Flowers

[Rhedd]

Hello

Was wondering if anyone may be able to help with some information.

How would one get into working with flowers either in a florist or in another setting without any experience what-so-ever but a desire to learn a lot more?

All the information I have found so far pretty much says you have to be studying it and that it takes 2 years. All I want at the moment is to possibly learn whilst doing, more hands on experience than deciding to do a long term course.

Any local flower arranging groups in the area?

Any ideas, hints or tips will be much appreciated.

Thank you

[PeckhamRose]

Go speak to Wendy who runs AG Flowers in Evelina Road, Nunhead, and see if she can help.

Years ago she used to use kids on work experience. They turned up late if at all and were totally unreliable.

So she may still be in a position to hire someone or at least give you work experience.

[The Minkey]

I second that post - my first Saturday job was in a florists. I learned how to make everything from bouquets to arrangements, wreaths etc. Target a florists whose work you like, see if they'll take you on as work experience or similar.

[Rhedd]

thank you both very much I will look in to soon :)

[SingingWilks]

Pesh Flowers on Denmark Hill have a flower school. I have no idea on the quality of the courses on offer but have just seen them advertised as I've gone by the shop on the bus.

[womanofdulwich]

I phoned Pesh it was really expensive. My friend trained at Lambeth for half a day a week somewhere in Streatham run by local authority- and is now a florist fulltime.

[dbboy]

Also try an NVQ at Lewisham College in floristry and the flower market at New Covent Garden Market for experience. See linkhttp://www.newcoventgardenmarket.com/Market/Flowers/FlowerMarketCompanies/tabid/84/Default.aspx

[SteveT]

You might offer yourself as an intern and work a day a week for free for an interflora connected shop,

if you turn out to be willing to do anything,

and a reliable timekeeper,

they will no doubt pay you the minimum wage rate within a few weeks of starting,

if you prove to be a valuable asset to them.

[Yak]

I did evening classes in Streatham for a while with Lambeth College - great for learning the basics and certainly cheaper than Pesh. When I looked into it as an alternative career, florists I chatted to were very keen to point out that (1) there are lots of very early morning starts and (2) you will be permanently cold! I could cope with the former but not the latter, so it wasn't the right thing for me as a career. But I still enjoy messing around with flowers and pulling together a posy or two. All the best of luck in your researches!