YPHA’s First Launch Success Challenge

What is the LSC?

The LSC is the YPHA’s first accelerator programme, continuing our mission to help the horticulture industry to better value and nurture ‘lateral’ skills. Tasks including photography, campaign strategy, margin calculations, and pitching to a buyer are all at the forefront of this programme.

Why did we do it?

The Launch Success Challenge developed skills and confidence in ten delegates, who are now applying these new skills in the workplace. This benefits not only the individual but also the business they’re a part of and, in turn, the wider horticulture industry.

Thanks to incredible support from the industry throughout the challenge and sales of the newly released Bountiful Pink Begonia, we have been able to fund future YPHA programmes, including the newly announced Management Development Training.

The Journey

Ten candidates were chosen from the YPHA membership to launch a brand-new begonia bred by Beekenkamp in the Netherlands, to the UK market through British Garden Centres. The fully funded programme started with a visit the Netherlands in July 2024 to learn about product photography and visit young plant production facilities, before laying eyes on the new variety for the first time.

On their return, our ten candidates were split into two teams, and went head-to-head to develop a brand identity for the new plant. Business coach Liz Dowling provided tailored one-on-one mentorship white the teams worked through a series of seminars and master classes with mentors including Jane Lawler, Michael Perry (Mr Plant Geek) and Boyd Douglas-Davies. Each team developed a product identity, calculated commercials, and prepared a pitch to bring together their proposals. 

Pitching took place in October 2024 to a panel of judges including representatives from Gardener’s World Live, Beekenkamp (breeders), British Garden Centres (exclusive retailers), and Floramedia. Winning elements were selected from each pitch, which formed the begonia's identity for the rest of its commercial future- real time market experience in a way horticulture has never made possible before. 

What our delegates said

  • It was such a great privilege to have the opportunity to pitch new ideas in marketing and brand identity to such influential industry professionals. The panellists, many of whom we have received masterclasses and workshops from during the programme, were so warm and supportive and genuinely wanted to see us succeed. Pitching our new plant product to them was a moment I certainly won’t forget!

    Clou McEvoy

  • The journey to get us to the Bountiful Pink launch has been a challenge in all the best ways, and I feel we have learned so much along the way. Without the Launch Success Challenge and the YPHA, we may never have had the opportunity to gain an insight into the skills and knowledge shared with us in the past year.

    Laura McArthur

  • Taking part in the LSC was invaluable. Over the past year, we have been granted a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in all aspects of launching a new plant, guided by industry experts. Not only have we all come away with new skills and increased confidence, but the programme was a real, tangible opportunity. We weren’t just learning about an imagined scenario, we were actively leading a real plant launch. Showcasing how invaluable it can be to give young people in our sector a platform to learn and develop new skills has been a real privilege and ‘Bountiful Pink’ is the culmination of years of hard work to emphasise this message.

    Olivia Blackburn