Florists’ success at WorldSkills UK

/in , /by

Our floristry students swept the board at the WorldSkills UK north west regional floristry qualifier, held at Myerscough College, Preston.

Fiona Davies, who is studying for her Level 5 Master Diploma in Professional Floristry, won the competition while Level 3 Diploma in Floristry students Robyn Longden and Carol Edginton took second and third place.

All three, who were commended for their outstanding work, are now waiting to hear if they  have qualified for the WorldSkills UK national floristry finals at The Skills Show in November. They are following in the footsteps of former Level 3 Diploma in Floristry student Anna Eite, who took the gold medal in the advanced section there last year.

A total of five students, accompanied by Head of Floristry Sue Poole, spent a full day of intense competition at Myerscough. Each competitor had to create three pieces of work with a ‘Party Time’ theme – a wreath, a fascinator and a hand tied bouquet on a framework.

Robyn, 18, has previously completed her Level 1 and Level 2 Diplomas with us while Carol, 45, is a career changer. Fiona is a Reaseheath floristry lecturer who is continuing to study to the highest professional level.

Our florists are now gearing up to contest the RHS Tatton Flower Show ‘College of the Year’ competition next month The team will be hoping to replicate last year’s success when we won the title and went on to become runners-up in the national final at the Chelsea Flower Show in May.

More from WorldSkills…

  • Three Level 3 Extended Diploma in Horticulture students, India Hill, Finin Talbot and Chris Shore, will be competing in the semi finals of the WorldSkills UK  garden landscape competition at RHS Tatton Flower Show and will hopefully get through to the national finals too.
  •  We are also contesting the WorldSkills UK butchery competition for the first time. Level 2 Diploma in Butchery student Ben Powell, 17, will fly the flag for Reaseheath at the WorldSkills UK regional heat for butchery skills, to be held in Leeds on July 9th.
  •  WorldSkills is an international Olympic style competition which recognises the skills and qualities of young professionals who are following vocational education and training. The world finals are held every two years. In August former Reaseheath Level 3 Diploma in Horticulture student Matt Beesley will be part of the GB team to compete against the world’s best in Sao Paulo, Brazil.