The industrial heritage of Sheffield has been well-preserved especially when it comes down to the repurposing of its impressive steel mills. The Eagle Works is one such building, and can be found in Kelham Island, a buzzing, metropolitan development of independent shops, cafes, restaurants and bars.
There is a different type of steel being wielded at the works today, namely floristry scissors and knives, as this architecturally fascinating building is now home to The Floristry School, Sheffield, established in 2020 by Abigail McGuire and Jo Biddle, both UK Master Florists and experienced teachers.
‘We work in partnership with Sheffield College, in fact that’s where Jo and I first met’ explained Abby, ‘but we felt we needed our own space so that we could have more freedom over our timetable and type of courses. We looked at a number of places before we visited the Eagle Works, it has a great vibe, and we knew it was the place for us.’
Offering a number of courses for learners of all abilities and experience, Jo and Abby not only teach in person but also on-line, enabling floristry apprentices from Newquay to Newcastle (and in between!) to train with the school.
‘I’m passionate about floristry and I love teaching, every day is different, and I learn as much from our students as they do from me. Training is so important, it gives you underpinning knowledge and a grounding in the subject, so if you are faced with a situation that you haven’t dealt with before you can sort it out.
‘As an industry we are often undervalued, there is so much more to it than people realise. Floristry is not only creative, but also good for your mental health too. It needs be celebrated!’
