Young Florists To Take Centre Stage At Fresh Awards 2026

A new generation of floristry talent will take centre stage at the Fresh Awards 2026 this Friday, as students from two leading colleges help transform one of London’s most prestigious venues for the industry’s biggest celebration of the year.

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A team of 29 students and staff from Capel Manor College and The Floristry School Sheffield will work alongside Master Florist Emma McGeehan and floristry educator Abby Maguire to create the floral displays for the awards at JW Marriott Grosvenor House on Park Lane.

The project will give Level 1 and Level 2 students the opportunity to work alongside and be mentored by Level 3 students and experienced supervisory staff, offering them valuable hands-on experience in a live commercial environment.

For many of the young florists, it will be the first time they have worked on an event of this scale.

The team will be responsible for creating floral arrangements across more than 75 tables, as well as the winners’ bouquets and a feature entrance display.

The design brief centres on a modern, upright linear style using anthuriums, arabicums and mixed grasses, with an emphasis on negative space, contemporary floral trends and advanced technical execution.

But beyond the visual impact on the night, the project is designed to give the students something even more valuable: real-world industry experience.

Working inside a landmark listed London hotel, the team will have to deliver to a strict commercial brief, work within tight event-day deadlines and observe the protocols required when operating in an historic venue.

Organisers say the experience will stretch the students technically and professionally, pushing them beyond the classroom and helping prepare them for careers within the floristry industry.

It also provides an opportunity for more experienced students to develop mentoring and leadership skills while supporting those at an earlier stage in their training.

Fresh flowers for the displays have been fully donated by Tom Brown Wholesalers, while Oasis Floral Products is sponsoring all of the sundries required for the installations.

The collaboration places education and skills development at the heart of the Fresh Awards, providing emerging floristry talent with the chance to showcase their abilities in front of leading figures from across the fresh produce and floral sectors.

The Fresh Awards 2026 takes place on Friday 25 September at JW Marriott Grosvenor House in London.