There is no doubt that the landscape of training provision in floristry has changed in my career and in my opinion, we could soon be facing a real crisis in the training available for those new to the industry. I was bench trained, learning from a whole bevy of amazing florists, ranging from those a few years older than me to those who were decades older. This meant my education included some real old school techniques as well as more modern ones, well modern for the 1980s!

Leading floral industry consultant Karen Barnes offers top tips on making floral installations successful and profitable.

Supplying regular flower and plant arrangements to local clients can be good business, as repeat orders mean regular income. These days, corporate work encompasses everything from products supplied to businesses for reception areas, to products purchased for employee gifts, customer gifts or those used to dress conference and exhibition venues, show homes and more. Competition to supply corporate flowers can be fierce. In tough times, many businesses choose to cut back on thi