Could you be a budding florist?

IT may include some very early starts to get to market on time but working as a florist has some huge rewards.

Flowers are how people mark some of the most important moments in their lives.

And, as a florist, you get to be part of that, whether it is making a posy to say thank you, fabricating some wonderful wedding creations or, sadly, putting together a wreath to say goodbye.

And that means, of course, you will have to be sympathetic and be able to get along with people, offering them advice and help on types of flowers and colour schemes.

At certain times of the year, you can expect to be very busy – such as Mother’s Day and St Valentine’s Day – and that means you may have to work long hours during these periods.

It goes without saying that it helps if you are quite artistic and able to put textures and shapes together to make something that will please your client.

And as well as personal customers, you can also expect to have to create floral designs for business and corporate customers – perhaps to decorate tables at a conference or even an awards ceremony.

It helps to start off by perhaps working as a Saturday helper in an established florist’s, where you can learn the rudiments and decide if this is indeed the career for you.

Flowers can be beautiful to work with but they do have to be kept in a cool environment to be seen and used to their best.

Working in a shop means that you will learn how to take care of stock and when and how much to buy in to suit your orders.

It will also teach you how to speak to customers and develop a skill of explaining the world of flowers to them.

Many people choose particular flowers because they have a special meaning and this is something else you may wan to learn.

For example, red roses are for love and violets for faithfulness.

Ultimately, you can run your own business, whether it is a shop or catering to a business clientele, and it is very helpful to have a driving licence so that you can deliver your goods.

In the beginning, a trainee florist can expect to be on the national minimum wage, which will rise as you gain more experience.

Your employer may also arrange for you to go to college and study for a certificate or diploma in floristry.