Budding stars of the floristry world are being encouraged to register now for the World Skills UK Floristry Competition.

The competition provides an opportunity to demonstrate creative and technical skills in various tasks based upon a theme. Competitors will have to show a range of skills, including knowledge of the principles of design and floristry techniques within the schedules provided. 

The regional heats will take place as follows: 

Writtle College, Chelmsford, Essex – Sunday 22^nd April
Kingston Maurward College, Dorchester, Dorset – Sunday 29^th April
Deeside College, Northop, Flintshire – Wednesday 2^nd May
Moulton College, Northampton – Saturday 12^th May
Bishop Burton College, Beverley, Hull – Wednesday 16^th May
Greenmount College, Co. Antrim – Saturday 16^th June

The highest scoring competitors from these heats who meet the required standard will be invited to compete in the UK Final, held at the RHS Tatton Park Flower Show later in the year.

Entry levels for the competition are as follows:

Advanced Competition
This competition is intended for those competitors with two to seven years of floristry experience in either education or the equivalent to a Level 3 or higher qualification.

Intermediate Competition
This competition is intended for those competitors with less than two years of floristry experience in education, training and employment or the equivalent of a Level 2 qualification.

Registrations must be made before 15^th March 2012. To register, log on to www.worldskillsuk.org

If love makes the world go round then Colombian flowers are on track to make it spin this Valentine’s Day!

More than 500,000,000 Colombian flowers are being shipped to countries around the world to meet the February 14th deadline including over 5 million roses into the UK. That’s enough flowers to go round the world at least 8 times!!

And not only will Colombian flowers be saying ‘I love you’ in a truly international language but helping provide safe and financially rewarding work for more than 200,000 workers in Colombia who work directly or indirectly for the country’s second biggest export business.

Speaking today in Bogotá, capital of Colombia, Augusto Solano, President of Asocolflores, the Association of Colombian Flower Exporters, said:  “We are on the threshold of the most important season for our industry.  Colombian growers are renowned for their quality roses which are sold in high end stores like Marks & Spencer, Waitrose and quality independent florists.  With larger heads and strong stems they have become the rose of choice for customer wanting something extra special to express their love and friendship.”

Due to the near perfect growing conditions in the Sabana de Bogotá, just outside the capital city, Colombia produces amazing flowers with larger heads, stronger stems and more vibrant colours.

More importantly the country is acknowledged as one of the leaders in terms of social and environmental achievements with an independently audited certification programme, Florverde, which has Global Gap approval and is respected by some of the most demanding flower buyers in the UK.

Solano continued:  “In 2011 over US$ 5 million was spent by the Colombian flower industry on local social programmes that directly benefited more than 90,000 workers and their families.  Be it low-cost housing, schools, university programmes or medical services, the money spent on flowers throughout the world is directly fed back to the people who grow and look after them.”

Peter H Smith joined forces last week with Marketing guru Marianne Cowdery, from Red Velvet Rope Club, to offer support and marketing advice to Florists through a series of workshops.

These were held here at the warehouse, and Marianne’s enthusiastic approach to helping customers improve their sales through simple marketing & money making tips proved inspirational to the florists that attended.

Amanda from ‘The Hanging Basket’ at Lancaster said that thanks to the workshops she had picked up two useful money making tips which she was keen to try out straight away!

In addition, Charlotte from Wilkinson’s Florist at Blackpool said that she was inspired by Marianne’s ideas, and will be putting them into practice as a result of attending the workshop!

Why don’t you add our website to your favourites and keep checking back to take advantage of the monthly marking advice that Marianne will be posting directly to our website?