Garden Centre Manager

Access Employment Limited (AEL), is a limited company with charitable status.

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our team at AEL. Naggy Burn Garden Centre was developed in 2022 and has grown with the continued support of the community. As part of AEL’s Social Enterprise all the profits are put back into the business to help AEL provide support, training, work experience and paid employment for young people and adults with additional needs, learning disabilities and physical support needs.

The purpose of this role is to manage the day to day running of this business with a view to grow and expand!  As the Garden Centre Manager, you will be expected to manage and motivate a small team to ensure sales opportunities are optimised, work schedules are set and achieved, and excellent customer service is delivered at all times. As well as overseeing the growing of our own plants for sale you will be responsible for ordering stock to suit the Seasons and the demands of our customers. We encourage you to seek new revenue generating initiatives in the Garden Centre and welcome any new ideas. This is a very hands-on role and will include Merchandising and plant displays to ensure an easy interesting customer experience. You will also deal with any enquiries and emails so you must be computer literate. You will devise the staff Rota, holidays and shift cover. You will work with the Head of Business to utilise social media platforms with promotions, new products etc to encourage footfall and sales.

You will also be required to work with our trainees to help them gain experience in gardening/horticultural and customer service.

This role requires general IT knowledge, strong communication skills, excellent customer service, strong sales skills and a keen interest in gardening.

The Garden Centre is open Saturdays in Spring and Summer and on certain Bank Holidays but closed on Saturdays late Autumn and Winter months.

Key Duties

• Growing own vegetables and plants for sale
• Meeting monthly sales targets
• Responsible for the ordering of stock
• Devising the staff rota to ensure holidays etc are covered
• Work with the Head of Business to introduce new revenue generating initiatives

Health and Safety

• To ensure all aspects of legislative and organisational Health and Safety standards and requirements are maintained.
• Undertaking risk assessments and ensuring health and safety is prioritised.
• To ensure that, where any risk has been identified in relation to new or existing members, a risk assessment is carried out and appropriate follow up action is taken.
• Maintenance of premises and equipment for the shed project.

General

• Become a Key Holder of the premises and comply with key holder duties and policies.
• Maintain a good standard of working practice, setting an example to others.
• Develop and maintain good working relations with Colleagues, Members, Volunteers, Trainees, Suppliers and Customers.
• Undertake and contribute to own supervision and annual job chats to ensure that agreed targets for work performance are in place and met.
• Be willing to complete personal development and training as is reasonably required to assist with the effective delivery of your job.
• To actively comply with and promote all working policies and procedures.
• To uphold confidentiality at all times regarding Access Employment Limited’s trainees and business.
• Be a representative of Access Employment Limited’s Ethos and Values to the outside world and act as a role model and mentor to other staff, volunteers and trainees.
• Ability to cover for colleagues during absences. Any other relevant duties commensurate with the role and responsibilities of the post as required by Senior Staff or the Trustees

Essential Criteria

• Self-Motivated, Energetic and Confident
• Excellent Team player
• Ability to work under own initiative, including effective prioritisation of tasks and ability to work to agreed aims and objectives
• Experience and good knowledge of I.T and database systems including ability to use MS office (Word, Excel) Internet and Email.
• Knowledge and experience of working with individuals with a learning disability, or other relevant disadvantaged groups
• Awareness of current Safeguarding legislation.

Desirable Criteria

• Qualification in Horticulture
• Experience of working within a social firm

To Apply:

Please email CV to jackie@accessemployment.co.uk or post to Jackie Reid, Access Employment Limited, 32-34 Pound Street, Larne, BT40 1SQ.