GreenThumb, the UK’s largest lawn care franchise, has expanded its presence in Yorkshire with the launch of two new branches in Leeds and Harrogate. The business, already established in Preston and Ilkley, is now operated across four locations by entrepreneurs Steve Graham and Philip Alston.
The duo, who have built a strong reputation for high-quality lawn care services, now serve over 5,300 homes and businesses across Lancashire and Yorkshire. With the addition of the Leeds and Harrogate branches, they will continue delivering more than 2,100 lawn treatments while ensuring excellent customer service.
Philip Alston will oversee daily operations, focusing on business growth and management efficiency, while Steve Graham will use his 25 years of experience in sales and business development to expand the customer base. Their operations, supported by a team of nine lawn operatives and three administrative staff, are managed from their head office in Preston.
Steve Graham said: “With Yorkshire being one of the UK’s largest counties, it felt like a natural progression for us to expand by acquiring Leeds and Harrogate. After successfully growing our Preston branch, acquired in 2019, and Ilkley in 2022, we sought a new challenge that would enable us to scale the business quickly. Leeds and Harrogate offered an established customer base, a dedicated team and essential equipment. We’re thrilled to now operate across three locations in Yorkshire, which has been made possible with the support from GreenThumb’s Head Office.”
Bringing 50 years of combined industry experience, Steve and Philip have steered their business to consistent growth. Steve’s extensive career in horticulture includes roles at Rigby Taylor Ltd and A.P. Broome Landscapes, where he developed expertise in sales, operations management, and leadership. Philip, with a background in commercial fire security, has brought valuable client relationship management skills to the business.
Philip Alston added: “We are both really passionate about delivering exceptional customer service and providing value for money. Every week, we receive calls from customers praising our lawn operatives and expressing their satisfaction with the service they receive. We also recognise the challenges posed by the UK’s changing climate and seasons and as a result have embraced an ‘adapt and adopt’ strategy, ensuring we continue to meet our clients’ needs effectively. Our agile and responsive management approach has allowed us to grow our locations consistently year after year since their acquisition, and we intend to do the same in Leeds and Harrogate.
“We have ambitious plans for the business, and our goal is to increase turnover by 40% annually over the next few years and double our growth, all while expanding our customer base significantly. As we scale, we are committed to bringing in new local talent to maintain the high standards of customer service that our clients have come to expect.”
GreenThumb operates across Ilkley, Leeds, and Harrogate as part of a national network of over 220 territories, providing more than 2.5 million treatments annually.
For further information, visit www.greenthumb.co.uk, email prestonnorth@greenthumb.co.uk, or call Leeds on 0113 733 7100 and Harrogate on 01937 582451.
