Here’s how to let a new chapter in your life bloom
THIRTY years ago, the average Briton spent £ 8 a year on cut flowers, but that has grown to around £36 — flowers are no longer just for special occasions, and the floristry trade is promoting its career opportunities.
‘My career allows me to be creative every day,’ says florist Vanessa Plews. ‘Floristry is one of the few jobs where you see people both on the best days of their life — for example, when they are planning a wedding — and at their lowest, say organising the funeral of a loved one.
‘it’s an emotional rollercoaster, but it’s always rewarding because people are so grateful for the flowers and arrangements.
‘i love translating their vision into reality and then seeing how happy they are with the result.’
Vanessa, 37, from hunwick, County Durham, had worked as an optical consultant, but after 15 years wanted to swap to floristry.
‘i did a six-week floristry course at a local college to see if i liked it, and fell in love with it. so i took a City and Guilds Level 2 diploma in floristry,’ says Vanessa.
now working at Flowers By nattrass, in Darlington, Vanessa says: ‘i love floristry, but it is not as glamorous as many people think. it involves lifting heavy buckets of water and boxes of flowers, and because flowers must be kept cold to stay fresh, being cold, wet and dirty is part of the job.’
she adds: ‘Try a short course or get work experience to see if floristry suits you. it’s a physically tough job and on Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day you start early and finish late.’ sally Bennett, owner of Flowers By nattrass, says: ‘For a floristry career you need artistic flair and must be confident and outgoing as a large part of the job is dealing with customers.’
employers typically look for City and Guilds Level 2 and 3 floristry qualifications.
A FLORISTRY education bus is currently touring the UK promoting floristry qualifications. See florismart.com/news/ floristry-education-bus -powered-florismart. For careers information, see bfaflorist.org.