Why Mentorship Matters: Creating Space for Florists from Black and Minority Ethnic Backgrounds
One of the things that has become increasingly important to me through my work in floristry is the opportunity to make the industry feel more welcoming and accessible to people from all backgrounds.
That is particularly important to me when it comes to florists from Black and minority ethnic communities.
Floristry is a wonderfully creative industry, but that doesn't mean everyone experiences it in the same way. Sometimes the hardest part isn't learning how to arrange flowers. It's finding your place, seeing people who look like you represented in the industry and feeling confident enough to believe that there is a place for you here.
That is one of the reasons I feel so strongly about mentorship.
You don't have to find your way alone
When you're starting out, there can be so many questions.
How do I get my first opportunity?
How do I price my work?
How do I approach a client?
How do I build a portfolio?
How do I make myself known?
And sometimes there is an even more personal question: Do I really belong here?
I understand how important it can be to have someone who is willing to share their experience honestly and help you navigate those questions. Mentorship gives you somewhere to ask the questions you might otherwise be afraid to ask. It gives you someone to learn from, someone to encourage you and, hopefully, someone who can help you see possibilities that you might not have considered for yourself.
Representation matters
I believe representation matters enormously. When you are looking at an industry and don't see many people who share your background, it can be easy to assume that perhaps it isn't an industry for you.
But that isn't true. There is space for you. There is space for your ideas, your culture, your experiences and your creative voice. And I don't want the next generation of florists from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds to feel that they have to change who they are in order to fit into floristry.I want them to understand that their individuality can be their greatest strength.
Your perspective is part of your creativity
One of the things I love most about floristry is that there isn't one correct way to be creative.
We all see colour differently. We all respond to texture differently.We are influenced by our experiences, our surroundings, our families and our cultures.
Those things can become part of the way we create.I would never want someone I mentor to feel that they need to copy another florist in order to be successful. I want them to discover what makes their work theirs.
Social media can sometimes make that difficult. It's very easy to look around and think that everyone else is further ahead or doing things better. But comparison can take away from what makes you unique.
Your story matters. Your perspective matters. Your creativity matters.
Confidence can change everything
Sometimes people don't need someone to teach them something completely new. Sometimes they just need someone to believe in them.I've seen how powerful encouragement can be. When someone who has been holding themselves back finally says, I'm going to give this a go, you can feel the change.That confidence can be the beginning of something much bigger.
It can mean applying for an opportunity, approaching a new client, entering an exhibition, starting a business or simply allowing yourself to call yourself a florist. Those steps might seem small to somebody else, but they can be enormous when you're taking them for the first time.
Opening doors
I also think mentorship has a responsibility beyond teaching skills. It's about helping people understand how the industry works and making opportunities feel more accessible. Sometimes you need someone to explain the things that aren't written down.
How do you introduce yourself?
How do you build relationships?
How do you put yourself forward?
How do you respond when someone says no?
How do you keep going when things don't happen as quickly as you'd hoped?
These are all part of building a career. And I've always believed that you have to be brave because opportunities won't necessarily come and find you. Sometimes you have to knock on the door yourself. I want the people I mentor to feel confident enough to do that.
Creating the future of floristry
For me, mentorship is ultimately about the future. I would love to see a floristry industry that reflects the incredible diversity of the people who love flowers and want to build careers within it.
More voices.
More perspectives.
More creativity.
More opportunities.
And more young florists from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds looking at the industry and thinking, I can see myself here. If I can play even a small part in helping someone reach that point, then it makes the mentorship programme incredibly worthwhile. Because I'm not looking to create more florists who work like me.
I'm looking forward to seeing what happens when they take what they've learnt, add their own experiences and create something completely their own. That's when floristry really evolves.
