Certificate in Floristry

By MARK STORY

THE COURSE

Academy New Zealand's NZQA-recognised Introductory Certificate in Floristry (level three) is an entry-level qualification for anyone wishing to begin a career in floristry.

The 18-week fulltime course - 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday - aims to produce efficient florists who understand the principles of good floristry and can apply them to a variety of customer and industry requirements, says floristry tutor Dot Richards.

Comprising 24 hours of tutor-supervised learning and six hours of self-directed project work a week, the course also includes a two-week block of work experience so students gain hands-on working knowledge.

Core content shows students how to: care for flowers and prepare them for a variety of uses; arrange flowers for a variety of occasions; develop their own style as they design corsages, buttonholes, bouquets and posies.

Students learn the principles and elements of flower design and how to judge form, texture and space. They make regular site visits to growers and auction houses, and gain skills in calculations, costing and budgeting of flowers.

The course includes formal exams, and students are also assessed on their practical skills. Before they can advance to an intermediate level of study, graduates from the Introductory Certificate in Floristry need to have a minimum 2000 hours' work experience.

Graduates can expect to find work in florist shops as juniors, with growers or auction houses, and can work towards running their own businesses.

The next Introductory Certificate in Floristry programme starts on November 17, but courses will also run next year at the academy's North Shore and Ellerslie branches.

Applications for the 16 places on each course (which costs $2900, with an extra $150 for course-related costs) can be made until each course begins.

Students need to have finished Year 12 (sixth form) at school, have a desire to work in the floristry industry, and have a good knowledge of the English language.

WHAT PAST STUDENTS THINK

Laura-Jayne Catterall

Junior florist

18, Cartier for Flowers

Parnell and Newmarket

Graduated 2002

"Having always had an interest in arty things, I was attracted to this course during my sixth-form year. Had I not graduated from this course it's unlikely I would have had the self-assurance to apply for a job in this industry at such a young age.

"This course really prepares you for the real thing. For me, the good basic knowledge I gained was a real confidence-booster. Learning about plants, how they grow, how they're best cared for, and the elements of design is a big part of the course.

"Weekend work at a florist during the course gave me the opportunity to put into practice what I was learning. Work experience, arranged by the academy, led to a permanent position even before I'd finished the course. The small class size meant every student got a good amount of one-on-one time with the tutor.

"Once I've got more experience, I hope to take my floristry skills overseas."

WHAT EMPLOYERS THINK

Alma Chan

Owner/manager, Cartier for Flowers

Parnell and Newmarket

"Based on the quality of the tutor, Dot Richards, and the course content, I accepted an invitation by the academy to take on a student for two weeks' work experience.

"The fact that Dot had run her own florist business meant she knew exactly what an employer would be looking for in a graduate.

"I decided to offer L.J. [Laura-Jayne] a permanent position after her two weeks' work experience.

"I based this decision on her personality and understanding of what we needed from a junior florist. I attribute much of this to the time Dot spends grooming students like L.J. for what it's really like once they hit the real world of floristry.

"Up until now, I've declined offers to take on students for work experience. But knowing the course Dot runs and the role she takes in preparing students for this business, I'd have no hesitation taking future students from the academy for work experience." Mark Story

Certificate in Floristry

Academy New Zealand North Shore

Ph: 0800 422 233

Email: info@aknorth.acadmey