Over the next few months, Dialogue is highlighting some of the winners of the inaugural Professional Services Inspiring the Extraordinary Awards.

In this edition, we’re focusing on the Botanic Garden Team, which picked up the Outstanding Team of the Year at the awards event in January.

This award celebrates teams that deliver an outstanding contribution at the University, recognising people who work hard together and support each other with a strong team spirit.

Part of the winning team

Peter Thomson is the Botanic Garden Manager. He said:

To be honest, we were shocked to even be nominated for the award! I didn’t expect it at all but the whole team was especially pleased when we won.

“There are seven people in the team and we all have our own specialist knowledge that we use to keep the garden in good shape all year round. I think the garden’s at its best over the next few months and we’re all busy getting everything ready for the spring and summer visitor season.

“As well as the Botanic Garden Team, we’re joined by loads of staff and supporters who help make the site such a success, including colleagues from retail and catering, academics, students and the 600 Friends of the Garden.

The winning team at the awards ceremony

“We’re also looking to offer volunteer opportunities to staff in the next few months, so look out for details about becoming part of the wider team in future."

This year the team is working on some special activities at the garden including a Fun Day in June, unveiling a pinetum in conjunction with Edinburgh Royal Botanic Gardens, the Easter chick hunt, and the opening of the Mike Hughes memorial garden in the spring. Mike’s garden will include a new bench and Japanese-style bridge which the team is working on now, so there’s a lot to look forward to.

Peter continued: “I’ve been here since I left school 28 years ago and a lot of the team members have also been here for years, so it doesn’t feel like just a job for us. We all pull together to get things done and learn from each other every day, so it’s a great team to work in.

“We have an unbeatable team spirit and the garden is an important part of all our lives, so it was really nice to win the award as it shows that people appreciate the work we do.”

The Inspiring the Extraordinary Awards event offered the opportunity to recognise the outstanding achievements of colleagues in Professional Services. 

This year, 346 colleagues were nominated for an award. Following a shortlisting process, 33 colleagues went forward to the final award ceremony at the Mount Oswald Hub in January.

The event saw around 130 members of staff, including the Vice Chancellor and members of UEC, gather to celebrate the work of colleagues and mark their achievements by presenting awards in 11 categories. 

Find out more

• Watch a video of this year’s awards.
• More details about the Botanic Garden and this year’s upcoming events.