Drinks Trust opens applications for Develop scheme

Industry charity The Drinks Trust is now accepting applications for Develop, a new vocational programme launched in partnership with Campari Group UK and Moët Hennessy UK.

The Drinks Trust, formerly known as The Benevolent, introduced its plans for Develop in October last year.

The programme aims to provide training and educational opportunities for those in the trade or looking to join, in order to foster the next generation of hospitality professionals and help alleviate the industry’s staffing crisis.

Campari Group UK has signed on as the official spirits partner of the initiative, while Moët Hennessy UK is serving as Develop’s official Champagne partner.

In addition, several operators have already agreed to provide training and job opportunities to graduates of the scheme, including Gaucho, M Restaurants and Vagabond Wines.

“Since the announcement of the Develop initiative to the industry last year, The Drinks Trust has received funding and support from brands and operators who recognise the vital importance of the scheme for the welfare of the entire drinks hospitality industry and the many people living in hardship in the UK,” said Ross Carter, CEO of The Drinks Trust.

“We are extremely grateful to Campari Group UK, Moët Hennessy UK, Vagabond Wines, M Restaurants and Gaucho for being the founding partners in our vocational initiative Develop and we are confident that together we can make Develop a core part of The Drinks Trust offering for many years to come.”

In its first year, Develop seeks to train about 750 beneficiaries through a variety of methods, including workshops for CV writing and interview skills, as well as sector-specific Continuing Professional Development programmes with industry providers such as the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, Institute of Brewing & Distilling, Mixology and European Bartender School and more.

“It is so important to us at Campari Group UK to play a role in the development of our drinks and hospitality industry, and we hope this investment will not only benefit the industry as a whole – but in particular to operator businesses who continue to struggle with staffing and skills shortages,” said Brad Madigan, managing director for Campari Group UK.

“We are proud to be joining forces with The Drinks Trust yet again and play a role in this initiative – we very much look forward to welcoming the first graduates of the Develop scheme into our vibrant industry.”

Those interested in applying to the courses offered through the Develop programme can do so at www.drinkstrust.org.uk/leading-skills-educational-providers.

Meanwhile, industry businesses looking to support The Drinks Trust’s vocational initiative can get in touch with the charity’s operations manager, Nicky Burston, at nicky@thedrinkstrust.org.uk.

Last year, we looked at how the spirits industry has supported the mental health of employees during the pandemic.