Diageo Learning for Life Supports Bartenders
Award-winning training scheme repurposed to support pubs & bars
Free COVID-safety training and life skills open to UK trade
Diageo Learning for Life – the leading beverage alcohol company’s award-winning bartender and hospitality training programme – has been relaunched to support the sector and its hard-pressed staff.
The £1m-per-year programme – which has traditionally been focused on offering opportunities to young unemployed people in the UK to get into hospitality careers – has been repurposed as a virtual training programme to give businesses the skills and training support they need to meet the demands of dealing with COVID-19.
This is in addition to Diageo’s Raising the Bar programme, which is already pumping £30 million into the UK hospitality trade in the form of support with the infrastructure to operate safely, such as hand sanitiser units and personal protective equipment for staff.
Nicola Reid, Diageo Learning for Life Manager, said the relaunch of the Diageo Learning for Life programme came at a critical time as COVID-19 restrictions impact on hospitality businesses.
She said: “People and businesses in the hospitality industry across the UK are fighting for their future and we stand alongside them in that fight.
“That’s why we’ve refocussed our Learning for Life programme so it offers the best training opportunities possible to support bar staff and businesses with skills that will help them weather the current storm.
“Along with our Raising the Bar initiative we are putting every resource we have available into the battle to save the hospitality trade.”
The Diageo Learning for Life: Hospitality Elevator virtual programme, delivered by Diageo’s hospitality training partner, Springboard, has been designed to provide specialist support to businesses in the sector, helping to develop and engage their teams, including those on furlough.
As well as providing key training, improving practices and updating ways of working, Hospitality Elevator helps to alleviate isolation by inviting team members to participate in virtual sessions, helping those on furlough feel connected to their team, gain new skills and develop new strategies for looking after themselves during these challenging times.
The programme will be delivered entirely online through a series of webinars and modules, and includes key training such as:
· Covid-19: personal safety, workplace best practice, customer comfort
· Customer service: new customer requirements and behaviours
· Staff wellbeing: top tips and techniques to look after mental health
· Product knowledge: table service recommending, perfect service, cocktail training
· Diageo brand ambassador sessions
· Licensing qualification (region specific)
Inga McVicar, National Head of Employability at Springboard, said: “As the hospitality sector responds to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and new guidance comes into place, staff training is more important than ever. Developed to enhance skills development in hospitality throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hospitality Elevator course offers participants the opportunity to gain the most recent and up to date skills and qualifications while also improving their confidence.
“The pandemic has had a massive impact on hospitality staff, causing huge anxiety and stress, with their mental and physical wellbeing affected. The Hospitality Elevator programme offers some solution to this by providing training which helps employees feel more confident, improving their understanding of new guidance and ultimately leading them to deliver better service to customers.”
To find out more about the Diageo Learning for Life: Hospitality Elevator programme including how to sign up visit:
Details about further training opportunities through Diageo Learning for Life can be found here: https://springboard.uk.net/diageo-learning-for-life-virtual-academy/
