The Academy of Floristry

From their redundancy four years ago at their local college, Jo Richards NDSF, FBFA and Helen Boyt ANCF, KTLLS where able to create the award winning Academy of Floristry located in Bournemouth, Dorset, UK. Under their guidance these talented ladies have created the perfect atmospheres for designers of any level and from all corners of the earth to flourish and become top notch professional designers.

 

The Academy of Floristry has won many accolades, some of their most cherished being 3 Silver-Gilt medals and 1 Gold medal at the prestigious RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, and you can look forward to The Academy of Floristry’s design “Musicals” at this years RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show June 30 thru July 5th 2015. Floral.today thanks them for taking time for us and Floral Education Month to share with you just a few thoughts about floral education.

Throughout Floral Education Month we will have interviews followed by how to get in touch and follow all the wonderful people involved.

Image Property of The Academy of Floristry

 

Is The Academy of Floristry known for any particular style of floral design or distinct class structure when it comes to floral education?

With lots of knowledge and experience we try and use a vast amount of skills when demonstrating to the industry or our own students. We are dedicated and lucky that we have been able to still offer professional qualifications with City and Guilds and recreational classes to our clients in Bournemouth. The Academy has also become renowned for its competition work, with students entering the Chelsea Flower Show, and Hampton Court Flower Shows and winning RHS medals. We also run a very successful in house wedding and advanced wedding diplomas for all those wishing to learn new techniques and methods, and develop their skills further.

 What has been one of the most interesting floral topics you have taught so far in your career?

The New City and Guilds Higher Diploma and Masters level’s 4 & 5 have been really interesting and very educational for the industry we are in today, they challenge and stretch students abilities, to learn and re-educate our clients, to all the other possibilities with floristry and floral design!

Do you have a philosophy when it comes to floral education?

You never stop learning in our industry, and are never too old! with so many new products , new methods and techniques to apply, keep an open mind , and keep re-educating yourself and your clients. Fashions and Trends come round time and time again, by putting new twists on them makes them fashionable once more.

 With our ever-changing industry, where have you seen floral education change the most in the last 5-10 years?

More adults wanting career changes to learn and become florists/floral designers, as life and health becomes more important than money, people want to live to work, not work to live…… Our floristry designs are becoming more European with more designers from the continent working with us to develop a design schema we all follow.

What floral topics do you think are over taught or not taught enough in the floral industry?

I grew up in the floral industry when wiring designs, was very important, I think there are quite a lot of florists today who do not feel confident with producing a full wired bouquet, because easier methods are available.

What difficulties do private floral institutes face that normal floral shops and companies don’t face?

That’s a tricky one and could open up a whole can of worms…..we are not the same, we are there to teach the skills and knowledge required in the industry, floral shops are there to sell the products we teach in the industry

 In your personal opinion what are some of the shortcomings in floral education that the industry should strive towards working on?

I feel as a private school we do not have any shortcomings in the educational world, clients come to learn and be here because they want to be here to learn.

When teaching floral classes, what do you hope your students take away from the experience the most?

Enjoyment, learning and succeeding with new skills learnt. To be confident in what they have learnt from us to be successful florists of the next generation.

What do you think are some of the top floral educational advancements that have helped progress the industry?

Being an independent training provider, and being extremely passionate about what we do, who we are and what we deliver! Being able to further our students career paths, making sure the students feel, and realize it’s all about them, everything we do is for them and their success. For the industry to realize the students are our future florists who will carry on where we finish off.

How do you believe the UK could increase its industry awareness to attract younger designers?

I think we do a pretty good job already, the BFA (British Florist Association) have worked really hard over the last few months to go to our parliament and now be recognized for our Institute of professional florists. We also have great areas, within The Chelsea Flower show – Young florist and florist of the year competition, Hampton Court Flower Show – College Competition for RHS medals and overall best college, Tatton Park Flower show, Uk skills which is global, there is a lot going on in our industry to educate and support new floral designers

Show The Academy of Floristry all your support.

Personal Contact Information
Email: info@academyoffloristry.co.uk
Website: www.academyoffloristry.co.uk
Courses: www.academyoffloristry.co.uk/courses

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Thank you again to The Academy of Floristry for welcoming us into their world of floral education. Make sure to check out all their available course and keep yourself growing and striving to always be a better designer.

 

 Join us Friday with the ever exuberant Phil Rulloda AAF, AIFD, PFCI of Phil Rulloda Southern California School of Floral Design as he tells us all his thoughts on floral education.

Check out all the Floral.today social media for quick floral education shoutouts through out June.

 

Until Friday,