Exeter floristry students and tutors celebrate national success

Students and tutors from the British Academy of Floral Art, based near Exeter, achieved multiple awards and qualifications at this year’s British Florist Association Annual Conference, Fleurex 2025. The event took place at the East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham University.

Victoria Veasey and Jayne Buet were awarded the Level 4 Higher Diploma in Floristry, with Veasey achieving the highest practical exam mark in the country. At Level 5, Jodie Gilpin and Elinor Delargy gained the Master Diploma in Professional Floristry, earning the title of British Master Florist.

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Academy Director Tina Parkes won first place in a national design competition for a frame-based floral arrangement and later gave a presentation on Formal Linear Design at the Floristry Tutors’ Meeting.

A student who joined the Academy’s Career Changer course earlier this year was named Runner-Up in the Florist of the Year – Newcomer competition after placing among the top six nationally in the preliminary rounds. Veasey, now continuing at Level 5, and Master Florist Tina Pound also competed in the Florist of the Year category.

Reflecting on the success, Director Tina Parkes told Exeter Today: “This recognition means so much to us as an academy. Our success at Fleurex shows that Exeter's creative community is thriving, you don’t have to be based in a big city to achieve excellence.

“We attract students from all over the country to study here in Exeter, drawn by both the quality of our teaching and the artistic energy that comes from being surrounded by such stunning countryside. It’s a joy to see our students’ skills and imagination celebrated nationally.”

“We couldn’t be prouder of our students and graduates,” she added, “their success at Fleurex reflects not only their hard work and creativity but also the strong sense of community we foster at the Academy. From new florists taking their first steps to experienced professionals achieving Master status, it’s wonderful to see how our students support and inspire one another.”

The British Academy of Floral Art’s results contribute to a wider set of national achievements for the Exeter-based institution.