Ursula’s floristry journey

Ursula is a former floristry student at Capel Manor College, with an inspirational story.

“After being made redundant in 2015, I set up a business tending graves, but wanted to offer the option of fresh floral tributes. The key reason for enrolling on a Level 1 floristry course at Capel Manor College was to learn how to create them, but I quickly progressed through to Level 3. And so began a journey that transformed me not only into a florist, but also into a teacher and social entrepreneur. 

In 2018, I won a Festival of Learning Social Impact Award in recognition of how I changed my life through adult learning. My achievements include creating the Flower Bank, which reduces flower and foliage wastage by taking unwanted produce from supermarkets and turning it into designs for the local community. I have also worked with young offenders, teaching them the rudiments of floristry using the donated flowers.

Studying floristry has shaped the person I have become, given direction to my life, and made me a social entrepreneur. I have gained the creativity and confidence to be able to pursue a career in floristry.”

Where are they now?

After five years studying animal management with us, Cara has continued to thrive in higher education and the animal science sector. 

Following her time at our College she progressed to her first-choice university to study BSc (Hons) Zoo Biology, a course selected to broaden the biology and animal science knowledge she first developed at Capel Manor College. Throughout her degree, Cara explored diverse areas from physiology to animal behaviour, and the fascinating crossover of behavioural physiology. 

As part of her four-year programme, Cara completed an exciting placement year that took her around the world. She spent three months at a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre in Ecuador followed by six months at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna contributing to sector research. 

Returning to the UK for her final year, Cara graduated with first-class honours, as well as several prestigious awards recognising her academic excellence and dedication to student leadership. 

Her success has continued beyond her undergraduate degree. Cara has now been accepted to study an MSc in Clinical Animal Behaviour at one of the UK’s leading institutions in this field. Alongside her postgraduate studies, she is working remotely with her research team in Vienna, conducting data analysis and contributing to multiple scientific publications. 

Cara says that Capel Manor College helped shape the confident, motivated person she is today, supporting her personal development as much as her academic journey. Her long-term dream remains to work in animal behaviour and eventually become a team leader in a canine behavioural team with a charity such as Dogs Trust, RSPCA or Battersea, before moving on to a career in education, inspiring others just as she was inspired.