Society of Garden Designers

What Society of Garden Designers does

The Society of Garden Designers, operating under the legal name Society of Garden and Landscape Designers (SGLD), is a UK-based nonprofit professional membership organization headquartered in Ross-on-Wye. It serves as the primary professional body for garden and landscape designers in the United Kingdom, conferring the MSGLD and FSGLD credentialed designations that signal industry-recognized expertise. The organization maintains a searchable Find a Designer directory connecting prospective clients with member designers, ranging from small courtyard specialists to designers of country estates and urban parks.

SGLD's product portfolio comprises nine core services: the Find a Designer directory, professional membership with credentialed designations, the annual SGLD Awards program, a CPD and events calendar featuring workshops and seminars, the members-only Garden Design Journal, sustainability resources including the Say No to plastic grass campaign, courses and careers guidance with SGLD Educator Status, professional resources (CDM guidance and templates), and an Affiliated Suppliers Directory. Technology consists of a standard website (sgld.org.uk) serving as the directory, e-commerce platform, and event registration system, with no proprietary technology, API, or mobile application disclosed.

The business model is community-led, generating revenue through four streams: recurring membership subscriptions (Full Member, Associate Member, Friend of the Society), one-time events and CPD fees, awards entry fees, and subscription and sales revenue from the Garden Design Journal and merchandise. The go-to-market is primarily through the membership pathway, the directory for inbound client-designer matching, and an active volunteer-led regional cluster group network across the UK. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The organization serves two segments: garden and landscape design professionals (primary) and garden owners and enthusiasts seeking design services (secondary).

Name

Society of Garden Designers

Legal name

Society of Garden and Landscape Designers

Website

https://sgd.org.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Society of Garden Designers (SGLD) is a UK nonprofit professional membership body that accredits garden and landscape designers through MSGLD and FSGLD designations, connects clients with designers via its Find a Designer directory, and delivers CPD events, awards, and publications to its professional members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Landscape Architectural Services (54132), Landscape Architectural Services (541320)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Home & Garden Hobbies (Gardening, Floral Design, Home Decor) (EDAAAGAL)

Keywords

• Professional garden designers
• Landscape design accreditation
• Membership association
• Design awards programme
• Continuing professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

Ross On Wye

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees for garden and landscape design professionals at various levels including Full Member, Associate Member, and Friend of the Society categories.
2. Events and CPD: Revenue from educational events, workshops, seminars, and continuing professional development courses offered to members and non-members.
3. Awards Entry Fees: Entry fees for the annual SGLD Awards programme across multiple categories.
4. Shop and Publications: Sales from the members-only shop including the Garden Design Journal magazine (digital and print subscriptions) and other resources.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Society of Garden Designers operates as a UK professional membership organization for garden and landscape design professionals. It provides professional accreditation through MSGLD and FSGLD designations, a searchable Find a Designer directory connecting clients with member designers, an annual SGLD Awards programme, a continuing professional development (CPD) and events calendar, and members-only publications including the Garden Design Journal.

Product overview

The Society of Garden and Landscape Designers operates as a professional membership organization offering a portfolio of interconnected services. The core offerings include a searchable Find a Designer directory, professional membership with credentials (MSGLD/FSGLD), and the annual SGLD Awards program. Supporting services include the Garden Design Journal (members-only magazine), CPD & Events program with workshops and seminars, Courses & Careers resources with SGLD Educator Status courses, Sustainability resources including a manifesto and plastic grass campaign, Resources for Designers with CDM guidance and templates, and an Affiliated Suppliers Directory. The organization serves both professionals seeking credentials and clients seeking qualified garden designers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Find a Designer Directory Online searchable directory connecting clients with professional member garden and landscape designers based on location and specialization, covering projects from small courtyards and roof gardens to country estates and urban parks.
• Professional Membership Annual membership programme for garden and landscape design professionals, students, and enthusiasts, offered at tiers including Full Member, Associate Member, and Friend of the Society. Members receive credentials such as MSGLD and FSGLD designations, access to resources, community benefits, and regional cluster group participation.
• CPD and Events Programme Continuing Professional Development programme and events calendar featuring workshops, seminars, cluster group events, and courses offered to members and non-members for ongoing professional development in garden and landscape design.
• SGLD Awards Annual awards programme recognizing excellence in garden and landscape design, with entry open for various project categories including Main Awards. Entry to the 2027 SGLD Awards is open across all Main Awards categories.
• Garden Design Journal Members-only digital magazine and subscription service providing industry publications and project showcases delivered digitally or by mail through print subscription.
• Affiliated Suppliers Directory Directory service connecting members with affiliated suppliers, with supplier opportunities available for businesses in the garden and landscape design sector.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Landscape Institute: The UK chartered body for landscape architects, operating as a professional membership organization with similar accreditation, CPD, and public-facing 'find a designer' functionality. Directly comparable in mission, structure, and UK focus, though it represents a more architecture-credentialed cohort than SGLD.
• American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA): The leading US professional membership association for landscape architects, offering similar accreditation, awards, advocacy, and continuing education. Strong functional analog despite operating in a different geography.
• British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI): UK trade association for landscape contractors and suppliers, operating a register of accredited landscapers with CPD and awards. Overlaps with SGLD in the UK garden/landscape ecosystem but skews toward contracting/install rather than design.

Emerging players

• Garden Media Guild: UK professional body for garden communicators, writers, photographers, and broadcasters. Smaller and adjacent in the garden ecosystem, with overlapping events and member-directory mechanics.
• Association of Professional Landscapers (APL): UK-based professional body for landscapers offering accreditation, designer registers, and awards. Smaller and more contracting-focused than SGLD but partially overlapping in serving garden design professionals.
• Garden Design School: UK-based training provider for aspiring garden designers, holding SGLD Educator Status. Adjacent in the training pathway that feeds SGLD's professional membership funnel.

Regional players

• International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA): Global federation representing national landscape architecture societies, including the Landscape Institute. Relevant as a higher-tier umbrella organization with overlapping accreditation and congress programming.
• Chartered Institute of Horticulture (CIH): UK professional body for horticulturists offering Chartered Horticulturist status, CPD, and regional branches. Comparable membership-body mechanics with a broader horticulture (rather than garden design) remit.

Broad incumbents

• Royal Horticultural Society (RHS): The UK's largest gardening charity, with membership, shows, education, and a renowned Find a Plantsman/Designer offering. Far larger scale and broader scope, but adjacent in serving horticulture-interested consumers and design professionals.

Others

• Perennial: UK charity supporting people in horticulture. Adjacent ecosystem participant serving a different function (welfare/support) but operating in the same garden-design professional community.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/the_sgd
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCJiify2GOEZqcx_nnbF_tdA
• Facebookfacebook.com/societyofgardendesigners
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/society-of-garden-designers-sgd
• Instagraminstagram.com/the_sgld

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Society of Garden Designers