Following an imposed year off in 2020, the leading trade association, GIMA, is pleased to confirm that its annual awards evening will be making its highly anticipated return on November 11th, 2021.

Taking place at the ever-popular Celtic Manor Resort, this year’s event will be a night to remember, celebrating not just a return to normality but also the best that the garden retail sector has to offer.

Whilst the Covid pandemic resulted in the event being cancelled for the first time in its 40-year history in 2020, the industry has not stopped. Suppliers have stayed busy creating exciting new product, marketing and merchandising innovations throughout the 2020 and 2021 season. These launches and initiatives are what will be celebrated in a special glittering night of awards and merriment, with all of the usual categories – including the GCA Supplier of the Year (GCA), Gardenex Export Achievement and the Sword of Excellence (last won by Primeur in 2019) - set to make a return. A new Sustainability award will also be joining the line up to recognise a product, business initiative, or wider business ethos that demonstrates how suppliers are successfully driving the sustainability agenda.

Commenting on the welcome return of the GIMA Awards, GIMA Director, Vicky Nuttall said: “We could not be happier to confirm that the annual awards ceremony will be back later this year. I know how missed the event has been, so being able to confirm its return is a very special moment for us.

“This year’s awards may be a little later in the year than we are used to but that won’t stop us celebrating in style! We are very much looking forward to throwing open the doors to Celtic Manor once again and being able to celebrate the incredible hard work that our suppliers have achieved in the face of adversity over the past two years.”

To mark the ruby anniversary of the event, GIMA is asking attendees to add a splash of red to their glad rags to help mark the celebrations even further.

This year, the GIMA Awards will be sponsored by a wealth of fantastic industry brands, including Glee which returns, once again, as headline sponsor, as well as the HTA, GCA, Gardenex, Garden Trade News, Gardenforum, Garden Radio, Garden Centre Retail, Garden Centre Update, DIY Week, CM Ventures and Hornby Whitefoot PR.  Additional sponsorship opportunities are also available - please contact GIMA to find out more.

Entry to the 2021 GIMA awards is now open. This year, the entry criteria has been extended to cover both the 2020 and 2021 season, giving suppliers the chance to showcase efforts that may have been missed during the pandemic. The closing date for entries will be 28th May, with the judging process taking place at the end of June at Warwick Racecourse. This year’s judges will include representatives from Bents Garden & Home, British Garden Centres, The Gardens Group, Altons Garden Centre, Dobbies and Wickes.