Mum blooms after classes

Mother-of-two Tracy Haigh, aged 36, of Berners Road, Arbourthorne, says she has always been artistic and 10 years ago decided to go to college.

“I became a single mother so decided to train as a decorator which I enjoyed immensely, having not done very well at school,” she said.

“I then went on to earn a steady living doing decorating for 10 years, as well as enrolling at college near enough every year because I liked it so much.” Over the last decade Tracy has studied everything from sports therapy to reflexology but it was Castle College’s floristry course that gave her the idea for business, after realising she had a natural flair.

“My grandfather passed away two years ago and I decided to make his tributes myself. Everyone said they were fantastic and I decided that was his parting gift to me.

“I enrolled on the NVQ floristry course and, to gain more experience, I worked in a flower shop which gave me what I needed to think about doing it myself.”

Although Tracy has now launched Eden Designer Florists in Meadowhead she says she plans to keep up her college studies.

“I will definitely carry on attending college,” she said. “I was going to go on to the next level in floristry had I not started my own business. But I will do an evening course in accountancy as that is something I have always fancied.

“My tutors have since become friends and will be attending my opening day of the shop - when I look back they are the very foundation for where I am today,” Tracy added.