Senior florist
Level 3 · AdvancedAgriculture, environmental and animal care 1.8 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
A Senior Florist designs and creates advanced floral arrangements for weddings, events, corporate clients, and retail, taking on greater responsibility for client consultation, design leadership, and team support. Apprentices build on foundational floristry skills to work with a wider range of materials, styles, and large-scale installations. This level 3 qualification leads to head florist, studio manager, or self-employed floristry business roles.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Advanced floral design techniques - hand-ties, structured arrangements, and installations
Wedding and event consultation, design proposal, and planning
Flower conditioning, seasonal availability, and sustainable sourcing
Colour theory, design principles, and current floristry trends
Cost calculation, pricing, and running profitable floristry projects
Supervising and supporting junior florists and apprentices
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Consult with wedding and event clients to develop design concepts
Create complex floral arrangements, bouquets, and large-scale installations
Source and condition flowers and foliage from suppliers and markets
Price and cost floristry orders accurately to maintain profitability
Supervise junior florists and delegate tasks on busy event days
Dress event venues and set up floral displays on the day
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 3 (Advanced) - roughly A-level level. Employers usually look for some GCSEs (often English & maths around grade 4/C) or a Level 2 apprenticeship first. English & maths can sometimes be finished during training.
What’s next: Can lead to a Level 4/5 (Higher) apprenticeship, or straight into the role.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
Hear from employers
What it’s really like
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