Entrepreneurial florist boosts local community with educational programme

A business owner is using flowers to inspire and educate regional community groups.

Sunderland-based Alison Hunter is combining her love and passion for floristry, as well as her experience in mental health and social care, to provide unique educational solutions and engagement to individuals, schools and local community groups.

Alison established Alison Hunter Floral Design with support from the North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC), and is delivering workshops as well as creating traditional and custom floral designs for occasions such as weddings and funerals which can be purchased online.

Alison explained: “Flowers can be really therapeutic and the accomplishment you get out of creating something beautiful can be very rewarding.

“Flowers often hold a special meaning and can evoke happiness in a lot of people and having something to focus on often helps people who are struggling with emotional issues, which is why I wanted to inspire and educate people on how wonderful flowers can truly be.”

Alison’s hobby started over 30 years ago, where she would create floral designs for friends and family.

Working in finance for many years as well as being a carer, Alison then went on to work as a regional trainer assessing health and social care apprenticeships. It was 2015 before Alison picked up the floristry again and completed her qualifications.

Prior to launching the business in October 2018, Alison visited the BIC and worked with business adviser Margaret Cook and was supported through the New Enterprise Allowance programme.

She concluded: “I already had a basic business plan which outlined my intentions and I knew I could bring all of my previous skills together.

“Margaret helped me develop my own unique selling point and got me thinking about the various other services I could offer. Her encouragement was invaluable and she went above and beyond to help me create the best business I could.”

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