Floristry businesses across the South East now have the chance to enhance their competitive edge through a new regional project.

Leading Edge Floristry, managed by Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for the floristry industry, works to enhance the competitiveness of floristry businesses across the region by developing technical and management skills at level 3 and above. Employers will also be offered support to encourage their staff to participate in skills competitions in order to develop new design ideas whilst boosting their confidence and self esteem.

The programme offers short interactive courses which can be taken at a time and place to suit businesses and florists, master coaches will run bespoke workshops teaching new design techniques and highlighting current floral trends, Leading Edge Floristry will also give florists the opportunity to test and trial the new industry Kite Mark system so businesses can benchmark themselves against an industry recognised standard.

Programme Manager, John Godden, said: “Leading Edge Floristry is a fantastic opportunity for coaches working with florists across the South East to develop their higher level skills. It is important that we raise the standards of industry and make training relevant to industry and available in flexible bite-sized units."

“The skills competition aspect of the programme is important as it highlights how beneficial participation in these events are to a florists development and to the business they work. Successful entry in a competition can bring in new ideas and extra promotion, which in turn can lead to new customers and retention of existing ones.”

Leading Edge Floristry is part of the South East of England Development Agency (SEEDA) Training Pools, which works to address critical skills gaps and significant training shortages for adults in work at the technical, professional and skilled trades level (Level 3 and above).

Download the leaflet here.

www.lantra.co.uk/LeadingEdgeFloristry