Did you know that an unauthorised leave of absence could lead to disciplinary action or a misconduct claim for your employee? So what should you do if you have an employee who has taken an unauthorised leave of absence or an excessive absence from the business? In this article, we will take you through what an unauthorised leave of absence is and some of the common questions we get asked. If you require support in your legal issues and handling unauthorised absences, get in t

Looking for something interesting and unusual to stock? Air plants are perfect for children who want to spend their pocket money on something small and if it’s something that they themselves find fascinating, then even better. What is an air plant? Air plants are in the Bromeliad family, native to the tropical Americas, where they live on trees, rocks or any hard surface. They absorb nutrients and water from the air, not through soil so they have little or no root systems

Cymbidium orchids are prized for their colour range, elegance and long vase life. Su Whale shares her tips on caring for and using them.

With the arrival of the new year, wedding consultations are beginning to pour in, signalling that this will be a busy wedding season.

There is nothing that lifts the spirit more than the sight of the sun shining through cherry blossom on a warm spring day. This spring ‘pick-me-up’ is a universal feeling, celebrated all over the world, most famously in Japan, when every year the Japan Meteorological Company release its predictions for peak bloom season. This usually falls around the end of March and the beginning of April, when the nation comes together in a centuries old tradition to view the blossom and p

Who doesn’t love spring flowers? A welcome sight at the gloomiest time of year, it is currently peak time for these seasonal beauties, so here is an ‘At a Glance Guide’ of caring and conditioning our most popular spring flowers. Anemone Temperature: Cool, approximately 2°C. Susceptible to bacteria so ensure all vases and containers are clean before use. Place in shallow water which should be topped up daily. Display in a cool spot with good air circulation. Soft Anem

Read Croner's latest guide to reporting and preventing workplace accidents and incidents.

Su Whale praises the shamrock and suggests some suitably green foliage alternatives for floristry work.

If your business has expanded to where you’re thinking about hiring someone, it’s important to do some research about payroll.

Su Whale encourages us to embrace scented shrubs to add style and colour to spring arrangements.

Supermarkets will be full of prewrapped cellophane bunches and bouquets for Mother’s Day at all price points and in all colours. Easy for the shopper to pick up but distinctly lacking in originality. This is where florists’ have the advantage of being able to design not only bespoke gifts but wrap flowers and plants far more inventively and creatively to suit individual tastes and budgets. That being said, Mother’s Day is not the occasion to be spending lots of time on comp

While spray roses are sometimes viewed as the little sister of single headed roses, they are anything but. In every shade and variation of colour that you could wish for, they are good value for money with anything between five to a dozen heads on a stem, depending on variety. How to buy spray roses Stem Length: 40-70cm, sold in batches of 10 stems. Cost per stem can vary, based on the length of the stem and the size of the flower heads. The taller varieties with large bloom

When a grievance occurs, a good policy can be the difference between a tribunal and successful resolution.

Spring is the florist’s season of renewal. This is my personal favourite season! Shop windows brighten, palettes soften, and customers return in search of colour, fragrance and feeling after the quiet austerity of winter. Spring flowers don’t just brighten arrangements, they carry emotional messages of hope, love and fresh beginnings that resonate deeply with buyers. For florists, understanding both the aesthetic value and the meaning behind spring blooms helps create arrange

Perceptions of working routines have changed in recent years, the perception of working routines has changed.