run a business, and I have been overwhelmed by the positivity and support of both professionals and friends here. A lot like the horse manure, I think the best option for now is to spread the love for both!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The London Garden Society Awards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"229\" src=\"https:\/\/edsgardenservices.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/image.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-post-185 wp-image-2972\" style=\"width:330px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/edsgardenservices.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/image.jpeg 320w, https:\/\/edsgardenservices.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/image-300x215.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:70%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">James Leonard, our North London Operator, came 2nd in The London Garden Society Awards. James earnt his award for maintaining a square in central London.\u00a0&#8220;I was very excited to receive this award,&#8221; James said. &#8220;It was a great evening.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Franchise of the Year<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:70%\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because James is on fire with his gardening, he also impressed the judges of the Franchise of the year award, who said if he keeps things as they are he will be running an empire in the near future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">James said: \u201cI was very pleased with the judges comments and it was also a big team effort from everyone at Eds.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/edsgardenservices.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/James-Leonard-Portrait.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1155\" height=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/edsgardenservices.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/James-Leonard-Portrait.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-post-185 wp-image-2970\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.7216903452703268;width:177px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/edsgardenservices.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/James-Leonard-Portrait.jpg 1155w, https:\/\/edsgardenservices.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/James-Leonard-Portrait-217x300.jpg 217w, https:\/\/edsgardenservices.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/James-Leonard-Portrait-739x1024.jpg 739w, https:\/\/edsgardenservices.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/James-Leonard-Portrait-768x1064.jpg 768w, https:\/\/edsgardenservices.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/James-Leonard-Portrait-1109x1536.jpg 1109w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Franchise Marketing Awards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ed\u2019s Garden Services were finalists in the Best Website category at the Franchise Marketing Awards 2012.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We put a lot of hard work into our website, and having enhanced it to earn top position in a Google search, we were delighted to be recognised for our efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ed\u2019s also launched a mobile phone app in 2011 which runs across all devices, providing further accessibility for our customers and on-the-go access for our gardeners.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We are honoured to have been nominated for various franchise awards, and we love seeing our gardeners receive recognition for their hard work. Female entrepreneur of the Year We are so proud of our Ed&#8217;s gardener, Sarah Whaley, for being the runner up in the The Zimbabwe Achievers Award for Female Entrepreneur, for which Sarah &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/edsgardenservices.co.uk\/news\/2012\/12\/06\/gardening-franchise-awards\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Gardening franchise awards&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2972,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-185","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-garden-franchise"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/edsgardenservices.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/185","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/edsgardenservices.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/edsgardenservices.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edsgardenservices.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edsgardenservices.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=185"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/edsgardenservices.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/185\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2976,"href":"https:\/\/edsgardenservices.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/185\/revisions\/2976"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edsgardenservices.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2972"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/edsgardenservices.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=185"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edsgardenservices.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=185"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edsgardenservices.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=185"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}