Adrian Meeker

I’ve always known I wanted to work in horticulture. I’m from a farming background (Adrian’s family work a livestock farm in Wiltshire), and my particular interest is soil: I studied biology, geography and business studies at ‘A’ level, before going to uni at Writtle College.

During my placement year at college, I went to Frosts, where I worked for 6 month in tools, and then in the office. I enjoyed it so much, that I ended up staying on, and completing my degree part-time, so I could become part of the Frosts family. Seventeen years later, I’m still here and now the Commercial Director with special responsibility for the entire estimating department’s procedures and processes.

Procurement of new business, pricing and estimating is how I spend my time now, and it’s an important role. I have to say I’m still a “soil nerd” at heart, which has to be a good thing, since the projects I work on are mostly about planting and growing. It’s great to have that extra passion for the heart of the business.

My biggest source of pride to date is my involvement in the Olympic Park Project: that’s part of my personal legacy. The profile of this project, its impact and value is massive. In the future, I see Frosts continuing to give high priority to quality projects and workmanship in all that we do.

When I think about what makes Frosts special, I come back time and again to quality workmanship and also attention to detail and understanding the expectations of the landscape architect.

It’s producing a quality job, with spot-on attention to detail that drives me. Obviously that’s very important in the estimating process.

Frosts is a family environment. We’re successful from within. The horticultural industry is small, and good managers and staff tend to either stay with us, or if they do leave, they soon come back. With our recent management acquisition of Frosts Landscapes, we’ve developed a new atmosphere, new business, and a great environment to work in. We’re looking to inject even more fun into our work now, with more focus on soft landscaping projects.

Our supply chain knows us well and understands our standards and the commercial impact we want to make. Our construction work is still exactly the same: it’s fair and reasonable. People know what to expect from us, and that hasn’t changed. It’s about the type of work we take on, too: that matters.

At the moment, plants inspire me. I moved about 2 years ago, to get a bigger garden and I’ve redesigned it myself, inspired by Piet Oudolf’s books, and his love for structure and perennial plants. The garden is about 6 months old now, and I’m really pleased with it. I don’t think of myself as particularly creative, but Piet Oudolf has a really good list of plants, which I’ve used!

I like plants with structure and texture, like grasses: plants that you can cut back, and then they regrow. I also like scented flowers. Spring is probably my favourite time of year, with all the new growth.

I enjoy playing cricket for a local team, and also badminton. I like watching sport, especially F1. I also like to go to art galleries with my partner, who is a portrait artist.

Ken manages. He pulls strings. He makes things happen. He’s the bigger picture person. He’s good with staff, a communicator, personable. He’s the one they go to if they need to talk something through.

And being a Scot, of course, there’s always an opportunity to have a joke and take the mickey out of him too!

Fred is systems and procedures; getting it right and following them properly. He’s ex-forces, so he does things by the book.

Fred is the fun and humour guy. Then there’s his poetry…I’ll say no more on that one!