Plumpton College Backs English Wine Industry with £500,000 Training Pledge for Second Year
Plumpton College renews its Skills Pledge to the Wine Industry for a second year, reinforcing its long-term commitment to developing skills, expertise and innovation across the sector.
- A further £500,000 of fully funded wine training available during 2027
- Second consecutive year of Plumpton College’s Skills Pledge to the Wine Industry
- Wider range of courses to choose from including food & wine pairing and wine chemistry to vinegrowing, winemaking and sparkling wine production
Plumpton College, the UK’s longest-established wine education provider, is renewing its commitment to the English wine industry with a further £500,000 of fully funded training available to wine businesses and professionals.
Following the success of the inaugural Skills Pledge to the Wine Industry announced in January, Plumpton College will once again provide free access to a wide range of industry-focused short courses, reinforcing its long-term commitment to supporting the people, skills and expertise that underpin the continued growth of the English wine sector.
The Plumpton College Skills Pledge to the Wine Industry will provide £500,000 of fully funded training from October 2026 to July 2027, giving eligible wine businesses and professionals the opportunity to develop their knowledge, strengthen their capabilities and invest in their future without the usual financial barrier associated with professional training.
As the UK’s national centre of excellence for wine education, Plumpton College offers a comprehensive portfolio of specialist courses covering every stage of the wine journey – from vineyard to bottle and beyond.
Courses available through the 2027 pledge include Food & Wine Pairing, Introduction to Wine Chemistry, Identifying and Managing Wine Faults, Intensive Principles of Vinegrowing, Intensive Principles of Winemaking and Intensive Sparkling Winemaking, alongside a broad programme of other practical and technical training.
The programme is open to eligible established producers, new entrants and wine trade professionals, and businesses can use the funding to support the development of both individuals and teams.
“We are delighted to be continuing the Skills Pledge for a second year. The overwhelming positive response to the initiative demonstrated the appetite across the industry for high-quality, accessible training, and we are proud to be able to make this commitment again.
“Continued growth and resilience depend on having the right skills, knowledge and expertise across the sector. By investing in people, we are investing in the future of English wine.
“Our aim is not simply to respond to the challenges facing the industry today, but to help businesses and individuals prepare for what comes next – embracing innovation, improving quality and productivity, and building a stronger and more sustainable industry for the future.”
Jon Searle, Vice Principal for Adult Courses
With no limit on the number of courses an individual or business can book, the initiative is designed to encourage sustained professional development and knowledge-sharing across the industry. However, an individual course cannot be repeated by the same participant.
Courses must be booked and attended between October 2026 and 31 July 2027. Places are expected to be in high demand and participants are encouraged to book early.
Although the training is fully funded, a refundable credit card deposit is required at the time of booking to secure a place. The deposit is returned following attendance, helping to ensure places are used and the fund delivers maximum benefit to the industry.
Jon adds:
“We know that training can sometimes be one of the first things businesses have to reconsider when budgets are under pressure. By continuing this pledge, we want to remove that barrier and give businesses the opportunity to invest in their people.
“We are proud to stand behind the English wine industry for a second year and to play our part in developing the talent that will shape its next chapter.”
Further details, including eligibility criteria, course availability and full terms and conditions, are available via the Plumpton College website.
Plumpton College offers a range of learning opportunities to suit your goals, from the free Skills Bootcamp Vineyard Operative for eligible East Sussex residents, to degree programmes and internationally recognised WSET qualifications.
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