The Level 5 Master Diploma is the highest qualification offered through City and Guilds and is held by an elite 5% of professional florists. Gabrielle, who owns Rosa Gabriella, a successful floristry business in Northwich, also achieved a much respected merit in her practical exam.
A bespoke floral designer, Gabrielle specialises in creating unique but affordable floral designs and runs themed floristry workshops at her studio and at other Cheshire venues. She and members of her team, who include former and present Reaseheath floristry students, also provide a floral installation service for residential homes, businesses and corporate venues.
Originally studying floristry as a leisure interest on our Level 3 Diploma course, Gabrielle decided to become a professional florist when the family business for which she had previously worked was sold.
Inspired by success at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2017, where she was a member of our silver medal winning Level 3 student team, Gabrielle enrolled on our Level 4 Higher Diploma in Floristry and launched her business in 2018. She decided to continue studying for her Level 5 Master’s Diploma because she wants to grow her skills to the highest level possible.
Rosa Gabriella flourished throughout Covid-19 thanks to a door step delivery service and on-line workshops and diversified after the pandemic into corporate events and weddings. Since then the business has bloomed and has supplied eye-catching designs for companies such as Chester Racecourse, where Gabrielle works alongside a commercial interior designer to create the floral installations.
To meet a growing demand for sustainable floristry, Gabrielle is planning to grow many of her own flowers and foliage herself. She uses eco friendly working practices such as using bio degradable alternatives to floral foam and replacing cellophane where possible with craft paper – a trend which is taught in all our floristry courses.
Gabrielle already had a BA (Hons) in Business Information Management when she came to us and found her higher level floristry courses in particular encouraged her to develop the specific skills for her enterprise.
She said: “Studying for my Masters Diploma allowed me to develop my style and hone my skills. Working at this level elevates your abilities. It stretches your design skills and makes you think about creating a design above and beyond standard floristry. It also gives you a sense of confidence in your ability and this has helped me to take my business forward.
“Apart from being great fun, the Master Diploma gave me the rare opportunity to spend a whole day working on one portfolio piece. I also enjoyed sharing ideas with other florists and developing new skills with the lecturers, who already hold the qualification.”
Level 5 Course Manager Fiona Davies said: “We were delighted at Gabrielle’s success. She has been a brilliant student and has her own sense of style. We are confident that she has a very successful future ahead.”
University Centre Reaseheath is one of very few Higher Education institutions to offer the Level 5 Master Diploma in Professional Floristry. The two year course is delivered in blocks totalling 25 days each year, and meets the completion requirements of the European Design Schema. Students must have completed a Level 4 Higher Diploma in Floristry before applying.
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