Florist apprenticeship

Sell, arrange and cut flowers

Florists could work in one of several sectors, including events and retail. During the florist apprenticeship, you’ll often be commissioned for important events such as weddings and funerals, so you’ll need great business acumen and excellent customer service skills. You’ll offer appropriate expert advice to the client while interpreting the vision for the finished project. Flowers and other botanical materials are delicate, easily damaged or spoilt and have a limited storage life. You’ll need to know where the materials are sourced from, purchasing techniques, storage and the control of fresh stock, creating accurate rotation on a day-to-day basis. You’ll use your expertise and knowledge of flowers, plants, botanical materials and accessories to produce floral designs. The design of floral work, whether it is a small bouquet or a large installation for a major event, requires you to be innovative and creative. You’ll need to be organised and responsible for prioritising your own workload using good time management.

Duration: 24 months

Relevant school subjects: Business Studies

Entry requirements for a florist apprenticeship: Depend on employer, but likely GCSEs or equivalent qualifications or relevant experience

Achievement upon completion: Level 2 (Intermediate)—equivalent to GCSEs

Potential salary upon completion: £23,000 per annum

Find out more: www.apprenticeshipguide.co.uk