Click on the links below to read people's stories about skills and training in the floristry industry.
Sarah Lillico, owner of The Lilli Co Florists in Earlsdon, Coventry, made the big decision to become a florist after a ten year career working as an Accountant and Finance Manager for Rolls Royce.
Wendy Holland, a Garden Centre Florist and student, previously worked as an office manager for a hot-air balloon manufacturing company. Wendy altered course, retrained successfully, and landed safely in a new career in the floristry industry, where she is currently studying at college and working as a florist in a garden centre.
Having a creative flair, Claire Fulton's decision to study floristry came as no surprise to her family and friends.
During careers guidance at school, Claire realised her love of the 'arts' and from this her interest in floristry flourished.
Twenty-two-year-old florist Natalie Stanyer’s fairy story began when she was just six with a bouquet from her father, who was working overseas, and led to international acclaim in the WorldSkills competition in Japan. Natalie’s flair with flowers has seen her rocket to stardom - cramming six years’ training, some with world famous floral experts, into nine months.
When Joe Massie chose to go to college to take vocational rather than academic qualifications, some of his teachers tried to discourage him. But the teenager from Liverpool stuck to his plans to go into floristy and has become of the UK’s top young florists. At just 19, he manages Fishlocks, one of Liverpool’s most renowned florists, which was established 100 years ago. Joe explains why training has been essential to his rapid rise in the industry and how his skills bring major benefits to the business he manages.
