A florist is someone who designs and arranges flowers for different occasions such as weddings, birthdays, funerals, and other events. Florists are responsible for selecting fresh flowers, creating bouquets and displays, and helping customers choose the right arrangements. This career involves a lot of creativity and attention to detail, as well as knowledge about different types of flowers and how to care for them. Florists often work in flower shops, garden centres, or may run their own businesses. They also handle orders, deliveries, and sometimes even event planning. Being a florist can be rewarding for people who enjoy working with their hands and have a passion for plants and design.
Florists in the UK typically earn between £16,000 and £25,000 per year, depending on experience and location.
There are over 7,000 florists and flower shops across the UK, offering a variety of job opportunities.
Florists usually work around 37 to 40 hours per week. Weekend and holiday work is common, especially around events like Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day.
A wedding florist designs and arranges flowers specifically for weddings, including bouquets, table decorations, and ceremony displays.
A floral designer for events creates unique flower arrangements for parties, business conferences, and special occasions.
A flower shop assistant helps with preparing bouquets, looking after plants, and serving customers in a flower shop.
Familiarise yourself with common flowers and plants used by florists.
Start by researching popular flowers such as roses, lilies, tulips, and carnations. Learn their names, colours, and when they are in season. Understanding basic care, like how much water and sunlight they need, will help you later.
Learn how to keep flowers and plants healthy and fresh.
Read books or watch videos about caring for cut flowers, watering houseplants, and general plant maintenance. You can also practise by looking after plants at home or helping in a school garden.
Practise making simple bouquets and arrangements.
Ask for leftover flowers from a local shop or use garden flowers to experiment with arranging. Watch online tutorials to learn about different designs and techniques, such as hand-tied bouquets and vase arrangements.
Look for floristry workshops or short courses in your area.
Many colleges and community centres offer introductory courses for young people. These courses teach you about flower arranging, colour combinations, and how to care for and handle flowers professionally.
Apply for weekend or holiday work at a local florist.
Many florists are happy to take on enthusiastic helpers, especially during busy times like Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day. You will learn about serving customers, arranging displays, and the daily running of a shop.
After school, you could study for a Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Floristry.
These qualifications are offered at many colleges and teach advanced skills in floral design, business, and customer service. Apprenticeships are also available, letting you earn while you learn on the job.
Horticulturists specialise in growing and caring for plants, flowers, and trees, often working in gardens, nurseries, or research.
Garden designers plan and create outdoor spaces, choosing plants and arranging them in gardens, parks, and public spaces.
Event planners organise and manage all types of events, often working closely with florists to create stunning floral displays for special occasions.
Please note that this may not be a comprehensive list of available apprenticeships. To view a more complete collection, visit the Find an apprenticeship service.
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You can get into this job through:
You could do a college course, which would teach you some of the skills and knowledge you need to start as an assistant or trainee florist.
Courses include:
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
You could apply to do a Florist Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship, or Senior Florist Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.
These usually take about 2 years to complete and are a mix of workplace learning and off-site study.
You'll usually need:
You could start as an assistant in a florist's shop and learn and train on the job.
Employers may want you to have some GCSEs, including maths and English, creative flair and a keen interest in floristry. Experience in retail customer service would also be helpful.
Check out floristry professionals' stories, talking about how they started out and the different routes they took.
You can find out more about working and training in floristry through the British Florist Association.
Explore other careers or use our AI to discover personalised paths based on your interests.
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