DETAILS FOR FINALISTS
CHARLOTTE BAKER HENLEY COLLEGE
Charlotte Baker is 17and training at Henley College in Coventry, where she as achieved a National Certificate in Floristry level 2 and is training for level 3. She works full time at Hubbard's Florist in Coventry, which has been in the family for 75 years. Charlotte is very enthusiastic and eager to learn new things and love a new challenge. In July 2007 she passed her Interflora training certificate showing a high standard of work to Interflora standards.
Last November she took part in the Interflora Young Florist competition, and goes forward to the second part later this year. Charlotte has two goals in life, 1 to win a Gold Medal at Chelsea, and her ultimate goal in life is to own a collection of floristry shops world wide that show a unique creative and high standard of work.
EMMA FIELD N.I
Originally from Zimbabwe I have spent the last eight years living in the United Kingdom, the last 3 of which have been spent in Northern Ireland. I trained as a primary school teacher and after ten years of teaching felt that I wanted a change of career. Having always had an interest in floristry I enrolled at Greenmount College as a full time student and gained my BTech level 3 floristry qualification in May 2007. I am currently working for Norma Craig at Norma Craig Designs, just outside of Doagh, where I have gained valuable experience and continue to learn about the various aspects of the industry. In the future I would like to study towards a level 4 qualification and to ultimately own my own shop.
ROMAINE HODGEN
My love of flowers developed from a general interest whilst working as an interior designer, I saw the potential for them in the design led interiors in which I was working. Gradually this interest grew stronger and I had a desire to use my artistic background in a ‘hands on’ and creative role as a florist. In order to fulfil this I wanted to receive recognised, formal training and therefore applied to Greenmount Attending Greenmount as a part time student has allowed me to learn at a pace which I think is most beneficial to me. My hopes for the future would be to continue to build upon my skills through further qualifications whilst continuing to work in a retail environment, and am looking forward to the competition in July and will hopefully return fuelled with even more inspirational ideas!
HALEY KINGSTON
Inspired by her Aunt who is a florist, and being an artistic and creative student at school, Hayley decided this was definitely the career for her, Having completed the National Certificate level 2, and being named “Student of the Year” at Plumpton college in June, she is thrilled to be one of the finalists in the UK Skills competition. Haley works in “The Flower House” in Burwash, where she shows her dedication and willingness to try out new designs and techniques daily.
SARAH MC LOUGHLIN
Sarah MacLoughlin is a former civil servant who turned to floristry in 2006. She has just finished her second year at Reaseheath College in Cheshire, where she completed the National Certificate and Advanced National Certificate in Floristry. Sarah was part of the college’s Gold Medal winning team at the RHS Tatton Park show last year and was named Top Student in her class in 2007.
Sarah currently works at The Design Element in Manchester, where she is developing her ideas, learning lots of new techniques and enjoying her new career. She was delighted to win the North West heat of this competition and is looking forward to the final. Sarah is 31 and lives in Sale, Manchester.
AINE McGUINNESS
3 years ago I completed one year of the City & Guilds Level 2 Art and Floristry course in BIFFE. Then during last summer I attended a 3 day wedding workshop in Southern Regional College Lurgan Campus taught by Mrs Elizabeth Dowey NDSF. This was such an inspirational course that I signed up for the BTEC First Diploma in Floristry also. I have just completed the first year. It was fabulous! I am looking forward to September to continue my studies Aine McGuinness [aine_karnamie@yahoo.co.uk]
SARAH O’BRIEN
My name is Sarah O'Brien and I am 18 years old. I have been studying floristry for two years at Oaklands College in Smallford, St.Albans. I have always been interested in floristry from a young age, as watching my mum as a florist gave me the inspiration to continue in her foot steps. My first 'real' experience in a florist was for a week in senior school, where we did work experience to give us ideas on a careers available for when we left school. I went to work in a florist not far away from me and loved it! My heart was then set on becoming a florist. I enjoy everything about being creative in floristry and hope that I will continue with it and one day become a known name.
ZOE PRICE
It was clear to tutors from the early days that Zoe had a natural flair and talent to become a florist of the future.
