THE DRINKS TRUST’S DEVELOP, EDUCATION AND TRAINING
At the beginning of this year, The Drinks Trust presented to the industry the product of 6 months of careful planning and strategy: its new educational and training programme, Develop. The charity introduced this initiative to alleviate long-term financial difficulties with a proactive funding and training programme that delivers opportunity and skills to colleagues seeking to improve their career prospects, and, for the first time in its 136-year history, The Drinks Trust will also help those looking to begin a career in drinks and hospitality to help address the staffing crisis.
The programme was conceived with the ambition of training and educating the next generation of drinks hospitality industry professionals. Develop is the first of its kind and genuinely unique in our industry.
Since its launch in March 2022, Develop has received the generous support of leading industry businesses as partners in the programme. Campari Group UK, Champagne Academy, Moët Hennessy UK and Louis Jadot..
The Drinks Trust’s Develop has the ambition to help build the sector back to its former strength, creating opportunities for those who need them the most. The ground-breaking service is not only addressed at anyone already working in the hospitality drinks industry or those who are dreaming of a career in the industry, but it’s the only full-service initiative on this scale that helps the applicants throughout their whole journey from industry-leading training to employment.
The Develop programme will grow our industry in the longer term, placing The Drinks Trust at the heart of the sector and the community it serves.
Operator groups have joined forces with us to deliver training and job opportunities to Develop graduates, with Gaucho Restaurants, M Restaurants and Vagabond Wines amongst the first groups to support the initiative officially, followed by Angela Hartnett’s Murano, The Ivy Collection, Doyle Hotels and many more.
The Drinks Trust’s Develop initiative aims to help around 550 beneficiaries in its first year of operation. The Trust works closely with leading skills and education providers to deliver training and vocational and classroom-based courses to the beneficiaries of the Develop initiative.
These providers range in specialisms across beer, wine and spirits, and skills-based trainers offering services across interviewing techniques, CV writing and how to research and approach businesses looking for staff: Wine & Spirit Education Trust, Institute of Brewing & Distilling, Mixology, European Bartender School and Barfection. As well as these courses, Develop provides an extensive free online library of hospitality resources hosted by EdApp, and the opportunity to join our Drinks Community platform and its Mentoring programme. More training opportunities will be added in the coming months, and the Develop offering will grow to offer more options to more people.
Since the programme’s launch in March 2022, over 550 beneficiaries have been assisted with our Develop programme, with courses, online training, and bursaries. Courses are available to anyone who has worked or is currently working in the drinks hospitality industry or is a new entrant to the industry.
Ross Carter, Chief Executive of The Drinks Trust, commented:
“We are extremely grateful to The Champagne Academy, its Chairman Andrew Fullerton, the Senior Committee and Academicians, for the generous donation of £25,000 made towards our educational hardship service, Develop. This contribution has been instrumental in allowing the Trust to reach a wide network of individuals, both new to the industry and looking to join it, offering them the opportunity for training and in turn, creating employment opportunity and a long term solution to hardship. At a time when new entrants and improved skills are vital to the continuity of our industry, the Academy has made a significant impact in making Develop a resounding success, with 550 beneficiaries having been involved in the first year of the initiative.”
Courses have varying eligibility criteria, which candidates can consider before applying. To apply to any Develop courses click here