How to Become a Florist

Before you dip your toes into the world of floristry, you need to know what you can expect from the career. Florists cover a whole range of fun tasks. Their everyday activities may include creating flower arrangements, making bouquets, or crafting bespoke centrepieces. 

Of course, that’s the broad overview of what a florist does. There are plenty of ways you can carve out a niche within this role. For example, you may work within the wedding industry. There’s big money to be made when it comes to wedding floristry and specialist floral design. Equally, you may make arrangements for special events, such as parties, funerals, and presentations. If you are ready to get started, here are some of the tasks you might expect:

Florists can earn anywhere between £13,000 and £24,000, according to the National Careers Service. How much money you take home will depend on your skill level, your experience, and what type of industry you’re serving. As we have already mentioned, catering to weddings specifically could mean that you make more money per job. 

On average, florists tend to work between 28 and 30 hours each week. That may involve some evening, weekend work, and occasionally long hours, especially if you work in a commercial shop, depending on whether you‘re working part-time or full-time. 

While many florists are employed by larger companies or small businesses, you may decide to become self-employed and run your own flower shop or your own business. That means that you will have a greater amount of control over what you make. You can charge separately for individual projects. Should you decide to work for yourself, you can also dictate your own working hours.

Do you have what it takes to become a florist? Before you start training, check that you have the right skills for the job. Here are some of the top floristry skills: 

Of course, the skills that you need will depend largely on the type of florist business you enter. If you are working in the wedding industry, for example, having up-to-date knowledge of the latest bridal trends and looks will also be helpful. Consider the ways in which you can bolster your existing sell-set and the new talents you can add to your arsenal. 

Now that you understand what it takes to become a florist let’s talk about the qualifications you can gain. Understanding the vibrant realms of plants and flowers is a must. While you can do your own research, you need to delve deeper into this topic. Believe it or not, there are a few access routes that will help you become a fully-fledged florist in no time. 

First things first, you may decide to take the apprenticeship route. This involves getting a placement at a florist shop or company. You will learn many of the skills that you need on the job. Often enough, this will involve shadowing a trained florist. You will watch what they do, try it for yourself, and slowly start to hone your skill-set over the course of time. 

However, you should also know about the formal qualifications you can take in floristry. Taking on floristry courses will help you get ahead of the game. Many new florists find this route effective as they can learn everything that they need to know about the role. Courses can give newcomers a complete overview of the field, from how to create flower arrangements to starting your own florist shop. 

Some of these courses allow you to study online, which can be helpful if you have other commitments. Additionally, there are online diplomas for which you need no prior experience or qualifications. That means that you can get started soon, no matter what.

The short answer is no. If you are new to the sector, you may benefit by doing an apprenticeship. When you have gained your qualifications, you may want to look at opportunities near you and start applying for roles. Much of the time, you can learn skills as you go. That means that you will gain experience as you work.  

There are lots of great reasons why you should study floristry, including access to great job opportunities. Ready to get started? There’s room for career progression when you become a florist. One of the best ways to get more out of this career is to start your own floristry business. Should you do that, you will be able to employ other florists and be your own boss.