Associate Floristry Technician

The Bedford College Group; Biggleswade; On-site; GBP 14,000 - 21,000; Full time

Job summary

The Bedford College Group is seeking an Associate Floristry Technician to join the Land-based Education department at Shuttleworth College, Old Warden Campus. The role focuses on floristry resources, stock preparation, and safe workshop operations to support practical sessions and assessments.

You will manage stock, purchasing, and budgeting, prepare teaching areas, and ensure adherence to health, safety and safeguarding standards across locations. This is a sessional hourly-paid position.

Qualifications

• Holds a minimum Level 2 Floristry qualification and GCSE English and Maths (Grade C/4 or equivalent).
• Able to organise floristry stock, resources and materials effectively to support practical teaching.
• Communicates clearly and professionally with staff, students and suppliers.
• Self-motivated, reliable and committed to high standards with a proactive approach to development.
• Committed to safeguarding and flexible across locations while upholding College policies.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support to teaching staff and students in floristry.
• Manage purchasing, storage and control of flowers, accessories, tools and resources; reconcile invoices.
• Prepare and maintain teaching areas, equipment and resources; ensure materials are available and fit for purpose.
• Maintain safe working environments; ensure compliance with health and safety requirements and records.
• Support staff and students during practical sessions and examinations; promote safeguarding and inclusive practices.

Skills

Floristry knowledge

Stock management

Communication

Independent working

Health and safety

Education

Level 2 Floristry qualification

GCSE English and Maths

Job description

Role: Associate Floristry Technician

Location: Shuttleworth College – Old Warden Campus

Salary/Benefits: Salary is £12.71 per hour

Hours/Weeks: 12 hours per week

Contract Type: Sessional – Hourly Paid

This is a UK based contract, and you are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer sponsorship and any offer of employment will be subject to evidence of your Right to Work in the UK.

About the role:

We are currently seeking an Associate Floristry Technician to join our Land-based Education department at The Bedford College Group.

As an Associate Floristry Technician, you play an important role in the success of our students through:

• Floristry Resources & Technical Support - Provide technical support to teaching staff and students, preparing flowers, materials, equipment and workspaces to ensure the effective delivery of practical Floristry sessions and assessments.
• Stock, Purchasing & Budget Management - Manage the purchasing, storage and control of flowers, accessories, tools and resources, maintain stock inventories, reconcile invoices, and ensure expenditure complies with College financial regulations.
• Workshop Preparation & Resource Maintenance - Prepare and maintain teaching areas, equipment and resources, monitor maintenance requirements, and ensure all materials are available, organised and fit for purpose.
• Health, Safety & Compliance - Maintain safe working environments, implement and review storage and security procedures, ensure compliance with health and safety requirements, and maintain accurate statutory and operational records.
• Learner Support & Professional Standards - Support staff and students during practical sessions and examinations, contribute to a positive learning environment, and promote safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion, health and safety, and continuous professional development.

About you:

• Qualifications & Floristry Knowledge - Holds a minimum Level 2 Floristry qualification and GCSE English and Maths (Grade C/4 or equivalent), with a sound understanding of floristry practices, stock control procedures and health and safety requirements.
• Stock Management & Technical Support - Able to organise and manage floristry stock, resources and materials effectively, ensuring equipment and supplies are available to support practical teaching and learning activities.
• Communication & Independent Working - Communicates clearly and professionally with staff, students and suppliers, while demonstrating the ability to work independently and manage responsibilities with minimal supervision.
• Professionalism & Continuous Improvement - Self‑motivated, reliable and committed to maintaining high standards of performance, with a proactive approach to personal development and continuous improvement.
• Safeguarding, Flexibility & Professional Standards - Committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults, willing to work flexibly across locations, and dedicated to supporting College policies, health and safety requirements, and inclusive working practices.

What is an Associate?

Associates work on a short-term basis as assigned. They teach or provide support services, and they work with and are supported by core staff. As an Associate you will be issued with an Associate Agreement, under this Agreement period you will be eligible to work on assignments offered to you.

For a more detailed breakdown of the job role and the requirements, please see the Job Description attached to this vacancy.

Interviews to be held: TBC

Successful candidates must also be able to demonstrate alignment to our organisational VISION values:

• Valuing Teamwork - We are one team who by working together can achieve great things, respecting the opinion and valuing the contribution each of us makes.
• Improving Continuously - We challenge ourselves to always do better by trying new things, sharing knowledge, reflecting on practice and learning from others.
• Student Centred - At our heart is always doing what is best for our students. We consider students in all of our decision making to create positive outcomes and memorable experiences for every student.
• Inclusive - We celebrate differences and diversity, recognising that we can learn from each other.
• Open and Caring - We care about the wellbeing of our staff, our students, our community and wider society, creating an environment built on trust where we listen, engage with and support each other.
• Nurturing Education Excellence - We promote educational excellence by delivering programmes that challenge our students to achieve their ambitions.

About The Bedford College Group

The Bedford College Group was formed in 2017 following the merger of Bedford College and Tresham College and is now the largest provider of education in the South East Midlands, with over 15,000 students passing through our doors each year.

Today, the Group is made up of a family of colleges across Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire:Bedford College, Central Bedfordshire College andTreshamCollegein the towns of Bedford, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough;ShuttleworthCollege,a specialist land-based college; The Bedford Sixth Form, (the only dedicated sixth form in Bedford); The Corby Sixth Form, (opened in September 2023); and the National College for MotorsportalongsideSilverstonerace circuit.To widen accessibility to education and training, the Group also has community-based Learning Centres in Bedford, Corby and Kettering which offer IT training.

Safeguarding our Students

The Bedford College Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to thorough vetting process which includes, an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide. The Bedford College Group's policy on Employment of Ex-Offenders is attached to this vacancy.

Candidates who are barred from working with children are reminded it is a criminal offence to apply for this post.