Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Ian Harris plans 66 mile walk for charity

Published: 03 October, 2025

In two weeks’ time, Ian Harris MBE, the ex-CEO of the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), will walk the Vanguard Way for charity.

Outgoing WSET CEO Ian Harris bids farewell at annual graduation and awards ceremony

Published: 12 April, 2022

Last night the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) staged its annual Graduation & Awards Ceremony at the Guildhall in the City of London. Having held a virtual ceremony in 2021, WSET returned to the Guildhall with a hybrid event this year. It was WSET’s most inclusive graduation ceremony to date, with 70% of the year’s graduates from around the globe attending either virtually or in person.

WSET appoints Brampton as new CEO

Published: 11 January, 2022

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has appointed Michelle Brampton as its new CEO, replacing the incumbent Ian Harris, who will step down on 15 April.

WSET appoints McMurtrie chair as Jago and Locke join board

Published: 04 January, 2021

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has announced that Simon McMurtrie is to take over as chairman of its Board of Trustees, replacing Nick Hyde who has served as chairman for the last three years.

WSET candidate figures hit by Covid but buoyed by online

Published: 02 September, 2020

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has reported an 11% drop in candidates taking a qualification in the last academic year (2019/20).

WSET branches out into beer qualifications

Published: 17 June, 2020

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) is gearing up to launch a suite of beer qualifications.

WSET fast-tracks investment for online delivery and digital learning

Published: 14 April, 2020

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) is fast-tracking investment plans to bring forward online delivery of all its qualifications.

WSET awards record number of Diploma graduates

Published: 22 January, 2019

The Wine and Spirit Education Trust’s annual Awards and Graduation Ceremony celebrated a record number of Diploma graduates at a packed Guildhall in London last night (21 January).

Attracting Talent

Published: 03 October, 2018

Speaking to Harpers in our August issue, Berry Bros & Rudd chief executive Dan Jago made a strong case for the trade to better promote the career opportunities that exist within. The trade itself, he argued, had done much to shift from being a lifestyle choice to a more dynamic, professional world, offering exciting and diverse opportunities for those who entered, backed by quality training.