The Launch Success Challenge (LSC) is designed to empower and cultivate the next generation of leaders in the horticulture industry. The challenge is designed to provide young professionals in horticulture with the skills, resources, and mentorship that will allow them to thrive in an ever-evolving industry.

The LSC programme aims to foster innovation, collaboration, lateral thinking and provide skills not normally taught in the path of horticulture – such as photography, campaign strategy, margin calculations and pitching to potential buyers.

The Launch Success Challenge will work as follows;

Ten delegates will be selected from an application process across the YPHA membership. The YPHA are encouraging applications as diverse as possible asking solely for applicant enthusiasm, ambition and a commitment to attend and progress.
Selected participants will be split into two teams and given access to a brand new product, which they will compete to launch to market. According to the YPHA, the first product is a new begonia variety.
Teams will complete a series of workshops, factory visits, team building exercises and masterclasses
with the purpose of shaping an identity and influencing commerciality
Each team will create POS, collate commercial information and pitch their product identity and costings
to a panel, including product owner, retailer and more
The winning team will see their ideas brought to market, with participants involved throughout- from visiting production facilities, and on the shop floor with retailers.

Mentors selected for the LSC include; the industry stalwart Boyd Douglas-Davies; Gardener, author and presenter Michael Perry, and marketing consultant Liz Dowling. Applications for members open this Friday the 1st of March. Further details will be revealed later this week on the YPHA website.