- Our Purpose
- Acknowledgement
- Moving Forward
Purpose:
Everything we do starts with purpose — not as a slogan, but as a responsibility.
As a family business, we take a long-term view of our work and the impact it has beyond our own organisation. Purpose, for us, means understanding the role we play, the consequences of the decisions we make, and the standards we choose to hold ourselves to. It guides how we source materials, how we shape landscapes, and how we think about the future we are contributing to.
Our Commitments:
1. Innovating with Care
Innovation matters — but only when it is grounded in care, honesty and real understanding.We focus on improving how materials are sourced, used and understood, not chasing novelty for its own sake. That means questioning existing practices, learning from evidence, and applying practical solutions that stand up over time. Innovation, in this context, is about making better decisions — not louder claims.
2. Raising Standards Through Action
We believe standards are raised by example, not by instruction.Our approach is to be clear about what we do, how we do it, and where the limits are. By sharing our thinking, setting reference points and being transparent about impact, we aim to contribute positively to the wider landscape industry. Not by positioning ourselves above it, but by doing our work properly and encouraging others to do the same.
3. Connection & Community
At the heart of our work are people and the places they live with every day.Landscapes, gardens and developments are not just physical spaces — they are part of communities. They shape how people connect, how they feel, and how environments are experienced over time. By putting people first, working collaboratively and respecting the land we work with, we aim to create outcomes that feel considered, inclusive and lasting.
Small and medium-sized businesses are central to the UK economy — and to its environmental impact.
SMEs are estimated to account for around one-third of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions, with the average SME producing approximately 15 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per year. This highlights both the responsibility businesses carry and the opportunity they have to influence meaningful change.
Progress does not come from one organisation alone. It comes from thousands of businesses making better, more thoughtful decisions every day.
A growing industry with growing responsibility
The UK horticulture and landscaping sector is often underestimated, yet its contribution is significant and continuing to grow.
The sector contributes approximately £38 billion annually to the UK economy and supports more than 720,000 jobs nationwide. Projections suggest that by 2030 the sector could contribute up to £51 billion and support over 760,000 jobs.
This growth reflects increasing recognition of the value landscapes bring — to wellbeing, biodiversity, resilience and the quality of everyday environments.
Responsibility beyond growth
Landscaping is not just about how spaces look on completion. It is about how places function, how they age, and how they interact with the natural environment over time.
Family-run businesses within this sector are often well placed to take a long-term view — balancing commercial reality with care for land, materials and future generations.
Our acknowledgement
We recognise both the impact our industry has and the influence it can carry.
We do not frame responsibility as a marketing exercise. Instead, we see it as a shared obligation to be transparent, measured and accountable for the decisions we make.
As the sector continues to grow, we believe progress should be measured not just by scale, but by care — and by how well today’s decisions stand the test of time.
References
• British Business Bank – SMEs and Net Zero Report (2025): SMEs are estimated to account for around one-third of UK greenhouse gas emissions, with the average SME producing approximately 15 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent annually.
• Environmental Horticulture Group / Oxford Economics – Economic Impact of Environmental Horticulture (2024): The UK horticulture and landscaping sector contributes approximately £38 billion to the economy, supports over 720,000 jobs, and could grow to around £51 billion and over 760,000 jobs by 2030.
Our approach is not static.
The decisions we make today are shaped by what we know now — and we accept that understanding, standards and expectations will continue to evolve. Moving forward means remaining open to change, scrutiny and improvement, even when that requires us to challenge established ways of working.
We do not see this framework as a finished statement. It is a reference point that helps guide decisions across our business, from sourcing and product development to operations and partnerships. It allows us to assess progress honestly and adapt where better options become available.
Some improvements will be incremental. Others will require more significant change. Not all progress will be immediate, and not every decision will be straightforward. We believe it is important to acknowledge that reality rather than simplify it.
As a family business, we take a long-term view. Many of the materials we work with today will shape environments long after immediate decisions are forgotten. That understanding informs how we think about responsibility, care and the standards we set for ourselves.
What matters is direction, intent and accountability.
This framework will continue to be reviewed, refined and strengthened. Not to make claims, but to ensure our actions remain aligned with our values as we move forward.
“Good design begins with responsible decisions. Future landscapes will judge todays decisions”
Signed,
Michael Corkery
CEO
Corker