Elmtree Landscapes makes history again at Pro Landscaper Business Awards
As the dust begins to settle after Elmtree Landscapes picked up not just one, but three awards at the Pro Landscaper Business Awards, in association with Paving Superstore, on Friday 24 April 2026, managing director Paul Lynch reflects on the high.
A moment in Pro Landscaper Business Awards history, Elmtree became the first company to pick up the Supreme Winner accolade three times, breaking its own record after becoming the first to win it more than once when crowned for the second time in 2022. “Winning is an absolutely amazing achievement, but winning it three times – it’s not just luck, it’s how you run the business day to day,” says Lynch, adding:
“We built a business that consistently delivers through our people, our culture and our relationships, which is why we think we’ve won it multiple times. Winning the awards recognises our quality, but also recognises the consistency.”
Acting within spearheading roles at Elmtree for over 32 years, Lynch encourages his staff to “treat people how we like to be treated,” which evidently results in success and achievement. In addition to this, “a huge part of Elmtree is our social value,” he explains.
Giving 5% of its profits back to the community, Elmtree works across several local initiatives in Bristol as part of a long standing partnership with Community of Purpose. A sponsor of the Environmental Hero Award within Bristol Young Heroes Awards for nine years, “we want to give back to the local community,” says Lynch.
Elmtree is also involved in Break Free, a holiday activity programme that targets holiday hunger by providing activities and food for young people. Silver sponsors, the company invests £6,000 per year.
Lynch says, “we’re a commercial business but we believe we have a responsibility to the communities we work in – and we back that with real investment, not just words.”
Another key pillar is honesty. “If we make an error,” explains Lynch, “which occasionally happens, we put our hands up to it. I tell my management team, ‘never try and cover something up. If we’ve done something wrong, own up to it, sort it out and the client will trust you so much more.’”
Building a trustworthy brand since 1969, when Elmtree was first established, hasn’t always been easy, admits Lynch. “A couple of years ago we had quite a difficult year financially when higher national insurance costs were introduced as well as other factors. I think quite a few companies did too. But that actually tested us and forced us to become a better business because we had to improve our processes and systems.”
On top of this, Elmtree recognises the labour shortage. In response, the company has regularly attended settlement job fairs over the last couple of years. “I’m passionate about improving our industry, and there is untapped talent out there – often people have had some relevant experience in their country of origin and want to work hard.” Having now attended three fairs across Bristol, Elmtree has welcomed four refugees into its workforce as a result. Lynch explains the importance of highlighting this:
“I’d love to see other landscaping companies being made aware of the work we do in recruiting refugees as a result of our wins, and going to refugee jobs fairs themselves, ultimately employing refugees being commonplace in our industry.”
Highlighting the success of initiatives and systems in place at Elmtree, for example also completing Mental Health First Aid, is why industry awards are so important. “Awards are great for the industry as a whole, because other companies can see what we do and as winners they look to improve like us,” says Lynch.
First picking up the Supreme Winner title in 2018, and again in 2022, Lynch also reflects on the other awards the company has collected:
“I love winning an award we’ve never picked up before. Back in 2022, we won Employer of the Year for the first time which I was really proud of. This year, we won the Grounds Maintenance Company. As a company with a small grounds maintenance division, we’re up against much bigger companies which just reflects how hard we worked.”
Lynch reveals he got slightly emotional after the awards, understanding the importance of recognising the hard work Elmtree devotes to its staff, local community and clients year after year. A reflection of not just himself, but the entire team.
Take a look at the full list of this year’s Pro Landscaper Business Award winners.