Diageo's Learning for Life scheme extended to support hospitality sector

Diageo has relaunched its award-winning bartender and hospitality training programme Learning for Life to support the sector and its hard-pressed staff as the pressures of the coronavirus pandemic continue.

The £1 million-per-year scheme, which has traditionally focused on offering opportunities to young unemployed people in the UK to get them into hospitality careers, has been repurposed as a virtual training programme to support businesses dealing with the demands of Covid-19.

This is in addition to Diageo's Raising the Bar programme, which is investing £30 million to support infrastructure for the UK hospitality trade to operate safely in the face of Covid-19, including hand sanitiser and personal protective equipment.

Nicola Reid, Diageo Learning for Life manager, 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 have refocused 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."

Delivered by training partner Springboard, the Diageo Learning for Life: Hospitality Elevator virtual programme has been designed to provide specialist support to businesses in the sector to develop and engage their teams, including staff on furlough leave.

The programme will include key training including Covid-19 personal safety and workplace best practice, new customer service requirements, staff wellbeing suport and product knowledge training.

Inga McVicar, national head of employability at Springboard, said: "Developed to enhance skills and 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."

To find out more about the Diageo Learning for Life: Hospitality Elevator programme, visit springboard.uk.net/hospitalityelevator.

5 November 2020 - Bethany Whymark