Retirement prompts recruitment at Yorkshire garden centre group

A Bradford headquartered garden centre group has appointed two new managers to lead newly acquired sites in North Yorkshire.

Yorkshire Garden Centres acquired Dean’s of York and Scarborough following the retirement of Richard, Helen and Sarah Dean earlier this year. Their retirement, plus that of Jim Cockerton from the Scarborough centre, created vacancies for managers at the two sites.

Experienced garden centre manager Mike Waugh has been appointed as the centre manager at Dean’s York, and Adam Bailey has been promoted from within to manage the Dean’s Scarborough site where he has worked for 21 years.

Mr. Waugh joins Yorkshire Garden Centres from California Lodge and Ellerker Lodge garden centres in East Yorkshire. Excited about the new role, he said: “I’m looking forward to joining a company with real ambition and drive to take the company forward, and in my role, I’m most looking forward to leading the team to reach these new heights.”

Mr. Bailey is looking forward to using his knowledge of the centre and the team to grow the business, relishing “the challenges it will bring and new opportunities.”

Both roles will involve leading the teams and making improvements where needed while maintaining high standards across the centres to ensure an exceptional customer experience.

Neil Barwise-Carr, Yorkshire Garden Centres’ Head of People and Culture, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Mike to the Yorkshire Garden Centres family and to congratulate Adam on his well-deserved promotion. We’re looking forward to working with them both and benefitting from their vast experience.”

Outside work, Mr. Waugh is a keen woodworker who enjoys spending time with his son doing anything sports-related and walking in the countryside with his partner.

Mr. Bailey spends his leisure time socialising with friends, playing 5 a side football and going to the gym.

The YGC group comprises Tong, Tingley, Otley and Bingley Garden Centres plus Dean’s York and Dean’s Scarborough. Otley and Bingley were known as Stephen H Smith’s before they were acquired by YGC in 2022.