Learning for Life the programme designed to train the next generation of bartenders has launched a new course in London this week. The scheme aims to help those from disadvantaged backgrounds, who are struggling to secure a job, find their way into the jobs market. Kicking off this week, up to 14 Londoners will embark upon a six-week course, preparing them for work in the hospitality industry.
This year’s cohort coincides with the start of London Cocktail Week. Now in its ninth year, this city-wide celebration provides the participants with a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in London’s renowned cocktail culture and as such, this year’s cohort with take part in a cocktail masterclass delivered by leading mixologists at London Cocktail Week’s Cocktail Village.
Selected graduates from previous Learning for Life programmes will also be invited to work behind the bar at a host of pop-ups hosted within the London Cocktail Week village in Shoreditch.
The programme combines a mix of technical and vocational qualifications, industry visits and soft skills development, including CV writing and confidence building. This is followed by a two-week work placement in a London pub or bar, providing students with hands on experience, and 12 months of ongoing support.
Upon completion of the course, graduates are awarded with a portfolio of their achievements, including accredited qualification certificates.
The value of the on-trade, which includes pubs, bars and restaurants grew 7.5% year on year in Q1 2018. This vibrant hospitality scene is constantly producing new trends and consumer demands, making it an ideal location to inspire new careers.
What’s more, equipping Londoners with the skills and confidence needed to work in the hospitality sector has never been more crucial. Almost one in five hospitality managers believe recruitment is harder now than it was a year ago, despite steady growth in the industry.
Spencer Devine, Employability Programme Manager, The Springboard Charity said:
“I have been working with unemployed individuals for over a decade and it has been a unique experience delivering Learning for Life in London. The Diageo Learning for Life: Bartending & Hospitality Course is an excellent chance for unemployed people to improve their prospects, and to start them on a journey in to a career in hospitality.
“Seeing your trainees grow and develop in the right environment, with the right balance of theoretical and practical training, and then getting out into the industry just makes me feel very proud of what we do.
“We’re fortunate to receive a lot of support from London bars and cocktail clubs, who kindly offer work placements and industry visits, which are of real benefit to our participants in gaining work experience in world-class establishments. It does not end there either, as we invite graduates to return for Diageo VIP Events which is simply amazing, and collectively these experiences can really help to sustain the growth of a vibrant, exciting work force.”
Charles Ireland, General Manager GB, Ireland and France, Diageo said:
“Bars in London are the envy of the world and at Diageo we’re incredibly proud to be supporting Learning for Life for another year as it looks to foster a new generation of bartenders.
While London’s hospitality industry is in good shape, there are still too many young and vulnerable individuals who are not in education or training, struggling to find and secure a rewarding job.
“Learning for Life equips individuals with the skills and confidence to thrive in an industry we are so passionate about and I am excited to see what this year’s students will achieve.”
Learning for Life is run by international drinks manufacturer Diageo in partnership with The Springboard Charity, and provides those not in employment, education or training (NEETs) with the skills they need to succeed in the hospitality industry.
To date, the programme has had a significant impact and has helped many individuals realise how enjoyable and rewarding hospitality is as a career path. James Bray, September 2017 graduate currently working as a bar-back at The Ivy, London said: “Being on the Diageo Learning for Life course was much a journey of self-discovery as it was a journey of discovery with the hospitality industry!”
So far, 945 people have graduated from the programme delivered by The Springboard Charity, which is run in conjunction with several business partners, with the following bars previously providing placements: London Cocktail Club, Yummy Pubs, CH&Co Prestige, K West, Lancaster London, Alchemy Bar 7HQ & Fullers.