Junior Florist Apprentice

Summary

An exciting opportunity has become available for a junior florist apprentice in a well-established florist based in Coleshill, B46.

Wage

£15,311.40 to £24,761.88, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

This apprenticeship will start at the national minimum wage for the age of the apprentice and will be reviewed once the apprentice has settled in after 3/6 months.

Training course

Florist (level 2)

Hours

We work on a 5 day week. Week days 9.00am - 5.00pm and Saturdays, 9.00am - 4.00pm. The hours would alternate between working 5 weekdays then alternate to 4 weekdays and 1 Saturday (thus working alternate Saturdays) allowing college training day as 1 week day.

39 hours a week

Start date

Monday 7 July 2025

Duration

2 years

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

Assist in conditioning of fresh flower and pot stock
Support customer services, taking orders in store, online and over the phone
Assist in interior and exterior shop display
Assist with the maitenance of a clean and organised shop environment
Assist with the preparation of floral displays
Handle cash register and basic sales transactions (under supervision initially)
Learn and apply floral techniques in conditioning, colour, wiring, gift wrapping bouquets
Assist on site when needed for event work

Where you'll work

106 HIGH STREET
COLESHILL
BIRMINGHAM
B46 3BL

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

SHEFFIELD COLLEGE, THE

Your training course

Florist (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

S1 Demonstrate the different unpacking techniques for boxed, bunched and poisonous/irritant plant or flower material.
S2 Select and prepare appropriate containers for materials being conditioned to ensure correct hygiene procedures are followed.
S3 Select tools, protective clothing and equipment appropriate to the fresh materials that are being conditioned.
S4 Condition fresh plant materials in order of their botanical requirements. Understand the difference between the terms genus, species, variety and cultivar.
S5 Maintain botanical materials using accurate stock rotation to ensure that the product is sold/used in the best condition.
S6 Demonstrate the care and maintenance of the different plant groups covering foliage, flowering, berried, succulents, cacti, bulbs/corms, orchids and planted designs and how environmental conditions including temperature, humidity, light, water and nutrients affect them.
S7 Describe the common indicators of pests and disease and the action that should be taken if they are discovered. Ensure that waste is disposed of sustainably and work safely. Handle and transport plants and resources safely and efficiently covering: growing medium; containers; Tools and equipment; supports; watering devices; chemicals; delicate and robust plants; plants that can be safely lifted by one person or need more than one person.
S8 Understand the principles of safe lifting and handling in regard to plant transportation.
S9 Be able to organise yourself, prioritise your own workload/activity and work to meet deadlines.
S10 Estimate the amount of time it will take to complete a floral or planted design within commercial timescales and in a way that minimises waste.
S11 Work under time pressures.
S12 Interpret a customer™s requirements and manage customer™s expectations positively within the specification (budget, content, occasion, design style, client™s requirements).
S13 Follow company practice for costing designs and understand the need to minimise waste.
S14 Record and store a customer™s information in a safe location in accordance with organisational and legislative requirements.
S15 Demonstrate a good standard of literacy and numeracy.
S16 Demonstrate good communication skills and body language.
S17 Demonstrate basic promotional and marketing skills and awareness of social media protocol relating to the business.
S18 Adhere to deadlines when necessary.
S19 Demonstrate an awareness of targets and goals which you may be needed to deliver against.
S20 Display and maintain goods to their best advantage so that they remain attractive, appealing and safe to customers.
S21 Demonstrate good IT skills “ be able to take orders off the website and/or use the computer for order processing.
S22 Demonstrate the following using the Principles & Elements of design: Tied designs; Wired designs; Glued designs; Designs in a medium.
Prepare designs for sale and secure transportation.
S23 Demonstrate the following techniques: Attaching techniques – Binding, tying and knotting, glueing, pinning, stapling. Wiring techniques – Support wiring, external wiring, semi-internal wiring, internal wiring, stitching, single-leg mount, double leg mount, hook wiring, units, feathering, pipping, sepal pinning. Manipulation techniques – Basing, backing, bow making, grouping, caging, edging, layering, plaiting, pleating/folding, rolling/cupping, spiralling, taping, threading, veiling, weaving, wrapping. Water retaining techniques – Floating, floral foam, moss, tape, tubes/phials, wax and water gels/pearls.
Sources of inspiration: Culture, Botany, Emotion, Technique/Method, Economy.
Design Schema: Order category: Symmetry / Asymmetry Design classification: Decorative / Form linear / Vegetative Line direction: Radial / Parallel / Free arrangement of lines
S24 Maintain an effective, safe and clean working environment with particular regard to the public and colleagues.
S25 Maintain and handle tools, products and materials safely and in a manner than minimises waste, damage and contamination.
Dispose of hazardous and non-hazardous materials.
Identify health and safety risks for yourself, the public or colleagues.
Undertake regular checks and maintenance of equipment which must be carried out according to manufacturer™s recommendations, safe use of machinery and equipment
Demonstrate: The awareness of risk assessments and understand their importance. Safe methods for moving and lifting items. How to find COSHH information. Why and when protective clothing and equipment should be used. The need for an accident book and know where it is kept and how it should be completed. How to report RIDDOR.

Your training plan

As part of the apprenticeship you are required to attend the Floristy School in Sheffield once per week. Either in person or via online classroom.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade A*-C or 9-4)
Maths (grade A*-C or 9-4)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
IT skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Presentation skills
Team working
Creative
Initiative
Patience

About this company

Welcome to Penny Johnson Flowers Penny Johnson Flowers was founded in 2003 on Coleshill Hight Street by husband and wife team Alan and Penny Johnson. With many years experience in the exhibition industry we decided it was time to put all our experience into a new venture. Our aim is simply to provide you with beautifully presented and stylish floral displays - we pride ourselves on our stunning displays for weddings, sympathy & funerals, events and corporate .

https://www.pennyjohnsonflowers.com/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, this may lead to permanent employment within the business becoming a qualified florist and moving into a more senior and leading role.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SHEFFIELD COLLEGE, THE

Alice Mee

alice.mee@sheffcol.ac.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000324541.

Apply now

Closes in 12 days (Thursday 19 June 2025 at 11:59pm)

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