Majestic, the UK’s largest specialist wine retailer, has reached a significant milestone in its drive to improve diversity and inclusion in the wine industry.
Majestic has now educated more than 50 people from Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and diverse backgrounds to wine qualifications through its industry-leading Diversity in Wine Scholarship. The initiative offers candidates the opportunity to study for a Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Level 2 qualification free of charge, with no obligation to work for Majestic upon completion of the programme. The online course and required wine samples would usually cost more than £400 per person.
Since the launch of the Diversity in Wine Scholarship in September 2020, Majestic’s team of in-house WSET Educators have now helped 55 people achieve their WSET Level 2 qualifications, opening up a route into the wine industry that might not otherwise have been readily available to them.
Majestic welcomed the latest cohort of graduates to its Support Centre in Watford to celebrate their achievements, with CEO John Colley on hand to present the successful candidates with their WSET certificates.
As Britain’s biggest educator in wine, Majestic plays a vital role in training and developing the wine professionals of the future through its in-house Learning and Development team. All staff across the retailer’s 205 UK stores are coached through the WSET Level 2 as a minimum requirement, with Store Managers holding at least a Level 3 or Diploma.
Regular investment in training and development is a vital part of Majestic’s strategy. Not only does it ensure that colleagues are constantly developing their careers within the business, but it also allows Majestic to offer expert knowledge and advice to customers across the country, helping them to discover and buy wines that they will love.
Majestic CEO John Colley said: “On behalf of everyone at Majestic, my huge congratulations go to our newest cohort of Diversity in Wine graduates. They are further evidence of the powerful impact we are having at Majestic in creating a more diverse and inclusive future for our colleagues, customers and suppliers, by helping people from all backgrounds to take their first steps into the sector.
“We are incredibly proud to have helped more than 50 people from minority and diverse backgrounds right across the UK to achieve their wine qualifications – and we are eager to grow that number further in the coming years. By harnessing the knowledge, expertise and passion of our Learning and Development team, we can create meaningful, long-lasting change across the wine industry.”
One of the newest Diversity in Wine Scholars, Rupi Johal, said: “I enjoyed meeting like-minded people from all backgrounds and around the world – a group who would have never met otherwise, sharing our passion for wine and learning together.
“Diversity and Inclusion needs to expand within the wine industry. Wine education, experience and taste is seen as a birthright or ‘white privilege’. As traditions change and we learn about cultures through meeting people, sharing stories or breaking bread together, it opens opportunity and breaks down barriers. I applaud Majestic for leading this topic into conversation and action.”
Fellow graduate Carmen Ungureanu added: “I am already looking at possible roles with Majestic and am keen to build experience towards a Level 3 qualification and extend my expertise – with the aim of promoting the regional wines of my home country of Romania. The course was great fun and I would recommend it to anyone contemplating a career change and keen to learn something new and exciting.”
Another of the new scholars, Paola Occhialini, said: “I think it’s very important for specific industries to invest in inclusion and diversity, especially the wine industry. Diversity in Wine has been a great experience and gave me a lot of knowledge on something I really enjoy. I’ve already managed to encourage two friends of mine who are now participating in the course.”