Part of the criteria of her course was work-based experience and she has found a place in a small village florist shop – just outside the Shropshire town of Shrewsbury - where she is further developing her passion for floristry. Zoe’s first competition - at the Spring Florist Event in Birmingham in 2007 - inspired her to compete in the UK skills regional competition in June 2007. She was quickly selected for the finals – where she came second. Zoe volunteers to help wherever she can to gain experience, whether at a college event, a National trade exhibition or show. She has demonstrated her skills to school levers and local groups as a way of showing young people the benefits of education and training.
LAUREN CURRY
Lauren Curry - nearly 20 years old, has worked in a number of local shops and is now working at Sarah Anne's Florist in Christchurch with the new owner, Lorraine Hanshaw, who has just moved to the area from London. She is a highly creative florist and very ambitious - she wants to reach the top and is very self-motivated! She is interested in all modern design ideas and elements and is eager to grab any learning experience that she can. Her new employer is delighted with her skills, creativity and drive.
STEPHANIE FOREST
Stephanie became interested in floristry whilst completing an NQV in Horticulture and working at a nursery. She went on to work at a florist shop for a few years but wanted to learn new skills and techniques. Stephanie went on to attend Reaseheath college and gained an Advanced National Certificate in Floristry in 2005 and is currently working towards an NPTC Level 4 Higher Diploma in Floristry.
Stephanie entered the Uk Skills competition and came 2nd place. She's really excited and proud to be competing for the Regional Final here at the Tatton show.
ANNE GRIFFITH
Anne who is 19 now, has been passionate about flowers since a small child, and loved to spend her time as a youngster playing with wild flowers and arranging them in a vase. Now she has just completed level 3 at the Welsh college, and because she thinks qualifications very important, is determined to go on to complete level 5. At the present time Anne is working in “The Flower Basket” in Denbigh, and when asked what she likes to do in her spare time, replied “Shop and buy shoes!”
HELEN HYLANDS
Helen Hyland - 21 years old, has worked in a couple of flower shops before moving to Flower Power in Brockenhurst to gain experience in a different type of shop and clientele. She has taken part in the UK Skills competitions since 2006, being shortlisted for Japan at the end of 2006. She was also in the final for the Eurofleurs competition in 2007. She is a very creative and artistic florist, doesn't seem to get phased by anything and is always a great representative of her shop, The College and the floristry industry in general.
JOSEPH MASSIE
Joseph Massie, 20 years old, is a young florist based in Liverpool, where he manages Fishlocks Florist, a floral design business with a 100 year plus history. This summer, Joe is off to Chicago to attend the AIFD symposium to assist his tutor Sarah Horne AIFD on the main stage, and also to Belgium to compete at the prestigious Eurofleurs competition in August. In 2007, Joe was named as the BFA Young Florist of the Year, and also reached 3rd place nationally in the UK Skills final. With a bit of luck, he hopes to improve on his performance at this year’s competition.''
WENDY McKIE
Wendy is a lively 33 year old, who has been shop trained at Sally’s Floral Studio in Ballymena, for nearly six years.
She loves modern designs, and to quote her “Very day is an experimental day” creating designs using different materials, textures and forms. Wendy won the 1st place at Greenmount College in April, when she showed her flair and natural design inspirations. Her favourite hobby is “Retail Therapy”!
KATE MILLARD
Kate is 25 years old and has been studying Floristry at Rodbaston College, where she will have achieved her Advanced National Certificate Level 3 at the end of June 08. She has worked in two different flower shops, and also taught on a part time basis on “Flowers for Fun”. Kate has travelled for three months in Ease Asia, and her hobbies include being a Cub Scout Leader. Her ambition is to be a Floristry Tutor, to give her the opportunity to pass on to others her motivation and skills, and her love of the industry.
CHRISTINA SEVENOAKES
Christina entered the floristry world as a Saturday girl and has never looked back. She began an Advanced National Certificate in Floristry in 2005 and is currently studying towards the new NPTC Level 4 qualification at Reaseheath College. Christina has taken part in the Interflora Florist of the year competition and was placed 2nd and 3rd and has also competed in a national floral art competition for Young Farmers. Christina found participating and winning a regional heat at RHS Cardiff was a great learning experience and is looking forward to competing at Tatton.
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