Coleg Cambria student blossoms with national award win
A flourishing floral designer blossomed into national recognition after being crowned UK Florist of the Year: Newcomer at the British Florist Association (BFA) Awards.
Victoria Upton, a Level 3 Floristry student at Coleg Cambria Yale in Wrexham, took home the prestigious title at the 2025 FleurEx event, held at the East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham.
The awards celebrate excellence across the floral industry and are judged by both experts and public vote.
Victoria, from Dudleston Heath near Ellesmere, only discovered her passion for floristry in recent years, having previously completed a degree in Ceramics.
“A year ago, my technical skills were very limited, so to win this award feels unbelievable,” she said.
“I’m thrilled with the result and I am still pinching myself. Coleg Cambria has been incredible – the staff, facilities, and support have helped me turn a creative spark into a real business.”
Now in the final year of her qualification, Victoria has already launched her own venture – Violet Hill Flower Company – which champions seasonal locally-grown flowers, and operates from her home-based studio and cutting patch.
“My journey into floristry began through the simple, rewarding act of growing flowers,” said Victoria.
“From the very beginning, it was the delicate, fragrant blooms that inspired me to create sustainable designs which celebrate the natural beauty of seasonal flowers.
“Coleg Cambria gave me the skills and confidence to make that dream a reality.”
Victoria thanked her “floristry family” at Cambria, including long-serving lecturer Amanda Ellis, who was herself a finalist in the Floristry Tutor of the Year category.
Amanda, who has taught at Cambria for over 25 years, said: “This is an outstanding achievement. Victoria has worked extremely hard and shown incredible creativity and determination – we’re all so proud of her.”
Students at Cambria benefit from real-world experience through Iâl Flowers, the training florist shop at the college’s Yale campus, which helps prepare learners for successful careers in the industry.
For more news and information from Coleg Cambria, including its Floristry courses, visit the website here: http://www.cambria.ac.uk.
Visit Violet Hill Flower www.violethillflowercompany.co.uk and follow @violethillflowercompany on social media.
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