Florist

Florists use creativity and knowledge of plants and flowers to design and assemble floral displays. Florists sell flowers, plants and displays to the general public, businesses and event organisers.

Work activities

Florists sell flowers and plants to the public and make up floral displays to order. Most florists are involved in both selling and making displays, though in some larger shops people do specialise.

A florist’s duties usually include:

Ordering, unpacking and caring for flowers and plants.
Making up bouquets and arrangements based on their own knowledge, ideas, and design books to meet customer requirements.
Helping customers to choose suitable designs, flowers and plants for different occasions.
Setting up displays at conferences or exhibitions.
Delivering displays or arrangements to homes, offices and event venues.
Maintaining a sufficient supply of fresh flowers, foliage, plants and sundry items using stock-taking procedures.
Tidying displays, sweeping the shop floor and washing all containers used.

Florists take orders over the counter or by telephone. Floristry businesses are often linked together by large ‘relay’ companies who organise flowers to be made up and delivered by a local florist in their network, no matter where the flowers are ordered. As well as selling flowers, florists advise customers on general plant care. Florists need extensive product knowledge, including the seasonal availability of flowers and foliage. Caring for flowers and plants to keep them in the best condition and prolong their life is an important part of the job, so florists must have knowledge of the structure and needs of different flowers and plants.

Florists condition their fresh flowers and foliage by cutting stems, removing damaged flowers and leaves, placing flowers and plants in water and checking for pests. Florists prepare and wire flowers to produce formal displays. These could be sprays, posies, wedding bouquets and funeral wreaths. To create displays, florists use a range of tools including knives, scissors, secateurs, support wire, and tape. Displays can be arranged in different containers such as pots, vases and baskets, using foam, ribbon and other decorative accessories. Florists might also use dried or artificial fabric flowers. Some florists specialise in floral decorating for corporate events and similar occasions. Florists might also be involved in contract work, supplying fresh flowers and plants to offices, hotels and official buildings on a regular basis. Florists take payment from customers by cash as well as debit or credit cards, give change and keep records. They sometimes sell accessories (called sundries) such as vases, baskets, balloons, cards and materials for flower arranging. Some florists (for example, an owner or manager) select and buy flowers and plants from wholesalers by visiting locally and purchasing regularly, or by purchasing on the internet or telephone and then having the items delivered directly to the shop premises. For florists who own or manage a shop, there will be additional duties such as staff management, administration and accounting. Some shops and stores provide uniforms.

Personal qualities and skills

As a florist, you must enjoy communicating with people – both customers and colleagues. Also, you must be creative and enjoy design as well as working with plants and flowers. You will need to be able to:

Use your hands in a skilful way in order to create displays.
Work in cool, damp conditions and have your hands in water for part of the day.
Show tact and patience while people are choosing flowers for a happy occasion.
Sympathise with people who require your services in times of family illness or when someone has died.
Organise yourself well and work under pressure during busy times.

You should have:

Good customer service skills.
A good telephone manner for taking and giving details of orders.
The ability to use colours and shapes creatively.
An interest in buying and selling.
Number skills.
The stamina to work in a shop all day, sometimes lifting and carrying vases full of flowers.

If you have to make deliveries, you will need a driving licence. This work might not be suitable for you if you have a severe pollen allergy.

The following future skills shortages have been identified:

Business and management skills.
Job-specific technical skills.
Literacy and numeracy skills.
IT skills.
Communication skills.
Customer service skills.

Pay and opportunities

Salaries for florists vary widely, depending on the employer and location. The pay rates given are approximate. Florists earn in the range of £13,000 - £24,000 a year.

Florists usually work a standard full-time week, usually between 8 am and 6 pm, including Saturdays, with time off in the week in lieu. Part-time opportunities are also available. There might be times when they are required to start work early or work additional hours, especially during peak times around Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. Typically, you can expect to work 28-30 hours per week.

Most shops are small businesses employing fewer than five people, although some are part of small chains. A few large hotels, event organisers and undertakers might employ florists. Opportunities for florists occur in every town and city throughout the UK.

Opportunities occur for florists to become self-employed retailers.

What’s happening in this work area?

Small floristry businesses are under threat from supermarket chains with in-store floristry products, but mostly from online shopping. However, permanent, skilled staff are scarce and in demand in the industry. As a result, employment prospects are still good, as the sector needs to attract young people and career changers.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised in shop windows and local newspapers, on job boards, and on the Government’s Find a Job service.

Entry routes and training

You could do a level 2 (intermediate) apprenticeship in the role of florist, doing most of your training on the job and working towards relevant qualifications.

You can train on-the-job, perhaps with part-time study towards a relevant qualification. You might also have training in retail skills, customer service and business, with the opportunity to take a work-related qualification in these areas.

Assistants in florists’ shops could progress to managerial posts. Qualified and experienced florists could progress by starting their own business or teaching floristry.

Qualifications

To do an intermediate apprenticeship, you will need GCSEs in English and maths, although you may be able to complete these alongside your programme.

For entry to an Edexcel (BTEC) level 3 National course in floristry, the usual entry requirement is:

Four to five GCSEs at grades 9-4.
Some people enter floristry with qualifications such as A levels or a foundation degree.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Some entrants have developed relevant skills in retail or horticultural work.

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