What they do
Kay's Flower School teaches floristry entirely online, with the practical work done at home. Fresh flowers and sundries are posted to students, who follow on-demand video tutorials and then submit photographs of their designs for assessment and a certificate. Tutors give feedback one-to-one over WhatsApp and inside a private Facebook classroom they call the Bloom Room, with support Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 3:30pm.
The school is run by sisters Janette O'Rourke and Deirdre Sullivan. Janette has over 38 years in the flower trade and more than 36 years teaching it.
Where they came from
The school started in Dublin in 1987, founded by Kay O'Rourke, who had opened Kays Florist a few years earlier. What began as small-scale training to bring more people into the trade grew into a full-time school. Deirdre joined in 2008 and rebranded it; the business moved to 100% online teaching in 2020.
It is a family business, based in Rialto, Dublin, that now trains students across time zones around the world.
Who they help
Courses run from the complete beginner through to working florists. Module 1 is built for someone with no experience considering a career in flowers, and the later modules move on to bridal work and large-structure design. Hobbyists can enrol without taking the certificate route.
Overseas students are catered for: the school facilitates all time zones and offers a flower allowance to learners who would rather source their own stems locally.
Recognition
Kay's Flower School has been recognised over the years through awards including Women in Business and International Floral Educator of the Year, and the family has built it into an internationally known training name. Always worth confirming the current award list with the school directly.
Services and programmes
Professional certificate programme
- Module 1: Professional Floristry Certificate, a four-week beginner course with flowers supplied and a certificate on submitting photos of your designs
- Module 2: Professional Floristry Certificate, building on Module 1 with retail and commercial design
- Module 3: Bridal Floristry Certificate
- Module 4: Professional Large Structures Design
Shorter courses and workshops
- Introduction to Floristry course
- Foam-free sustainable floristry programme
- Artificial flower course
- Spring online flower course and seasonal Christmas workshops
- Mini-course series for specific skills
- The Bloom Studio mentoring and support group, free to graduates of the four professional modules