General Manager

HR-Du; Addlestone; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free onsite parking

Staff discount 15%

Training and development

Pension plan

Holiday 29 days

Job summary

Longacres Garden Centre is seeking a General Manager to lead our Bourne Valley store. You will oversee daily operations, drive exceptional customer service, and coach a team of around 50, ensuring strong store performance and a positive shopping experience for customers.

Ideal candidates will have senior management experience in garden centres or large retail, proven leadership, and a track record of driving sales while controlling costs.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior management role within the garden centre, horticulture, or retail industry.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Exceptional customer service and advisory capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operations of the Bourne Valley store.
• Maintain high standards of store presentation and merchandising.
• Improve gross margins by reducing waste and stock losses.
• Reduce overheads by controlling costs and expenditure.
• Optimise stock availability with effective replenishment systems.
• Recruit, motivate and develop a retail team of ~50 staff.
• Communicate effectively through meetings and briefings to ensure information accuracy.
• Ensure compliance with all health & safety procedures and legal requirements.

Skills

Senior management experience

Garden centre leadership

Customer service excellence

Multi-million-pound centre management

Job description

Company Information and Introduction

Are you an enthusiastic person ready to take the next step in their retail career? Do you have prior experience working in senior management? Then you could be a perfect applicant for our current vacancy!

We are currently recruiting for a General Manager with passion, drive and enthusiasm to join our popular and busy family-owned independent garden centre. In this role you will be Managing and supporting the team in day-to-day running of Retail Operations of the Bourne Valley store and all that entails from an operational, staff and customer perspective. The ideal candidate will have previously worked in a managerial role in a garden centre or similar large retail environment with proven experience managing and motivating a team, excellent customer service and organisational skills.

Longacres Garden Centre aims to be the destination of choice for garden enthusiasts, offering exceptional service and high-quality products at competitive prices. Established in 1979 as a family-run business, Longacres has grown to include six stores across the South East of England, employing over 700 staff in 2026. As a growing company, we provide ample opportunities for personal development and learning within a supportive, inclusive, and friendly team environment. We are deeply committed to our loyal customers, delivering high quality products while maintaining affordability. Guided by our core values - trust and integrity, family, teamwork, accountability, and retail excellence - we strive to continuously enhance the customer experience and foster lasting relationships.

Free onsite parking

15% Staff discount (Increase to 20% after 5 years of service)

Training and development with opportunities to forge a career with us

Pension plan

Holiday entitlement of 29 days, including bank holidays

Key Responsibilities and Duties

Oversee day to day operations, including inventory management, product merchandising, and customer service, to ensure a seamless and enjoyable shopping experience for our customers.

Ensure very high standards of store presentation and merchandising are maintained.

Improve gross margins by reductions in waste and stock losses.

Reduce overheads by keeping control of all costs and expenditure.

To optimise stock availability by ensuring effective systems for replenishment are achieved.

Seasonal and product promotions are planned and delivered. Management of Store department teams throughout the business group.

To recruit, motivate and develop an effective retail team complying with company procedures and ensuring individual performance is regularly reviewed through assessment and appraisal.

To create an effective communication strategy, including team meetings and briefings to ensure accuracy of information across all employees.

All Company Health & Safety procedures are adhered to and compliance with all statutory requirements.

Training of staff in all and any applicable area of the store throughout.

Key Skills and Competencies

Proven experience in a senior management role within the garden centre, horticulture, or retail industry

Strong leadership and people management skills, with a track record of inspiring and motivating teams.

Exceptional customer service skills and the ability to provide expert advice to customers

Candidates must have experience of working and managing large multi-million-pound centres.

Be capable of managing a team of approximately 50 members staff at this branch.

Must have great commercial acumen, be an insightful and an instinctive retailer who does not need to be driven by head office instructions.

Additional Information

Number of positions: 1

You have the right to lodge a complaint with us via Longacres as well as the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) if you believe we have not complied with the requirements of the UK GDPR or Data Protection Act 2018 in relation to your personal data. If you have any concerns about the way your personal data has been processed, please let us know in the first instance. We will acknowledge your complaint within 30 days, investigate any issues you have raised while keeping you informed of progress, and advise you of the outcome without undue delay.