The heats for the UK Florist of the Year were held around the country as we went on the hunt for the UK best florists in our two categories.
UK Florist of the Year: Newcomer (Under 5 years experience)
UK Florist of the Year (5 years and over experience)
The heats took place over April, May and June with the Live finals at FleurEx on 4th October. The top 6 scoring florists from across the UK became our live competitors in each category.
UK Florist of the Year: Newcomer, The Finals
Schedule 1: Collar
Cadbury’s UK history began in 1824 when John Cadbury opened a grocer’s shop in Birmingham, selling cocoa and drinking chocolate. The business expanded and became a global confectionary company, eventually moving to its current location in Bournville.
Design a collar to be worn at an exhibition at Cadbury’s Bourneville Factory.
Schedule 2: Planted Design
The Oxford Canal is a 78-mile (126 km) narrow canal in central England, connecting Oxford on the River Thames to Coventry. Its primary purpose was to transport coal from the Coventry coalfields to Oxford. For a party on a narrow boat, create a planted design to be displayed on the dining table.
Schedule 3: Hand tied design with framework
The Great Hall in Warwick Castle is the largest room in the castle and has been holding banquets since the 15th Century.
Design a Hand tied inspired by medieval times to include framework and a container.
Schedule 4: Floral Arrangement (Surprise task)
The Pen manufacturers of Birmingham became the world leaders in the steel pen trade and became famous for the art of calligraphy. The Pen Museum promotes and preserves the important legacy of Birmingham’s pen trade. Inspired by the Pen Museum of Birmingham, design a floral arrangement using Renewal floral foam.
Competitors hard at work……
UK Florist of the Year: Newcomer 2025 is………….
Congratulations!
Victoria Upton
2nd Place: Anastasia Watson
3rd Place: Abby Dewhurst
UK Florist of the Year, The Finals
Schedule 1: Bridal Design
William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet, and actor. Widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist. The Shakespeare Memorial Theatre opened in Stratford upon Avon in 1879 to celebrate ‘The bards’ great works and The Royal Shakespeare Company was founded in 1961. Create a bridal design to include quotes from a Shakespeare play.
Schedule 2: Funeral Design
The Coffin Works opened as a museum in 2014 in the historic Newman Brothers’ Coffin Furniture Manufactory, built in 1894 in Birmingham. Originally brass founders, the company moved to the present site on Fleet Street and began to specialise in the production of coffin furniture. Create a sustainable funeral design to be displayed in the reception area of the restored building.
Schedule 3: Free Standing Arrangement
At the 2014 RIBA Awards, the Library of Birmingham was named overall West Midlands building of the year. Designed by Mecanoo, architect Patrick Arends won emerging architect of the year. Upon opening in September 2013, it replaced the old library with a modern and world class landmark. Design a freestanding arrangement taking inspiration from the Birmingham Library, using OASIS® Renewal™ Floral Foam provided by Smithers Oasis.
Schedule 4: Hand tied (surprise)
Hand tied design inspired by the Botanical Gardens of Birmingham.
The competitors hard at work…….
UK Florist of the Year 2025 is……..
Abby McGuire
With her assistant, Mark Entwistle. Abby also secured this year’s People’s Choice Award.
2nd Place: Laura Pannitt
3rd Place: Helen Pannitt
The Sponsors
OASIS® Floral Products supported the heats and finals for this competition. The BFA and competitors thank you for your dedication to advancing floristry skills.
What next?
Abby McGuire, winner of the UK Florist of the Year, has now automatically secured her place in the 2026 finals, the winner of which will go on to represent the UK at Eurofleurs in 2027. Watch out for news and info on this via our enewsletters and socials.
Congratulations to all the competitors you put on a fantastic show of UK Floristry Skills!!
All UK heats and the Finals have been judged by our affiliated friends at the UK Floristry Judges Guild.
