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Design, create and deliver imaginative floral and balloon displays to assist learning and employment opportunities.

The Floristry School offers three specialisms: Floristry, Flower Arranging and Balloon Artistry. Our learning programmes are intensive (two or three days per week for one academic year), or part-time day or evening. All programmes have a national and international reputation for exceptional design skill and cutting edge-creativity. We welcome all ages: from school leavers wishing to have a career in commercial floristry, to mature students wishing to learn new skills to improve employment opportunities or change career.

The Floristry School’s achievements rest on the high quality training provided, enabling students to develop skills and build businesses both in the UK and abroad. We have been in the unique position of being the only nationally accredited Centre of Vocational Excellence for Floristry and Business Enterprise, and have been awarded Grade 1 status from Ofsted in our three most recent inspections.

We have dedicated teaching facilities at all our centres, and our experienced and qualified staff ensure that the learning experience is both rewarding and enjoyable.

Floristry
If you enjoy flowers, like meeting people and are creative then training to be a commercial florist is for you. The job is varied, as you will be required to create a host of different designs to satisfy all customers’ requirements: hand tieds, flower arrangements, bridal work and funeral work. Your training will also include how to produce in-house and promotional displays, retailing and customer service and business skills. Event decoration, contract work, function decorating and exhibition design all require the skills of a florist, so there are a host of employment opportunities as either an employee or to start up your own floristry business.

Balloon artistry
Creating balloon décor for celebration or promotion and delivery of balloon bouquets as gifts is a lucrative business.
At Capel Manor we have world wide recognition for our balloon artistry tuition. You will learn how to create both classic, air filled balloon designs and aerial gas filled balloon décor, as well as design and retailing skills. Balloon artistry can compliment an existing business or provide new employment or business opportunities.

Flower arranging
If you have a love of plants, flair for design and creativity and like to enhance interior décor with flowers then flower arranging is for you. Using both garden plants and commercially-grown materials, you will develop the elements and principles of design to create a host of table and free standing floral designs. These courses do not prepare you to be a retail florist but do develop your flower arranging skills enabling you to decorate homes, functions and events.

Click on the images below to see our Floristry students at work

Applicants will be required to complete a literacy/numeracy skills test either at interview or within the first few weeks of attendance to ensure you have the required entry skills. References will be taken up for intensive Commercial Floristry programmes and it is necessary that you meet the entry requirements outlined.

In order to achieve nationally recognised Commercial Floristry, Flower Arranging or Balloon Artistry qualifications, your skills and knowledge will be tested through practical assessment and written assignments. The Commercial Floristry qualifications will require you to sit an additional external assessment.

Level 1 Diploma in Land-based Studies (Floristry & Balloon Design)
This full-time introductory course provides the opportunity to learn the basic skills in floristry and balloon artistry whilst further developing your numeracy, literacy, IT and life skills. This programme acts as a bridge for students hoping to progress to a level 2 qualification and to confirm that their chosen vocational area is right for them.

Entry Requirements
Prospective students should have a minimum of Entry Level 3 Maths and English or GCSEs at grade E-F. All applicants are assessed on an individual basis with interviews arranged throughout the year.

Progression
This introductory course provides basic knowledge and the chance to develop practical skills. Progression on to the Modern Retail Floristry course, which includes the Level 2 Diploma in Floristry, will be dependent upon successful achievement of the Level 1 to a high standard and satisfactory numeracy and literacy skills.

Modern Retail Floristry Level 2
This intensive one year course consists of two qualifications: the City & Guilds/NPTC Diploma in Floristry at Level 2; and City & Guilds Award in Balloon Artistry. This programme has been developed to train students to be commercial retail florists. Applicants can be school leavers with GCSE grades A to C or adults wishing to learn new vocational skills to increase employment opportunities or change career.

Entry Requirements
A genuine interest in Floristry and Balloon Artistry: for 16-18 year olds three GCSEs at grade C or above and satisfactory literacy and numeracy skills, for 19+ a willingness and commitment to learn and satisfactory literacy and numeracy skills. All applicants are assessed on an individual basis with interviews arranged throughout the year. You will be required to complete a screening test at interview.

Progression
Successful completion of this course, together with a good command of the English language equivalent to a level 2 qualification, enables students to progress to the City & Guilds/NPTC Diploma in Floristry at Level 3.

City & Guilds/NPTC Diploma in Floristry Level 3
This advanced diploma gives students the opportunity to further develop their practical and theoretical skills in floristry whilst gaining greater knowledge on how to run a successful floristry business.

Entry Requirements
C&G/NPTC Diploma in Floristry at Level 2 or an equivalent Commercial Floristry qualification and a good command of English and maths equivalent to a Level 2 qualification (at interview we include a screening test).

Progression
Successful completion of this course will enable students to pursue work within the floristy industry.