Florist

Key skills/talents

A successful florist needs a diverse set of skills to excel in their role. Here are 10 key skills that a florist should have:

1. Creativity: Having a unique design sense and staying up-to-date on floral trends to create innovative arrangements.

2. Keen eye for floral design: Arranging flowers creatively and aesthetically, considering colour, texture, and design principles.

3. Plant and flower knowledge: Understanding flower and plant care, including proper storage, handling, and recommending care to customers.

4. Customer service: Providing excellent service, understanding customer needs, and recommending flowers for specific occasions.

5. Communication: Effectively communicating with customers to understand their desires and translating them into floral arrangements.

6. Business acumen: In some cases, managing finances, inventory, and overall shop operations.

7. Detail-oriented: Ensuring arrangements are meticulously crafted, flowers are kept fresh and healthy, keeping the right flowers in stock and more. 

8. Time management: Prioritising tasks (and orders), meeting deadlines for orders and deliveries, and working efficiently in a fast-paced environment.

9. Physical stamina: The ability to stand for long periods, lift heavy flower boxes, and handle physical tasks associated with flower care and arranging.

10. Teamwork: Collaborating with colleagues to ensure smooth shop operations and provide exceptional customer service.

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​Qualifications required

To gain the skills and knowledge needed for a successful floristry career, consider enrolling in a college course.

 

Here are some options to explore:

• Level 1 Certificate in Floral Design: This introductory program provides a foundation in floral design principles and basic flower care.

• Level 2 Certificate in Floristry: Building on Level 1, this course delves deeper into floral arranging techniques, flower identification, and shop operations.

• Level 3 Extended Diploma in Floristry: This advanced program offers comprehensive training in all aspects of floristry, including advanced design, business management, and wedding and event floral arrangements.

Apprenticeships are also available. The British Floristry association has further information here: https://britishfloristassociation.org/trailblazer-apprenticeship-in-floristry

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Rules and regs

There aren't any specific licences required to simply sell flowers in the UK. However, florists still need to comply with various regulations that govern general business practices and workplace safety. Here's an overview, with links:

 

General Business Regulations:

• Consumer protection laws ensure fair treatment of customers, including clear pricing displays and satisfactory product quality https://www.lawdonut.co.uk/personal.

• Depending on the region (England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland), there might be minimum charges for single-use carrier bags.

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Employment Law:

• If you have employees, you need to follow minimum wage regulations, working time rules, and guidelines set out in the Employment Rights Act https://pdq-funding.co.uk/how-to-start-a-florist-business.

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Health and Safety:

• The Health and Safety at Work Act applies to all workplaces, including flower shops. This ensures a safe working environment for both employees and yourself https://pdq-funding.co.uk/how-to-start-a-florist-business.

 

Just like any other business, a florist wil need insurance. Direct Line offers a small business floristry insurance here: https://www.directlineforbusiness.co.uk/small-business-insurance/florist

Hiscox also has a specific florist insurance: https://www.hiscox.co.uk/business-insurance/florists

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Remuneration framework

We’re not going to lie, floristry isn't that well paid, and if money really motivates you, this most likely isn’t the career for you. It’s a passion job and those that do it, do so because of their creative spirit and their love of flowers and plants; so for that reason it is hugely rewarding. 

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Most florists get paid just above the minimum wage, so £12 an hour (ish). However, with experience - and with a reputation as a ‘go to person’, even if you are working within someone else’s shop - you can negotiate a bit more.

 

This hourly rate roughly equates to about £25-27k a year, with geo variances, of course.

 

And of course, if you run your own floristry shop, or business, earnings can be a lot higher, however, information on this is tricky to find.

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How to get started

As previously mentioned, there are several courses that you can study, with most UK colleges running the different levels. The British Floristry Association gives more details on the different courses and levels throughout the UK: https://britishfloristassociation.org/floristry-qualifications

 

Below are links to some college around the UK that run accredited courses:

https://www.askham-bryan.ac.uk/departments/floristry

https://www.glasgowclyde.ac.uk/study/subject-areas/62-floristry

https://www.capel.ac.uk/courses/subject/floristry-and-event-styling

https://www.reaseheath.ac.uk/further-education/courses/floristry

 

You may even look to study a BA (degree) in Floristry and UCAS should always be your first port of call for courses: https://digital.ucas.com/coursedisplay/courses/2641c1f1-4e9c-405f-94f5-97579ea69ec8?academicYearId=2023.

 

However, as an example,Bishop Burton College near Hull, has 2 degree level courses: https://www.bishopburton.ac.uk/university-centre/study/subjects/floristry

 

Now, Liz did a great thing, and when she decided to give it a go as a career, she got a job at a local florist for a couple of years, simply to verify that she did want to do it. And in fact, you most likely wouldn’t need any qualifications to do this as a junior-junior. Pollen are looking for someone now, and they don’t need qualifications to apply - they simply need a good work ethic and a go-to attitude. At this junior level it’s unlikely you’ll be doing much creative arranging and it will be more about supporting with other areas; however, it will give you a feel for the life and the role in practice.

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Associations or official bodies to register with

Some florists choose to become members of the British Florist Association (BFA). This gives them access to industry resources, training, and upholds a professional code of conduct https://britishfloristassociation.org/bfa-code-of-excellence.

 

The National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies (NAFAS) is a registered charity: https://www.nafas.org.uk and is a great body to link with.

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Job site links

You will find most floristry jobs listed online in the usual places, such as Indeed, but it is ALWAYS worth speaking to florists in your local area, too. Even if there aren’t roles now, they can take your details for the future.

 

https://uk.indeed.com/q-floristry-jobs.html?vjk=9e22d48d49d649c0

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Progression pathway​

In a creative role like this, progression is completely down to you, and where you want to go. Lots of florists go as far as they can within another shop/business, and then decide to set-up on their own (although, ideally, not on the same street/same town as your previous job… that might not go down too well). That said, what tends to happen is, like Liz, you take on an existing florist when the owner(s) decide to sell-up. Which may well be in the same town as your previous role, however, an existing business would ‘hopefully’ feel less aggressively competitive to your old boss…?!

 

A lot of florists now go self-employed and work from their home… Physical shops/businesses are not necessary anymore. Chops plays netball with a fab lady called Isobel that has done exactly this, and she is extremely busy and working just fine without a retail presence: www.pickleberryflowers.com.

 

There’s also options to offer your services as a freelance floral decorator for other businesses, i.e. hotels, shops etc. Even events and exhibitions. LOTS of businesses have regular floral displays to brighten up their premises. This type of work could be done no matter what your working set-up is - retail premises or not.

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Additional Information/links

Simply Business has some great information about how to get started in Floristry: https://www.simplybusiness.co.uk/knowledge/articles/2023/05/how-to-become-a-florist