Sorry I haven't replied to your question til now. Have been ill and are now playing catch up with everything.
I'm a trained florist, I took city and guilds 1,2 and 3 - 19 years ago then started my intermediate but because the tutor felt I needs some more experience I was not allowed to talk the exam, even thought she said I would pass!! I think she was worried as I would have only been 21 when I took the exam. Most people were over 25years old . I've had my own shop for the last nine years. I relocated my business 3 years ago from a really quite area to a much better position in a double shop unit shop. Then this year I have split the shop back into two shops and now just have a single unit which is much better and will hopefully be better prepared for the economic down turn that happening.