Karen McClure Garden Design has been awarded the title of ‘Best Small Business’ at the inaugural Tunbridge Wells Business Awards, which took place at Trinity on 26 November.

Judges took interest in how director and lead designer Karen McClure, founded the practice as a career changer, off the back of a ‘hobby’.

The team at Karen McClure Garden Design accepting their award.

Since then, the practice has gained accreditation from the Society of Garden Designers, the Association of Professional Landscapers, and the British Association of Landscape Industries.

Now it adds ‘Best Small Business’ in Tunbridge Wells to its list of accolades. McClure herself was also shortlisted for Businessperson of the Year.

She comments on the late November win, saying: “It was a complete shock to receive the award, we have an abundance of talented and hard working businesses representing a variety of industries in Tunbridge Wells, so to be a niche company, solely focussed on garden design and horticulture, is a huge endorsement and validation of our industry and the hard work of my team.”

McClure goes on to say the practice is already preparing for “some fantastic” projects in 2025, as well as several new initiatives and collaborations – “it’s a very exciting time for us.”

For more information, visit karenmcclure.co.uk.