The WAFTAs or Webbs Awards for Training Achievements, was a celebration of staff and their hard work over the last year in the garden centre at Wychbold.

Almost 200 Webbs staff turned out to the fourth annual ceremony at The Pear Tree Inn, Smite, to find out who were the stars scooping this year’s top awards. Certificates and prizes were presented to staff to celebrate a wide range of training initiatives and individual and department successes over the last year, including the crowning achievement of winning UK Garden Centre of the Year from the Garden Centre Association (GCA), the organisation representing the best garden retailers in Britain, for the second year running.

Special Recognition Awards were given to Paul Young from Droitwich, who joined the company in 1988 and Cyril Meacham, who started with Webbs in 1991. Cyril, who lives in Belbroughton, also won a new award for Best Colleague of the Year, a title which was nominated by staff.

Employees were delighted to hear that each one would have their birthday as a paid day off this year as a reward and thank you for winning the Garden Centre of the Year title for the last two years.

Executive Chairman Ed Webb said: "We’re now up there with a select band of individuals and groups who have achieved something great, not once but twice. Reaching the lofty heights of being the best in your field is hard enough, doing it twice takes something really special. "

He added, "Winning these awards is about maintaining the standards of detail that we focus on every day. It is not about being judged on one single day. Quite simply you cannot turn on that tap of excellence when the judges arrive. It is those standards that serve to build up loyalty and goodwill with customers and ensure the future growth of the business going forward."

"There is no way that we could have won the GCA award twice or redeveloped as we did the year before last, without everyone working towards the common goal: "To be our customers’ favourite Garden Centre".

Webbs retains top UK garden centre crown

Delighted staff at Webbs, in Wychbold, Worcestershire, are celebrating success after being officially crowned the best garden centre in the UK for the second year running.

The family-owned firm scooped the top prize of UK Garden Centre of the Year 2008. The title was announced after rigorous inspections by judges from The Garden Centre Association (GCA), the organisation representing the best garden retailers in Britain.

Webbs was told it had retained the title of Best Garden Centre in the Midlands before Christmas, but had to wait weeks for the final nail-biting announcement of the overall UK winner.

Judges revealed that they chose Webbs particularly because of its helpful staff, excellent signage, being an easy place to shop with wide paths and aisles and attention to detail. They also praised the philosophy of excellence in all areas by all staff.

Executive Chairman Ed Webb said the firm is honoured to win the title again, and sees it as a reflection of a huge team effort.

He added, "To win Best Garden Centre in the UK once was a great achievement, to win it for a 2nd year is absolutely fantastic. The competition was fierce, everyone wants to win the title and it is due to the dedication, skill and knowledge of our staff that we achieved it."

Webbs has won many awards over the years ensuring it is consistently among the top garden centres in the country. The family business includes the garden centre and beautiful landscaped riverside gardens, which are open free to the public.

Staff and customers at award-winning garden centre Webbs, near Droitwich, will once again be generously supporting three local hospices in the coming year.

The family firm and UK garden centre of the Year 2008, has chosen as its Charities of the Year to support St Richard’s and Acorns Hospices in Worcester and Primrose Hospice in Bromsgrove.

Over the last five years Webbs has donated over £85,000 towards the hospices’ fundraising coffers.

Webbs Executive Chairman, Ed Webb said, "We have been very pleased that our ongoing partnerships with St Richard’s, Acorns and Primrose hospices has been so successful, helping to raise funds towards the huge ongoing running costs for providing specialist care for local adults and children."

He added, "So many people have experience of cancer or other life-threatening illness themselves, or know of someone who has and understand that the services the hospices provide make a huge difference to people at a very difficult time in their lives. That’s why we have chosen to put all our efforts into supporting our local hospices to help local people."

Lorraine Hart, Fundraising Manager for Primrose Hospice said, "Webbs started supporting Primrose as a Charity of the Year in 2007 and we are thrilled they have generously chosen us to benefit once again - it’s a great New Year boost for us."

Director of Fundraising for St Richard’s Hospice, Marilyn Peachey said, "Webbs has been a fantastic business supporter of St Richard’s in so many ways, both financially and with sponsorship and donations in kind. We are absolutely delighted that Webbs has chosen to continue supporting us and I would like to say a big thank you on behalf of all our patients and families who benefit from their generosity."