2 week Career Change Course – Underley Estate, Kirkby Lonsdale

Exciting changes ahead for Tallulah Rose Flower School with a move to the Underley Estate, Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria. Only a short distance away from Levens Hall our 2 week Career Change Course will be as ever, full to bursting with both the practical and business skills you require to launch your own creative floristry business. With the addition of new creative spaces to work with in our new home! Working from basic to advanced skills we take you from hand-tied bouquets to large scale installations. It is our will that you find your own creative style of floristry and in order that we promote this within your practise you’ll find that we don’t demonstrate our designs fully. If we do this you will simply copy and be less likely to grow in confidence as quickly as we need you too. We do of course lead and guide you through your designs however, we encourage you to find your own way resulting in a style that’s true to you.

We always provide an abundance of the most beautiful flowers, all British during the UK growing season. For the past 18 months we have used solely British grown flowers allowing you to take the most beautiful designs.

We lead the way showing you how to choose your flowers, what to look for and most importantly what they’re called! It is vital for your confidence that you choose your own flowers, we won’t choose for you!

Alongside the practical elements we also help you to build the skills required to start your new creative business. Included in these skills are photography, branding, marketing, social media, business start up skills and a group business coaching session. Once you have completed your course with us you are invited to join our Tallulah Rose Private Student Forum. Here you will be welcomed by former Tallulah students all willing to help and support you through those early days and beyond. We also host a Tallulah Freelance Floristry page where you’ll find internships, work experience and job opportunities.

Our 2 week course was established more than a decade ago, initially as a summer school but it was so successful that we continued! You can see from our successful Student Stories a small selection of new businesses this course has launched!

Everyone is awarded a certificate on completion of the course however as we mentioned above it’s not goodbye. Team Tallulah and our former students are always there for you as you leave the safety of school and launch your own florist business.

We appreciate that for many of our graduate students working solely with British flowers isn’t realistic in terms of working on weddings and events all year round. For this reason we also spend time educating you about working with, and buying from, international wholesalers. Understanding how you’re able to make informed decision’s when it comes to sustainability and seeking out those commercial growers investing in the future of our industry and planet.

All tools and equipment required are provided for you and any vessel you use during the course is yours to *keep. We have a wide range of books that you may borrow during your time with us and we don’t require that you buy any books ahead of your course however we do recommend The British Flowers Book 2 by Claire Brown. This book will become your flower bible and worth every penny – and no were not paid to say that! This book will help you to become familiar with not only flower names but their seasons too.

*excluding any hired items or items belonging to the school.

If you scroll down the page you’ll see the breakdown of both practical and business skills included within this two week course.

Each week consists of tuition from Monday to Friday. Class starts at 10.00am and finishes at 4.30pm.

Course Price 2026 – £3550

Course Price 2027 – £3950

A deposit payment of £500 is required to secure your place. The final payment is due eight weeks prior to your chosen course date.

There are 5 cottages on site here at Underley Estate, tap the link below for more details on this and accommodation in the surrounding area.

Underley Estate Accommodation

Kirkby Lonsdale and Kendal Accommodation

Please read our Payments, Cancellations & Refunds Policy prior to booking.

Week 1

Included within our 2 week career change course are eight days of practical sustainable floristry, remember we’re a floral foam free school using only British flowers during the UK growing season.

During your first week we’ll focus on the seasonality of flowers and how to care and condition your flowers. Wastage control is important too especially if you’re planning on opening a retail store. Also during your first week we invite a professional photographer to host a half day photography workshop for you all. Sharing their knowledge ensures that you have the skills to take the best possible shots during your time with us. Remember these shots will form the beginnings of your portfolio.

To ensure you acquire the necessary skills to launch your business within a commercial and competitive environment we include the following designs;

  • Seasonal Living wreaths
  • Hand-tied bouquet
  • Low bowl arrangement
  • Flower meadow arrangement
  • Large scale installation
  • Sympathy tribute
  • Basket design

 

Week 2

As we move into week two we begin the week by talking through wedding marketing, consultations and how to approach costings and quotations. We then move on to practical hands on floristry covering;

  • Bridal bouquet
  • Flower crown
  • Buttonhole
  • Table scape
  • Large urn arrangment
  • Flower installation
  • Floral cloud

Costing each design is vital, if you don’t know what to charge how do you know where to start in making a successful business? We teach you a mathematical formula including all the elements required to make your design both competitive and profitable.

We spend two days, one on each of our weeks together introducing you to the skills required to launch your own business. Stepping away from practical floristry we come together to discuss branding, ( a fun day of mood boards!) marketing, the how’s and why’s of social media and the legalities of launching your business. We walk you through setting up a business plan and discuss financing, how to forecast your outgoings as well as cashflow. Finally we bring all these aspects of business together within one coaching  session. The session, run by Crag and Crest, will help you to visualise, prioritise and realise!

  • Branding and mood boards
  • Customer profiling
  • Marketing
  • Social media
  • Photography workshop
  • Business plan
  • Legal structure
  • Accounting
  • Finance
  • Website workshop

During your second week we’ll head outside to create large scale installations, working  amidst the beauty of our rural location.

Our final day brings celebration and graduation!