Dittydots and APM NZ transcript

Francess: My name is Francess and I'm a florist. I am very fortunate to have just recently started my own business called Dittydots. I've always had a wild passion for flowers, always loved the outdoors. It all started with a phone call with Ted from APM. I was really looking for a career change. I felt really unfulfilled, and I really wanted to do something that was more aligned with things I was passionate about, things I was interested in, and ultimately I could get a lot more enjoyment from.

Ted: I’m Ted. First time I met Francess, I just let her tell me her story, and the kind of journey that she wants to go on. One of the things I like to focus on is whatever her immediate barriers are.

Francess: Having zero experience in the floristry industry, Ted helped me get my little toe in the door with my very first placement. He helped me redo my CV and the interview process itself, and the different things that came with that.

Ted: With Francess, she had a goal that she wanted to achieve and we met every challenge as it came along. You know, we were able to break down the whole thing into smaller, manageable parts and she used the pathway she needed to take. Takes a lot of hard work, you know, takes a lot of patience and perseverance.

Jasmin: I feel very lucky to be in a position where I can learn and gain these skills, especially with someone who's so caring the way she helps me.

Francess: Ted actually approached me and explained the situation with Jasmin and said that we had similar interests.

Ted: Jasmin was part of our program. She had done a lot of work with art and photography and that. I mentioned to her about Francess and how Francess was developing this floristry business.

Jasmin: This is my first job in this area, and I'm learning so much through Francess. And like, thanks to Ted, because he also taught me so much, like a lot of skills that I hadn't like been taught. So that was very valuable.

Francess: Jasmin keeps me motivated, she keeps me organised. Having her onboard has enabled me to focus my attention on things that really need them.

Ted: I’m immensely proud of how far she's come. She's well placed to achieve her goals.

Francess: If I were to compare my life now to two years ago when Ted and I first were in contact, I would not believe that these changes were possible. With the right people, the right tools, the right guidance, it is possible.