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Floral designer

A floral designer is employed by event florists and provides flowers and styling for private events, parties, weddings and exhibitions

Training, qualifications and skills Level 2 diploma in floristry; college course either full or part-time (higher education); floristry career course (private); work-based training such as Learn with Experts. Many floral designers are also self-taught, gaining experience while working
Career progression opportunities Garden designer, workshop teacher, floral school owner, retail premises owner, online floral retailer, event production
Useful links BFA
Flowers From the Farm
Flowerona
National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies

Focus on: Floral designer and tutor

Hazel Gardiner
Hazel Gardiner Design, self-employed
Full time, salary up to £45k

I provide floral designs for small to large scale events for corporate clients within various industries including fashion, advertising and beauty. Other services I offer include bouquet deliveries, postal flower kits, workshops (in person and online) and weddings. My signature style is the unique fusion of dried, silk, and fresh stems to create painterly designs. I’m inspired by the changing seasons, art and architecture.

Get started and practise. Create designs for friends and family and see if you like working with flowers. Find the right training for you that fits with a style you admire.

I am a former student of the London College of Fashion, with a degree in fashion journalism and broadcast. After starting a career in television production, a cancer diagnosis propelled me to start my own fashion retail business. Later I decided I wanted to work in horticulture and completed a 4-week career course at McQueen’s Flower School. Hazel Gardiner Design was founded shortly after.

Focus on: Event florist

Lily Fitch
Freelance
Full time, salary up to £35k
London

I live and work in London as a freelance florist. I grew up around flowers – my grandparents grew flowers and plants for Birmingham Flower Market. I studied at Pershore College of Horticulture and followed my qualification with work experience at several local florists. From there, I met Shane Connolly, a hugely acclaimed florist, who I currently work alongside.

If you're not sure about your career path, try volunteering for a local florist. It’s hard work and can be long hours, but it is rewarding – I feel extremely lucky to be part of this industry.

My job includes regular trips to Covent Garden Flower Market sourcing flowers and plants for private parties, homes and events. I help create and install flowers, which my employers have proposed to their clients in some of London’s most iconic venues and ultimately help to transform a space by bringing nature inside. The changing seasons bring an abundance of varying flowers and plants making every job completely different – it's the reason I feel so passionate about my career.

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.