WorldSkills UK has announced the student and apprentice finalists who will be battling it out across 64 disciplines to be crowned national skills champions.
In the floristry section 8 young florists will be taking part
Emily Wykes, Moreton Morrell College Jane Sked Connop, Moreton Morrell College Catey Burn, Old Oak Florist (Apprentice with Berkshire College) Emma Howells, Coleg Cambria Joshua Groody, Sheffield College Stacey Spence, Doncaster College Jessica Boyd, CAFRE College Charlotte Coates, Moreton Morrell College
Following 2020 and a year without competitions, over 3,000 people registered to take part in the UK-wide competitions back in March. Floristry had a record 103 entries and following the Passive Photographic heat – 73 went forward to compete in 15 College and Employers venues around the country.
The finalists will compete for gold, silver, and bronze Awards, with the winners crowned at a ceremony hosted by TV presenter Steph McGovern from her Packed Lunch studio on Friday 26 November.
Catey Burn and Charlotte Coates
The finals will take place in locations across the UK for the first time with the Floristry Final taking place on the 12th and 13th November at Moreton Morrell College.
Joshua Groody and Emma Howells
Ben Blackledge, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, WorldSkills UK said: “I want to offer my congratulations to all those that took part in our programme this year, especially the finalists. After a year without competitions due to the pandemic it was really encouraging to see so many people back involved this year.
“Our competitions and competition-based development programmes equip apprentices and students with the lifelong, world-class skills that will help increase UK productivity and competitiveness.”
“We are really excited to be taking the show on the road this year with finals hosted by colleges, training providers and employers across the UK. We hope seeing the finals will inspire young people at those venues to keep developing their technical and employability skills and recognise what can be achieved by developing excellence through skills.”
Jane Sked Connop and Emily Wykes
Working with the British Florist Association the WorldSkills UK competition-based development programmes are designed by industry experts and enhance the practical skills and knowledge taught on training courses by assessing an individual’s employability attributes against set criteria in a competitive timed environment.
Jessica Boyd and Stacey Spence
However it's not just about the winning as Worldskills point out. "The programme has a real impact on those taking part, with 90% of previous entrants saying their career progression improved after competing and 86% stating their personal and employability skills had improved ... a viewed shared by the eight competitors who told us how it felt to be in the final.
What the finalists say!
Jessica Boyd - CAFRE To be getting through to the World Skills UK final is an absolute joy and privilege for me. Especially being part of such a renowned competition of excellence is truly humbling for me and being alongside the talented young florists is such a wonderful experience. I entered the competition wanting to challenge myself never thinking I would get to this point so it was a complete surprise to me. From the very start of the competition up until now has been a great learning curve and helped me push my level of technique and creativity.
Emily Wykes – Moreton Morrell I’m so incredibly honoured to have made it through to the WorldSkills UK floristry final! I’ve never taken part in a floristry competition before and it’s such an amazing feeling to have made it through alongside the other fabulous florists. I decided to follow my dream and started along a completely new path on my floral journey only a few years ago and it’s the best decision I ever made! Excited to compete in the final stage and wishing good luck to everyone!
Charlotte Coates – Moreton Morrell I'm thrilled and honoured to have been named as one of the WorldSkills UK national finalists. To join the seven other hugely talented student florists in the finals is a great achievement in itself. I really enjoyed competing in the heats and I'm looking forward to representing Moreton Morrell College at the finals in November.
Joshua Groody – Sheffield College "I am proud to be a part of the Worldskills UK competition and looking forward to meeting everyone at the final where I will be representing The Floristry School at Sheffield College"
Jane Sked Connop – Moreton Morrell I am absolutely delighted to have been selected as one of the finalists for UK Worldskills. It is an incredible privilege to get this far amongst so many creative florists and to stand with the other finalists who have all demonstrated such great talent. I am so looking forward to working alongside them in the competition and wish them all the best. Floristry is a recent career change for me, I am passionate about working with flowers and now can’t imagine doing anything else. I am grateful to my tutors at Moreton Morrell College for their mentorship and hope to make them proud.
Emma Howells – Coleg Cambria I'm so excited to be taking part in the World Skills UK finals! Since I started at Coleg Cambria last year the mix of home learning has been challenging, but the continued support of our tutor has helped me to reach this stage. I'm looking forward to learning from all of the incredibly talented people involved with the competition and have enjoyed the variety of each element so far.
Catey Burn I’m very proud to be representing Old Oak Floral Designers in the world skills UK floristry final. I love working in floristry and being able to use my skills and creativity to create individual and unique flower arrangements. I’m looking forward to competing alongside other talented florists, and making connections within the industry. I wish the other finalists all the luck in the world
Stacey Spence I still cannot believe I have made the finals of the World Skills UK Floristry competition! I have never taken part in a competition before and to of not even been qualified as level 2 at the time of entering, I am hugely honoured to of been given my place in the finals. I really didn’t think I would make it this far it’s already a great achievement for me, it has been an amazing experience so far and I cannot wait for the rest of the journey with the other 7 talented finalists, Looking forward to November for the finals we’re I will be representing DN Colleges and myself, would like to say congratulations to the other finalists and good luck for the rest of the competition!
