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Joe Massie: Floristry
Competed in: WorldSkills Calgary 2009 – Team UK
Awarded: Bronze medal
Home town: Liverpool
Region: North West
Date of birth: 30/01/1988
Age at competition: 21
Employer whilst competing: Fishlocks Florist
Employer: SpringBank Flowers
Learning provider: St Helens College
Qualifications
C
• ity & Guilds Level 2 National Certificate in Floristry
L
• evel 1 & 2 Balloon Art
What was your route into Team UK? What training did you undertake as What did you have to do during the
part of your journey to WorldSkills competition?
Joe was working full time when he saw
and what impact did this have on
an advertisement for the WorldSkills UK Joe had to create 9 different floral
your life?
competition in a trade magazine. Joe pieces during the 22 hour competition.
put on a winning performance at the The intensive training schedule took Joe Each task was designed to test a
regional competition and was invited all around the UK and Europe. Visiting different aspect of floristry. A range of
to attend the national final. The final France, Germany, Sweden, Greece and techniques and styles had to be used
didn’t go to plan and Joe finished in 5th Holland, Joe trained with some of the to tackle the demands of each task;
place, however the judges realised his most gifted individuals in industry. they ranged from wedding pieces, body
potential and invited him to try again adornments to funeral pieces.
“Because floristry techniques are
at the WorldSkills shortlisting. Back
regional it was important to get a
on form, Joe excelled with a winning
wide range of training. I learned Who inspired you during your
performance at both the Squad and
loads of different techniques from journey to WorldSkills?
Team selections, earning himself a place
almost everyone within the floristry
in Team UK. Joe trained with such a range of Florists
trade; it was incredible.”
that it is difficult to pick just one
individual, but there is one that sticks
Why did you choose to get involved What was WorldSkills like? out in his mind.
with WorldSkills?
On the advice of his training manager, “Ely Lin from Taiwan was a
Joe met Natalie Stanyer, past Steph Willoughby, Joe prepared himself real inspiration. Her focus and
WorldSkills competitor in Floristry, at as much as possible for the actual determination to create the
an event organised by the American competition. very best designs was obvious
Institute of Floral Design and got
“WorldSkills was just like I imagined throughout my training with her
chatting to her about her WorldSkills
it. I have had some competition and this was really inspirational to
experience. Joe quickly realised what a
experience and that helped me me.”
fantastic opportunity WorldSkills was
and seized the chance to be part of it. build up a mental picture. When I
arrived at the competition, the scale
of the event didn’t worry or shock
me because of the preparation I had
done.”
Official supporter of Squad and Team UK, Providers and supporters of training and
and sponsor of WorldSkills, UK Alumni development for Squad and Team UK
What did being part of Team UK What has competing done for you business created around my own
and competing at WorldSkills mean both personally and professionally? style of design that could succeed
to you? in both the artistic and also the
WorldSkills has done wonders for Joe’s
commercial elements of the
“It was the coolest thing I have career. It has opened doors and given
industry.”
ever done. I didn’t expect the team Joe the confidence and ability to enter
to be such an important part of even more competitions. Joe recently
the experience, but when I was won the title of ‘Youth Florist of the
Would you encourage others to get
in Calgary competing the team Year’ and intends to go for the title of
involved in WorldSkills?
became the most significant thing ‘European Youth Florist of the Year’
for me and offered some real over the next 9 months. “Absolutely; it is the best thing I
support during the competition.” have ever done and would have
“Competing at WorldSkills has really
no hesitation in recommending
helped further my career. The BBC
WorldSkills to others.”
are now covering my journey to the
How did it feel to win the Bronze
European finals which is fantastic
medal?
for both my career and building a
What do you think of the event
Throughout the competition Joe was reputation in the industry.”
being held in London in 2011?
building up an idea of where he was in
comparison to the competition. “It’s very cool that it’s coming to the
What is the dream? UK. It will help showcase the value
“I was able to see all the other
of skills and their importance to UK
work and judging my performance Joe has been so busy with work and
industry. Students that are able to
against the other competitors I competitions that he has not been able
visit the competition will be able to
didn’t think I had done very well. to prepare a plan for the future, but
see a range of possible careers that
It was a huge surprise when my he has some idea of what he wants to
will help them make the difficult
name was called for the medal and I achieve.
decisions they face when planning
couldn’t have been happier.”
“I’d love to be able to create my for the future.”
own brand within floristry - a
For more information about the WorldSkills, UK Alumni, contact the UK Skills communications team:
T: 020 7429 2806 E: ukskills@ukskills.org.uk W: worldskillsukalumni.org.uk
Official supporter of Squad and Team UK, Providers and supporters of training and
and sponsor of WorldSkills, UK Alumni development for Squad and Team UK
