THIS is The Horticulture Industry Scheme CIC
We are an award-winning social enterprise, based in Thetford and Stowmarket. Our workforce comprises people with barriers to employment – returning citizens (prison leavers), people who have experienced homelessness, mental health challenges or addiction, care leavers and refugees.
THIS provides grounds and garden maintenance services in the areas local to Thetford and Stowmarket, mostly for local businesses but also for private homes.
(CIC stands for community interest company, which is our legal structure).
Growing Opportunities …
Our workforce is made up of returning citizens, people who have experienced homelessness, mental health challenges and/or addiction. THIS is dedicated to giving them valuable training and employment opportunities. We offer support to our workers in all the areas that could affect their ability to maintain a job, referring to other organisations if needed. Our friends at the Norfolk School of Gardening deliver Level II qualifications in Practical Horticulture to some of our workforce to develop their skills and knowledge.
- Housing advice
- Training
- Opening bank accounts
- Substance misuse
- Financial difficulties and family relationships
- Smoking cessation
THIS aims to improve each individual’s chances of finding work by providing opportunities to contribute to their local community and demonstrate to the workforce, their families and society that past mistakes do not have to seal their futures. Our vision is that returning citizens will find a place they can contribute and feel safe in society.
Horticulture has long been associated with personal growth and well-being. It is our belief that growth is a steady process that takes dedication.
Our Services
Social Gardens
We have been generously awarded funds to support people who are struggling to manage their gardens because of, for example, underlying health conditions (including mental health challenges); people recovering from surgery or serious illness; key workers who are exhausted; and people with additional learning or physical support needs. We bring a team into the garden and spend a day tidying, clearing weeding, pruning … whatever needs doing. So far, 320 households have benefitted from this service. Thanks to our funders, this service is free of charge.
Businesses and Factories
THIS undertakes grounds maintenance for businesses and factories in Thetford, Stowmarket and the surrounding areas.
We do grounds clearance, grass mowing, strimming, tidying, hedge cutting, weeding, litter picking, spraying (PA1 and PA6 qualified).
Domestic Gardens
THIS does garden maintenance for people in the Thetford and Stowmarket areas.
The over-65s are given a 10% discount on our usual rates.
Meet Our Management Team
Tim Melvin, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder
Tim has been involved in prison resettlement and with supporting people with barriers to employment for twenty-five years. Tim’s creative solutions to addressing resettlement issues have led to thousands of successful prison releases. He has led teams of resettlement workers across East Anglia and has specialised in housing, employment, financial literacy and training. Tim has always had a passion for nature, particularly bee-keeping, and has embraced horticulture, particularly when it involves garden clearances. Tim’s logistical abilities are the stuff of legend: he can have ten gardening jobs on at one time and he will always deliver the right tools to the right site in plenty of time!
Georgina Keatley, Director and Co-founder
Georgina has been working with returning citizens and people with barriers to employment since 1997 in the prison resettlement and homelessness sectors. With Tim Melvin, she set up The Horticulture Industry Scheme CIC (THIS), opening in Thetford in April, 2017. They both felt that there was a shortage of employment opportunities for people leaving prison and THIS was set up to offer such opportunities. Georgina originally started as CEO but she stepped down during 2024 and she is now actively involved on the Board of Directors and on a few projects. She is a fellow of the School for Social Entrepreneurs and has two degrees from the University of East Anglia.
Sharon Harmer, Director
Sharon was originally Georgina’s mentor on the School for Social Entrepreneur’s Trade Up Course and the whole team at THIS found her knowledge and experience so valuable, she was invited to join the Board and we were delighted she did! Sharon is retired but was previously Head of Sourcing, Retail and ITO at Lloyds Bank and she brings wealth of commercial experience.
Robin Ashenden, Director
Robin is a journalist, travel writer and teacher. He currently lives in Shropshire and, having lived in various countries in Eastern and Central Europe, has an understanding of cultures and languages which is very helpful to THIS. He previously set up an arts website for Eastern Europeans living in London so also has good knowledge of the social enterprise world.”
Pete Melvin, Operations Manager
Pete, who oversees our gardening operations and ensures are our high standards are maintained, has twenty years’ experience of working with people who have barriers to employment, notably with refugees and homeless people. He also worked for several years assisting and advising victims of crime. Pete has a passion for the great outdoors and likes to spend his leave time exploring and climbing mountains.
Raoul Hurry-Palmer, Senior Gardener
Raoul joined THIS in September, 2021 as a gardener. In 2022 he undertook the Norfolk School of Gardening’s Level II in Practical Horticulture, achieving a distinction. He then went on to complete a garden design course. He was promoted to Senior Gardener at THIS and now heads up our horticultural work. He designed our planting at Icewell Hill, Newmarket, which was a pilot project for Flagship Housing. Raoul is a calming and positive influence on the team and regularly mentors all our new recruits. He also thinks he’s funnier than he is …!
Patii Bialczak, Gardener
Patii has worked with us since January, 2025. She is a passionate gardener and allotment holder. She has a Level II certificate in Practical Horticulture from the Norfolk School of Gardening in which she achieved a distinction, having attained a mark of 95%
We welcome applications for work placements and volunteers
What our Workforce Members Say
Donate to THIS
Eventually we plan to be self sustaining as a realistic business model. It is our belief social enterprises will be a big part of the business landscape in the years to come. We can compete with established business models and add a significant element of benefit to communities and excluded groups.
Thank You!
Your assistance helps THIS to work with a greater number of former offenders. We are hugely grateful to all our supporters.
Our Supporters and Friends
We are immensely grateful to the following for their support, including Stihl who have donated us some ex-display machinery which run on rechargeable batteries. This has enabled us to improve our carbon footprint.
