Hiring and Sponsoring Florists (SOC Code 5443)

Florists, classified under SOC Code 5443, are skilled professionals in the floral industry who play a crucial role in enhancing the aesthetic appeal of various occasions and environments. Their work involves a diverse range of responsibilities, including:

• Sourcing and Purchasing: 
• • Orders and purchases fresh flowers, foliage, and other floristry items such as ribbons, wire, cards, and artificial flowers from wholesalers or growers.
• Display and Care: 
• • Displays and cares for flowers, plants, and ready-made floral arrangements in selling premises, ensuring they are visually appealing and well-maintained.
• Design and Creation: 
• • Designs and makes up a variety of floral arrangements including wreaths, bouquets, posies, corsages, headdresses, and buttonholes using appropriate flowers, foliage, frames, and trimmings.
• Customer Interaction: 
• • Confers with and advises customers regarding their design requirements, ensuring they receive tailored recommendations for their floral needs.
• Delivery Coordination: 
• • Arranges for the delivery of floral arrangements as requested by the customer, maintaining communication throughout the process.
• Event Decoration: 
• • Decorates buildings, halls, churches, or other facilities for events such as parties and weddings, creating an inviting and festive atmosphere.
• Retail Operations: 
• • Sells flowers, plants, foliage, and other floral products to the public while performing retail duties such as keeping accounts and managing inventory.

With the growing appreciation for unique and personalized floral designs, the demand for skilled florists continues to rise. This guide will assist HR professionals in understanding the process of hiring and sponsoring florists under the UK’s immigration system.

What is SOC Code 3411 for Florists?

SOC Code 5443 refers to florists who specialize in the arrangement and sale of flowers and related items. Their responsibilities can include: 

• Ordering supplies: Purchasing fresh flowers, foliage, and additional floristry items such as ribbons, wire, and cards from wholesalers or growers. 
• Arranging displays: Displaying and caring for flowers, plants, and ready-made floral arrangements in selling premises. 
• Creating floral designs: Designing and crafting wreaths, bouquets, posies, corsages, headdresses, and buttonholes using appropriate flowers, foliage, frames, and trimmings. 
• Customer consultations: Confering with and advising customers regarding their design requirements, ensuring that their floral arrangements meet specific requests. 
• Coordinating delivery: Arranging for the delivery of floral arrangements as requested by customers.
• Event decoration: Decorating buildings, halls, churches, and other facilities for parties, weddings, and similar events. 
• Retail sales: Selling flowers, plants, and foliage to the public while performing retail duties such as keeping accounts.

Florists contribute significantly to the beauty of various occasions and play an essential role in enhancing the emotional and aesthetic experience of events through their craft.

Eligibility to Hire Florists (SOC Code 3411)

1. Job Requirements

Florists must possess a unique combination of artistic flair, horticultural knowledge, and customer service skills. To be considered for this role, candidates should meet the following criteria:

• Floral Design Skills: Demonstrated ability to design and create a variety of floral arrangements, including wreaths, bouquets, and corsages, showcasing originality and aesthetic appeal. 
• Product Knowledge: Understanding of fresh flowers, foliage, and other floristry items necessary for crafting arrangements, as well as sourcing from wholesalers or growers.
• Customer Service: Ability to consult with customers to understand their design requirements and provide expert advice on floral selections.
• Sales Experience: Proven experience in retail sales, including managing accounts and processing transactions effectively.
• Organizational Skills: Competence in arranging logistics for the delivery of floral arrangements as requested by customers, ensuring timely and accurate service.
• Event Decoration: Experience in decorating venues such as buildings, halls, and churches for special occasions, with attention to detail and customer preferences.

Candidates should ensure their qualifications and experience align with SOC Code 5443 and demonstrate an understanding of both floral artistry and customer engagement.

1. Salary Thresholds
2. Use the Minimum Salary Calculator to ensure your salary offer meets immigration requirements.

Sponsoring Florists: A Step-by-Step Guide for HR Professionals

Once you’ve confirmed that the role and candidate meet the eligibility requirements, follow this step-by-step guide to sponsoring Florists under SOC Code 5443.

Step 1: Obtain a Sponsor Licence

Before hiring non-UK Florists, your company or institution must obtain a sponsor licence. This licence enables you to legally sponsor overseas Florists under the Skilled Worker Visa program.

• Sponsor Licence Application: Submit documentation proving that your business is legitimate and has a genuine vacancy. Visit the sponsor licence application guide for more information. 
• Sponsor Licence Fees: Small businesses typically pay £574, while larger institutions pay £1,579. For more information, visit the sponsor licence fees guide. 
• Processing Time: Applications typically take up to 8 weeks, but using the Sponsor Licence Priority Service can reduce the processing time to 10 working days.

Once your sponsor licence is approved, you will receive a sponsor licence number, which allows you to assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS).

Step 2: Assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

Once you have your sponsor licence, the next step is to assign a CoS to the Florists. This document provides key details about the job and the individual being sponsored.

• Defined vs Undefined CoS: Use a Defined CoS for Florists applying from outside the UK, and an Undefined CoS for those already in the UK. Learn more in the Defined & Undefined Certificates of Sponsorship guide. 
• Required Documents: Provide details such as the Florists’s portfolio, passport and job offer. Refer to Documents Required for Certificate of Sponsorship for a full list of necessary documents.

Step 3: Apply for the Skilled Worker Visa

Once the CoS is issued, the Florists can apply for the Skilled Worker Visa.

• Visa Fees: Fees vary depending on the role and visa length—use the visa fees calculator to estimate the costs. 
• Immigration Skills Charge: Employers are required to pay this charge as part of sponsoring non-UK workers. This is separate from visa fees.

Conducting a Right to Work Check for Florists

Before the Florists begins working, you must conduct a right to work check to ensure they are legally allowed to work in the UK.

• Manual Right to Work Check: Verify original documents such as the Florists’s passport and visa. 
• Online Right to Work Check: If the Florists holds an eVisa, you can use the UK government’s online system to verify their right-to-work status.

For more details on how to perform these checks, see the right to work check guide.

Post-Hiring Responsibilities and Compliance

1. Record-Keeping and Reporting  
2. • Record-Keeping: Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of the Florists’s employment details, salary and contact information. 
   • Reporting Changes: Report any significant changes to the Florists’s role—such as promotions or salary increases—via the Sponsor Management System (SMS).
3. Sponsor Licence Duties and Compliance
4. Failure to comply with your sponsor licence duties can result in penalties or sponsor licence revocation, impacting your ability to sponsor future Floristss.

How Borderless Can Help with Sponsoring Florists

Sponsoring Florists under SOC Code 5443 can be a complex process, but Borderless can simplify it for you. We offer comprehensive support to help you manage the entire sponsorship process.

End-to-End Sponsorship Support

At Borderless, we assist with:

• Sponsor Licence Application: Guiding you through the application process and ensuring all required documents are submitted correctly. 
• Certificate of Sponsorship Assignment: Streamlining the CoS process to make hiring easier. 
• Compliance Management: Helping you stay compliant with immigration laws to avoid penalties.

If you need assistance with hiring or sponsoring Florists, get in touch for personalised support.

Conclusion

Hiring and sponsoring Florists under SOC Code 5443 can be a rewarding way to enrich the cultural landscape of your organisation. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can successfully navigate the sponsorship process while ensuring compliance with UK immigration laws.

For further guidance, Borderless is ready to assist you with all your sponsorship needs. Contact us for expert advice.