UK Floristry Judges Guild

05/04/2026

🌸 Judge of the Month 🌸

This month, we are proud to spotlight Karen Armstrong, an experienced and dedicated member of the UK Floristry Judges Guild.

With over 50 years in the floristry industry, Karen’s journey began at a young age, working with flowers on her family’s farm. From growing and drying flowers to retail, event work, and teaching, her career reflects a true passion for every aspect of floristry.

Karen has competed extensively, earning silver and gilt awards, and has gone on to become a respected judge—trained by the Society of Floristry. Her knowledge, experience, and keen eye for detail make her an invaluable part of the judging community.

✨ Karen’s advice to competitors:
“Always read the schedule carefully, seek feedback, and remember—success is in the detail. Most importantly, enjoy the journey.”

☕ Fun fact: Karen loves a drive-through coffee from McDonald’s and a glass of red wine to unwind!

FloralInspiration MeetTheJudge 🌿🌼

27/03/2026

And the winner is.….

27/03/2026

Task 3 from Floral Helsinki

27/03/2026

Task 2 from Floral Helsinki

27/03/2026

Task 1 from Helsinki

27/03/2026

Some wonderful works in this competition

Helsinki Open 2026 on tänään Messukeskuksessa! 🌸✨
Tule inspiroitumaan, kun huippufloristit ottavat mittaa toisistaan kolmessa yllätyshaasteessa. 💐🔥
Jos rakastat luovuutta, värejä ja upeita kukkataideteoksia – tätä et halua missata! 🌷🌿

24/03/2026

🌿✨ Judges Guild Update ✨🌿

Last Sunday, we held our Annual General Meeting, covering everything from schedule writing and college visits to key developments across the floristry industry 🌸📋

Staying informed and up to date is essential for our judges, ensuring fair, knowledgeable decisions that support and elevate floristry competitions nationwide 🌼🏆

We’re also excited to share some committee updates:
🌟 Tracy Tomlinson has been appointed Chair for the next three years
🌟 Kate Whelan steps into the role of Vice Chair

We’ll be back with more news after our upcoming Study Weekend in Worcestershire 🍃📚
In the meantime, keep an eye out for competitions at BFA hubs across the country 👀🌷

🌿💐

22/03/2026

Exciting times !

We’re delighted to announce the return of our competitions for professional florists across the UK! 💐

Kindly sponsored by

🏆UK Florist of the Year 2026
🏆UK Florist of the Year 2026: Newcomer

Looking to test your competitive edge in 2026? 📋 These opportunities are for you ⚡️

Compete in the heats at our recently announced Hub Meetings for your chance to take to the stage LIVE at FleurEx 2026!

UK Florist of the Year Competitions 2026

This competition is designed for florists who want to express their creativity, have fun, and elevate their careers at the same time. Each of our Hub meetings will feature a qualifying heat, where competitors can submit their designs before relaxing and connecting with fellow florists while judging takes place.

UK Florist of the Year is open to anyone with more than 5 years industry experience.

UK Florist of the Year: Newcomer is open to anyone with less than 5 years industry experience.

Each heat will be judged by the UK Floristry Judges Guild, and 1st, 2nd and 3rd place will be announced at the end of the Hub Meeting. All competitors will receive a participation certificate to keep as part of your professional journey. Once all heats are completed, the scores will be collated and the top scoring competitors in each category will be invited to compete at the final. The live competition final will be at FleurEx 2026 where the competitors for both titles will be asked to create a range of designs including pre-made, pre-planned and surprise tasks.

Link to enter in our stories, bio and comments section on this post 🔗

We can’t wait to see you there 🙌🏻

T’s and C’s on the website 💻

19/03/2026

🌸✨ Why enter a floristry competition? ✨🌸

Because it’s so much more than just a contest 💐

🌿 Focus on achievement – challenge yourself and work to a professional brief
✂️ Skills development – refine techniques and learn new ones
💪 Personal growth – build confidence in a supportive environment
👑 Prestige & recognition – get noticed and celebrate your talent

Whether you’re just starting out or already experienced, competitions help you grow, connect, and shine 🌟

Ready to take the next step? Compete at the British Florist Association hubs and elevate your floristry journey 🌷

📖 Floristry Competitions book gives you the tips and tools to stand out and succeed!

FloristLife CreativeFlorist BloomAndGrow FloralInspiration FloristrySkills 🌺:

04/03/2026

A brilliant day at Doncaster College for the UK Floristry Judges Guild College Training Day 🌿✨

Such an inspiring session bringing together experienced judges to share knowledge, uphold standards and support the next generation of florists.

Thank you to everyone who contributed, hosted and took part – continuous professional development keeps our industry strong, skilled and evolving. 🌸

FloristryStandards FloralIndustry

26/01/2026

🌿 Judge Spotlight: Konomi Yajima 🌿

✨ Background
Konomi studied floristry at Southwark College in London, from City & Guilds through to National Diploma level. After working in floristry shops, she became self-employed, specialising in weddings and teaching floristry and flower arranging. Becoming a floristry judge was a huge challenge alongside a busy working life — but one she feels was absolutely worth the sacrifice. She also practises Ikebana, which she finds both enjoyable and spiritual.

🥤 Favourite Drink
Pineapple juice — a childhood favourite. Growing up in Japan, pineapples were once an exotic and expensive treat. She also loves Fanta Grape, which is much harder to find these days!

🥋 Secret Skill
Konomi has been practising karate for over 20 years, having started in her late forties. Now a senior Black Belt, she teaches children and supports her local community centre, including running self-defence sessions.

💡 Top Tip for Competitors
Look around you for inspiration, research current trends, and plan well with plenty of practice time. Most importantly — welcome criticism. It’s how we grow.

🌸 Why We Judge
“To help the industry improve. Sharing our experience and knowledge is important to us, and it’s a joy to meet so many talented florists. Come and talk to us!”

FlowerCompetitions Ikebana FloralDesign

07/12/2025

🌿 MEET THE JUDGE: HOWARD FRANKLIN 🌿

Today we spotlight the doyen of the UK Floristry Judges Guild — Howard Franklin.
A Court and Society Florist with a lifetime steeped in British floral heritage, Howard trained under the legendary Constance Spry, bringing together his Fine Art background and the craft of naturalistic design.

✨ Career Highlights:
• BA in Fine Art + National Diploma of The Society of Floristry
• First ever UK competitor at the inaugural World Flower Cup (1972, Holland)
• UK judge at the World Flower Cup (1992, Sweden)
• RHS Gold Grenfell Medal winner at Chelsea Flower Show
• Speaker, lecturer, demonstrator and judge across the world

Howard is a passionate champion of British floristry, believing our designers lead the world in creativity and innovation. His judging style is rooted in guidance, encouragement, and a deep understanding gained from his own competitive experience.

When he’s not immersed in floristry, Howard supports the arts as Patron of The Arts Society in Shrewsbury and The Shropshire Society in London — and enjoys a whisky on his porridge, a Campari and soda socially, and a nightcap to end the day.

🌸 We are honoured to have Howard’s wisdom, artistry, and lifelong dedication within the Guild.