Courtney Martin – CAFRE

My name is Courtney Martin and I am currently studying the Level 3 Floristry course at CAFRE, Greenmount Campus, Antrim. This is my second year studying at CAFRE, following on from the Level 2 Certificate course in Floristry, which I completed in June 2021. 

I am from Crossgar and I attended Ballynahinch High School before coming to CAFRE. I have always loved working with my hands and really enjoyed art at school. My careers teacher suggested that I might like floristry as a career path after my GCSE’s. I tried it out as part of my school work placement week and really enjoyed it. This spurred me on to research the courses at CAFRE. I attended an Open Day at Greenmount Campus. During the open day, I discovered the range impressive facilities and meeting the enthusiastic tutors gave me the focus to do my best on my GCSE’s to secure a place on the Level 2 Certificate course.  

I was delighted to be offered a place and I started in September 2020. Studying during the pandemic was challenging, but I enjoyed it and I have now progressed to the Level 3 Advanced Technical Certificate programme which is challenging me to be more creative. I have to make more decisions about designs myself as well as focusing on business, health and safety and following trends in the floristry industry. Work placement is a vital requirement of the course in both Level 2 and 3, and I have enjoyed working at both Watson Flower Shop in Ballynahinch and Ivy Lane Flower Shop in Antrim.  Work placement allows me to put into practice what I learn in class, build up my speed and interact with real customers.  

During my time at Greenmount, I have been a residential student. Living on Campus at age 16 was hard to adjust to at first, but the residential staff are wonderful and encouraging. With their support through outings or a listening ear, I soon settled in to the halls, gained confidence, made friends and I am really enjoying it. I try to take part in as many activities as I can and enjoy the Christian Union, help at the supper club and have gone on outings to bowling, swimming and the cinema. I am really looking forward to attending the formal in a few weeks’ time too. 

When I complete my course, I plan to work in the floristry industry for a number of years to gain more experience, maybe travel a bit to see how flowers are used and sold in other countries. When I am older, I would love to have my own business in a local high street shop. 

I would highly recommend both the Level 2 and Level 3 Floristry programmes at Greenmount Campus and say to any prospective student “grab the chances that are given to you, you get out of any course what you put into it, and most of all enjoy yourself.” CAFRE has given me confidence, broadened my horizons, developed my passion for floristry, expanded my life skills and opened up a whole new world of possibilities to me.