The Institute of Flowers (IOF) commemorated its first anniversary with a landmark professional development event held on 2nd November at Killeen Castle. The gathering brought together florists from across Ireland, reflecting the IOF’s core mission of fostering industry excellence, knowledge exchange, and meaningful connections within the floristry community.
Event Highlights and Educational Focus
This inaugural anniversary event was designed as more than a celebration. It represented a carefully curated learning experience and a platform for the ongoing professional growth of practicing and aspiring florists. Attendees benefited from a robust programme featuring industry leaders:
- Representatives from the Local Enterprise Office provided practical insights into the business grants and supports that enable sustainable growth for floristry enterprises.
- Yvonne Miland offered an in-depth overview of auto-enrolment for pensions, delivering essential knowledge for future planning and employee well-being.
- Johnny Tanner shared his expertise on the importance of robust financial practices, reinforcing that purposeful financial management is crucial for business longevity.
- Lyn from Noodle Horse Media presented actionable strategies to enhance online presence, demonstrating how digital storytelling and creative engagement can elevate floristry brands.
A dedicated workshop, ‘The Power of Colour’ with the renowned Adele Roche, equipped attendees with the tools to harness the psychological and commercial impact of colour within design, marketing, and client engagement.
Learning Outcomes and Professional Development
The event delivered measurable educational outcomes aligned with core learning and development objectives:
- Delegates deepened their understanding of how colour influences mood, brand perception, and consumer purchase decisions.
- Skills in articulating emotion and intent through colour were strengthened, supporting more intentional design and effective client collaboration.
- Attendees engaged in forward-looking discussions on trends and commercial reasoning within contemporary floristry.
- Practical exercises enabled participants to create colour arrangements aligned with both client aspirations and brand ethos.
- Enhanced confidence was fostered for communicating visually impactful choices to clients and retail collaborators.
- Merchandising and visual storytelling skills, critical to successful floristry businesses were developed further, as was the integration of colour psychology in branding.
Networking and Community
Throughout the day, the Institute ensured the atmosphere remained vibrant and inclusive. Each attendee contributed a personalised floral token, ranging from creative card arrangements to uniquely designed floral cupcakes, underscoring the event’s spirit of shared creativity and collegial celebration.
Delivering Value and Shaping the Future
In partnership with Positive2Work Skillnet, the IOF has delivered multiple training programmes since its launch, providing subsidised professional development in sustainability, digitalisation, and business leadership. This collaboration is opening new doors for florists seeking accessible, accredited training, helping to future-proof the industry and elevate floristry as a recognised profession.
Speaking about the event, Fionnuala McAuley said; “The IOF has grown from a simple idea, to create a space where Irish florists could connect, learn, and be recognised. A year on, we’ve built a national network that’s not only supporting florists but shaping the future of the trade in Ireland.”
The Institute of Flowers’ first anniversary at Killeen Castle became a record of achievement, marking not just a year of growth, but an ongoing commitment to professional development and industry leadership. By drawing together business acumen, creative innovation, and practical learning, the IOF once again demonstrated its mission to empower Ireland’s florists and shape the sector for the future.
The Institute is now entering an exciting second year, expanding its training calendar, membership network, and corporate partnerships, with international collaborations in the works through Florint, the European Florist Association.
Membership for 2026 is open to professional florists, students, and suppliers.
For more information, visit www.instituteofflowers.com
