The weekend of the 13th and 14th of November saw eight competitors aiming for Gold in the National WorldSkills UK Floristry Final held at Moreton Morrell College in Warwickshire.
Over the two days, the competitors, from England, Northern Ireland and Wales were required to create five pieces of work, including a wired design and two surprise items, one of which was their final piece, where they were presented with a pair of green wellington boots requiring a floral makeover!
The pressure was on as they worked to strict timings under the watchful eyes of not just their tutors who had travelled with them for support, but also members of the BFA, the partner organisation for WorldSkills floristry, and the general public who had been invited to view the competition in action on Sunday afternoon.
WorldSkills UK, an independent charity, is part of a global movement of over 80 countries, supporting young people in apprentices and technical education. In previous years, the UK Finals have been held under one roof, most recently Birmingham’s NEC, but this year the competition was country wide, held in venues across the UK with 400 students and apprentices from 64 different skills competing in 22 locations bringing WorldSkills to a wider audience.
The National Finals held annually are a culmination of a passive competition and a series of Heats normally held at five different colleges around the country. The eight finalists then participate in virtual training exercises and a Training Day where they are helped to develop their creative skill base. The feedback from these sessions is invaluable for their future development.
The UK Floristry finalists are
Catey Burn, Old Oak Florist, Ascot
Charlotte Coats, Moreton Morrell College
Emily Wykes, Moreton Morrell College
Emma Howells, Coleg Cambria, North Wales
Jane Sked-Connop, Moreton Morrell College
Jessica Boyd, CAFRE College, Northern Ireland
Joshua Groody, Sheffield College
Stacey Spence, Doncaster College
The results of all the finals will be announced by Steph McGovern from Channel 4’s Packed Lunch, at a Virtual Medal Ceremony at 4pm on the 26th of November. To watch and to find out more about WorldSkills, visit www.worldskillsuk.org