AI fear is a very real phenomenon and an ongoing concern for many as we head deeper into 2025. From governments folding AI into their models for economic growth, to the launch of Chat GPT in 2022 putting generative AI into the hands of people everywhere, the question of what exactly humans will bring to the table in the next 10, 20 or even 100 years, seems an increasingly urgent question.
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Plumpton College, home of the UK’s National Wine Training Programme, has announced the launch of the National Competency Framework (NCF). The new initiative is designed to define essential skills and competencies for employment across key sectors of the UK wine trade.
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A light bulb suddenly clicked on for Queena Wong, the private wine collector turned founder of Curious Vines during the first Covid lockdown. It was 2020, and for large swathes of the global population – and in many cases, women in particular – their worlds had suddenly become much smaller. Speaking ahead of Curious Vines’ first meet-up of 2025 in January, which focused on wellness via low & no, Wong describes a situation that suddenly felt like women had been “set back ten years”.
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The Gérard Basset Foundation and the Bordeaux Mentor Week won the ‘Best Education & Knowledge Sharing V d’Or’ category at the V d’Or awards 2025. The event, attended by Harpers, was hosted by Vinexposium at the Pavillon Gabriel in Paris on the eve (9 February) of Wine Paris.
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Gordon Ramsay Restaurants and WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) have partnered to offer WSET’s Level 1 and 2 awards at the group’s Gordon Ramsay Academy in Woking, Surrey.
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Applications are now open for a joint bursary programme designed to “widen access to drinks education”, organised by the WSET in partnership with the Worshipful Company of Distillers (WCD) and The Drinks Trust.
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London-based South African restaurant Vivat Bacchus has unveiled a new partnership with the charity Africa College Foundation, forging a pact to “support education for disadvantaged youth in South Africa”.
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Anne McHale MW has begun a series of free online masterclasses/live Q&A sessions which will run throughout January and February to help WSET Diploma students prepare for the upcoming D3, D4 and D5 exams, which are taking place in May and June 2024.
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When it comes to the spirits and hospitality industries, I harp on about education a lot. But with good reason. That dinner you had out the other week with the outstanding service – it’s thanks to education. Receiving a top new tipple recommendation from your local bartender – education. Formal training, cocktail masterclasses, category insight – it’s all helping to create better teams, better serves and ultimately an altogether better experience for the customer. So as someone who works for or is interested in the industry, here’s why you should care about it.
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Harpers is once again looking for the next generation of rising stars as we officially launch the second year of 30 Under 30.
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The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has launched a new initiative, as part of its diversity and inclusion programme, to help support indigenous students develop careers in the Australian drinks industry.
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Accolade Wines has launched its Vinspire programme to encourage the upskilling of individuals and recruitment for the on-trade and wider wine industry.
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A survey commissioned by the not-for-profit organisation Be Inclusive Hospitality suggests that racial discrimination continues to be an issue for the UK's service industry.
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The Association of Wine Educators (AWE) has announced Mandy Stevens as its new chair.
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The Worshipful Company of Distillers’ (WCD) has launched a programme of scholarships and bursaries set to benefit more than 100 students over the next three years.
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Enotria & Coe has unveiled the details of its premium WSET course launching this month.
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Startup wine education business Wine List has revealed it raised 100% of its £375,000 crowdfunding target in its first day on Crowdtube this week.
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The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has joined forces with Prowein to launch an initiative to train and support ambitious young wine professionals.
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The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has launched a joint initiative in partnership with The Mixing Glass to support Scottish hospitality workers during the current two-week lockdown.
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A global online wine education platform using a new approach to tasting wine, and offering a 50% sponsorship to all BAME students, has been launched by Nick Jackson MW.
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