Friends become first masters of floristry

For most people floristry is just about arranging a few flowers and does not require months of studying.

But Jane Cowan and Pam Bennett are proud owners of Britain's first masters diploma on the subject.

And the pair, who work at the Cedars Horticultural Centre in Wolverhampton, have both been awarded a distinction after impressing examiners with their work.

"We have been studying for 18 months and were overjoyed when we heard we had received distinction grades," says Pam, aged 44, who is a tutor at the centre on Compton Road, which is run by Wolverhampton College. A lot of people think floristry is just about arranging flowers but we had a test where we had to identify 500 different types of flowers.

"We also looked at sustainability and how to cut down on waste. We studied event management and how to run a business as well as doing a four hour practical exam and three hours of theory – there is a lot more to floristry than meets the eye."

Jane and Pam were the only people in the West Midlands to take the course, which is the first of its kind in the country and was run from the Welsh College of Horticulture from Bangor in Wales.

The masters diploma is equivalent to doing a degree and has equipped them with the skills to teach it to students in Wolverhampton.

"From September 2009 we should be running the course at the Cedars," says Jane, aged 45 who lives in Meadow Road, Albrighton. "This will mean we are the only place in England to run the course and we have already had some enquiries. The UK is generally thought to be behind the rest of Europe when it comes to floristry.

"Florists in England are starting to have more European influences but it is actually the Germans who are ahead of everyone else.

"The Germans study for six years to become a master florist and they look at the science behind the flowers – it is a lot more than just putting some flowers into a block of oasis." Pam, who lives in Aldersley Road, Aldersley, says a lot of florists don't bother studying to a high level and just get the necessary qualifications.

"Last year we had 150 florist students at the centre and I think people with florist businesses are starting to realise how important it is to have well trained staff," she says. "We did the course for the good of the Cedars, which regularly supplies flowers for events such as weddings and funerals, and we are usually cheaper than in the shops. In April next year we will be putting on a cap and gown to receive our masters certificate and after that we will look forward to teaching the qualification to florists in the West Midlands.

"In a few years time Wolverhampton will have some of the most highly trained florists in the country – it will definitely be the place to be to get fantastic flowers," Pam added.