My First Year at College: What I’ve Learnt About Working with Flowers

“How’s the floristry going?” is a question I get asked quite often, now that I’m 12 months into an 18-month course at Shipley College, studying for a Level 2 Technical Certificate in Floristry.

“It’s challenging, but I’m loving it” is the usual response. What this quick statement really means is that I’m beginning to realise everything that floristry is not. And that surprisingly it is, nonetheless, still a career path that I’m so pleased I chose to follow.

It’s not easy

First and foremost, I’ve learnt that none of it is easy. From the floristry itself to the whole concept of starting again and learning a new skill. However, the best things in life often are the hardest. When I’ve had an occasional wobble, I’ve reminded myself that even experts were beginners once. The key is to keep going. And for me, having a course to study for, in a structured way, is the perfect way to ensure I stay on track and progress towards my goal.

It’s not a solo sport

The support available if you look for it is massive, ranging from brilliant college tutors and classmates to florists in the industry happy to give up their time to offer help and guidance (and in my case a fantastic work experience opportunity). However, this doesn’t just happen. You have to be open to it, ask for help when needed and network. We all need a leg-up sometimes – lean into the kindness of others and offer the same in return when you can.

It's not all glamourous

Let’s face it. Floristry is made for Instagram. When I decided to follow my dream of becoming a florist, it was images of me being surrounded by an infinite supply of bountiful blooms, in a beautiful cosy village shop, whilst wearing a floaty outfit and sipping cups of cappuccino that came to mind. Whilst some of this may be true at times, what Insta doesn’t often show are the early starts, bucket washing, thermal wearing and bin emptying. I’ve made my peace with this, whilst admitting that freshly painted nails can still be the perfect pick-me-up.

It's not solely practical

Yes, at college we’re learning many of the practical skills essential in floristry, such as spiralling, wiring, gluing and wrapping. However, there’s also lots more to learn and apply. For example, theory around the elements and principles of design is central to how to ensure a design ‘looks right’. Plus, there’s lots to gets to grips with on health and safety, customer service and how the industry is structured, to ensure any future floristry role is carried out safely, effectively and profitably.

It's not a money-making miracle

Clearly there is money to be made in floristry. However, the message from those across the industry (many of whom regularly and generously give their time to support students learning at college) is that this doesn’t come without a lot of hard-work, prudence, creativity and problem-solving. The floristry sector, like many others, is constantly evolving, and businesses and individuals that can do the same stand the best chance of not just surviving, but thriving.

The floristry sector, like many others, is constantly evolving

It's not a quick fix

Continuing to develop is key. With only 6 months to go until the end of my course, I very much doubt I’ll be the finished article when I reach the end and hopefully qualify. And this is not because I haven’t worked hard and learnt a lot – far from it. More, because once I’ve got to grips with all the basics, there’ll be many areas in which I can further enhance my skills. In fact, I’m already considering carrying on studying for the Level 3 qualification which covers more advanced wedding and funeral work. Even those that have been working in the industry for decades are still learning, as styles, techniques and requirements change.

But floristry is …

So, if floristry in real-life is not as many (including me) might have imagined – why do we still do it? There’s likely to be many answers to this. However, for me, I’ve found floristry to be full of purpose.

What I mean by this is that whilst it’s delightful to be regularly handling and working with beautiful flowers, floristry is also an industry that’s often exciting and fast-paced. There’s a thrill that comes with having to press on, be creative, and come up with solutions that bring people happiness by helping them to show their emotion through flowers.

I’ve found floristry to be full of purpose.

I’m absolutely loving studying to become a florist and am determined to ensure that the end of my course next March will be the start of a new chapter on my floristry journey. So far, I’ve learnt that whilst floristry is not exactly what I expected it to be, it’s certainly bringing all of the joy that I’d hoped it would.

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Joanna Marshall is studying at Shipley College for a City & Guilds Level 2 Technical Certificate in Floristry. Previously with a career in Marketing & PR, she made the decision in Summer 2024 to go back to college to explore the potential for developing a brand-new alternative career path in floristry.