Makhan Singh –  Owner

Born in Punjab, India, Makhan Singh Padda arrived in the UK in 1966 with his family. With nothing but determination, he worked in Foundries, Fields, Markets and Pack Houses, before achieving what he has today. Known to many in the local area as Mr Strawberry, he is well respected in the local community, and is an inspiration to anyone wanting to do something which they may not necessarily have the expertise in, but still make a success of it. 

Jaswinder Singh – Operations Director

Jaswinder joined Vicarage Nurseries in 2000 as its first full time employee. Born in Punjab, India, he came to the UK in 1996. He had previously worked for the Punjab Government as a District Transport Officer, before taking the role of a Post Office Counter Clerk in the UK. Shortly after he worked in a pack house starting as a operative working his way up to warehouse manager. With no prior knowledge of growing any soft fruit, his passion to learn and enthusiasm to make Vicarage a success saw him become our very own self taught agronomist. In December 2011 Jas gained his BASIS qualification in Commercial Horticulture.  

Bal Padda – Commercial Director

Bal joined Vicarage in 2009, setting up an alliance with his father to take the business to the ‘next level’.  Bringing with him over 15 years of pack house experience, Bal was well drilled with retailer expectations and requirements. By this time, Jas had developed an in depth knowledge of growing, and along with Bal’s understanding of procedures, Vicarage Nurseries was able to expand and start supplying quality product to exact customer specification, bringing along all the success which is evident today. 

Magdalena Kantorosinska – Human Resources Manager

Magdalena started life in the UK as a seasonal picker in 2004 for another soft fruit grower. She returned year on year to pick throughout the summer, whilst on holiday from studying accountancy in Poland. She worked her way up to field supervisor in 2007 before coming to Vicarage Nurseries in 2009 where she was quickly identified as one of the best workers and was promoted to work in the office. Magdalena is one of the many success here at Vicarage Nurseries where pickers arrive as seasonal workers and work their way up to being a full time employees with us.