IWD 2025: Entrepreneur aiming to inspire women in horticulture sector

Alexandra Waring-Syms, the co-owner of lawn care franchise GreenThumb Solihull, is aiming to inspire women across the West Midlands to consider careers in the horticulture sector.

As the first and youngest female to own a GreenThumb franchise at 24, Alex is now celebrating 20 years in business and helping to empower more women in business.

She founded UK lawn care service GreenThumb with her brother in 1986.

As soon as she was able to drive at 17, she joined the family business where she began learning the ropes of a franchise's operation and how to run a business.

Alex worked closely with her parents in North Wales for over seven years to learn the skills to replicate the same level of success for her own business.

Following her relocation to Solihull in 2005, where she solely ran the franchise for five years before her husband Nathan became a partner, they went on to build a local business operating from their depot in the centre of the town.

The couple are supported by two lawn operatives and an office manager and together their aim is to provide customer service and high-quality lawn care and hard-surface treatments to over 1,400 customers across their area.

She said: "International Women's Day is a perfect platform to vocalise and embrace all of the great things about being female in the horticulture industry and to be an advocate for women in business.

"We are not only celebrating women's achievements but it is a reminder that more action is needed to achieve gender parity and for women to be included in all fields of business.