colin elliott

Status

Nationality: British

Marital status: married with one grown-up son

Date of birth: 23/9/54

Additional language: French

Experience

2008 – date

Garden Design Academy, Chabris, France - Principal

Development of a specialist school offering gardening, garden design, landscaping and horticultural courses to keen gardeners and professionals.

Day-to-day management, sales, administration and course design.

Providing, and tutoring residential, postal and internet-based education.

Student lecturing and practical instruction.

Author of garden design / gardening courses and books.

2008 – date

Garden-Design Company Chabris, France - Director; Senior garden designer.

Providing an international garden design service.

Day-to-day management, sales, and administration.

Garden design, consultancy (on-site and distance) and project management.

Garden and technical writing: trade and general interest magazines.

Web site design and construction.

2004/5

Society of Garden Designers -Tutor/course author

Create and run "CAD for garden designers" workshop

2000

Stevenage College -Tutor/course director

Create and run garden design course

1993-1996

Institute of Gardening / Institute of Garden Design UK - Senior tutor

Student support.

Marking and feedback.

Course Author

1991 – 2008

Design and Landscaper Centre RHS Medal Winners Wyevale Garden Centre, Codicote, Herts - Partner, Manager, Garden designer

Provide a bespoke garden design service

Provide horticultural advice to customers.

Implement sound systems and procedures.

Secure new landscaping leads

Control of 15 landscape staff

Landscape contract pricing and oversight

Staff training; professional CAD training; health and safety

Marketing

Regular monthly gardening columns: Hertfordshire Countryside and Archant group

Articles to the Press and public lectures

Amateur gardener support – America Online (AOL-UK)

1990 – 1991

Complete Landscape Company St. Albans, Herts - Partner

Established this commercial landscaping company to undertake maintenance of the British Aerospace site in Hatfield prior to its sale to developers.

Marketing, sales and hands-on landscaping responsibilities.

Left CLC to concentrate on domestic landscaping.

1989 – 1990

WLN / Oaklands St. Albans, Herts - Manager

Development of a hardy nursery stock marketing and production enterprise from a green-field site.

Day-to-day management, sales, administration and nursery work.

A unique project linking a major HNS producer with a nationally important horticultural college.

Student lecturing and practical instruction

March – Aug 1989

Kiln Nurseries Stanmore, Middx - Garden Centre Manager

General manager, buyer, staff and site development

A temporary post helping to prepare staff and systems for later site upgrading and relocation

1987 – 1989

SuperSeedlings Ltd Headley, Hants - Managing Director (sold the business in 1989)

Established and grew the business from a bankrupt high tech. plant production facility

Became a leading innovator in seedling / young plant growing and sales.

6-acre glasshouse unit with staff of 50.

1984 – 1987

Clause (UK) Ltd Reading, Berks - Product Manager: flower seeds, seedling and young plants

Catalogue production, advertising, sponsorship and promotion

Technical support to reps and customers

Writer of technical leaflets and trade articles

Horticultural trade seminars and educational trips - Organiser and speaker Represented the company throughout Europe

1982 – 1984

Langley Garden Centre Slough, Berks - Manager

Day to day running of centre

Stock purchase, staff control, customer sales

House plant growing facility, control and sales

1978 – 1982

Garden centers in Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Sussex - Manager

Day to day running of garden centers

Pre 1978

Carnon Downs Garden Centre and Nursery, Cornwall

Assisting my parents in their family-owned business

Growing of fruit, cut foliage, cut flowers, bedding and house plants, protected and outdoor vegetables, trees and shrubs.

Education

Truro Cathedral School (O-levels)

Cornwall Technical College (A-levels)

Cornwall Technical College (Horticultural section)

Royal Gardens, Windsor Great Park (Saville, Valley and the private gardens of Windsor Castle

Berkshire College of Agriculture and Horticulture

Pershore College of Horticulture

Final Industrial qualification

National Diploma (horticulture; nursery stock)

Other relevant courses, qualifications, memberships (past and present)

French speaker

City and Guilds Business Studies

C&G Horticulture Stages 1 & 2

C&G Horticultural Machinery

C&G Records and Accounts

Institute of Marketing – marketing for the small firm

TACK – public speaking

British Bedding Plant Association – Vice Chairman, Technical Committee; Management Committee member, Marketing Committee member

BALI member – current

Society of Garden Designers - corresponding

APL member

RHS member - current

IoG member

Author – The Bedding Plant Guide

Sponsor – England in Bloom

Sponsor and judge – London in Bloom

Multiple RHS medal winners at Chelsea, Hampton Court and Gardeners’ World Live with major show gardens constructed for Design & Landscape Centre, Ford Motors, LBC Radio, Hereford College of Art & Design and other companies.

Advanced Open Water Diver; Nitrox diver.

Other interests

Water sports, computer technology, plant photography, wine & food.