THE Diageo Learning for Life programme has marked its 10th anniversary in Edinburgh on Wednesday.
Politicians, hospitality leaders, and Learning for Life alumni came together at Johnnie Walker Princes Street for the occasion with Graeme Dey MSP, Minister for Higher and Further Education among those in attendance.
Here, Diageo toasted the more than 6,000 graduates that were part of their hospitality industry skills programme.
Over the course of the 10 years, Diageo has invested £1m per year in the programme to ensure high quality training, delivered by hospitality training charity Springboard, resulting in 83% of graduates going on to sustained employment.
Mr Dey acknowledged the contribution Diageo Learning for Life has made to people across Scotland.
He said: “The tenth anniversary marks an important milestone for the Learning for Life programme and I would like to congratulate the thousands of young people who have graduated from the course to work in one of Scotland’s most iconic industries.
“I also want to thank all the employers across the hospitality industry for their involvement in this scheme which has helped to provide life-enhancing opportunities for our workforce of the future.”
Dey added: “High quality training plays a vital role in unlocking the potential of our young people to the benefit of the wider economy which is why programmes like Learning for Life are so important to future growth.”
Gillian Dalziel, programme manager, said: “We are incredibly proud of what Learning for Life has achieved over the last decade. Seeing the programme’s impact on people’s lives has been a privilege, helping them gain new skills and employment opportunities.”
Dalziel thanked the programme’s delivery partners, such as the charity Springboard which helps the young and unemployed find work in hospitality, leisure, and tourism in the UK.
Dalziel added: “The hospitality industry is still struggling with skills shortages and through programmes like Learning for Life, we are supporting the sector as well as creating opportunities for our graduates.”
