A group of young unemployed people from Lanarkshire have graduated from Diageo’s award-winning ‘Learning for Life’ training programme and are now equipped with the required skills to embark on careers in the hospitality industry.

Twelve students celebrated completing the six-week training course during a special ceremony held at ROC Nightclub in Hamilton on Tuesday 1 August.

The Diageo Learning for Life: Hospitality and Bartending programme provides coaching, core employability skills and specialist bartender training, opening the door to a wide range of exciting career opportunities in the Scottish hospitality industry.

A key element of the course is a two-week work placement with some of the area’s leading hospitality businesses, including Bar West and The Libertine in Hamilton, as well as the Torrance Hotel in East Kilbride and the Radstone Hotel in Larkhall, during which they gain vital on-the-job experience.

Students were also treated to a visit to The Dakota Eurocentral Hotel to get top tips from experienced hoteliers during an exclusive Q&A session.

Nicola Reid, Programme Manager, Diageo Learning for Life Programme Manager for Great Britain and Europe, congratulated the graduates: “The students have shown tremendous commitment to the programme and we’re excited to see them progress into rewarding careers in the industry, putting their newfound skills to good use.

“Working in hospitality offers excellent opportunities for driven young people and the Diageo Learning for Life programme continues to attract support from local businesses, some of which have already offered students full time employment opportunities.”

Since its launch in 2014, almost 900 young unemployed people have graduated from the Diageo Learning for Life programme, which is offered across Scotland, with over 76 per cent of graduates successfully securing permanent roles in the hospitality sector.

The course is delivered by The Springboard Charity, Diageo’s specialist training partner. Commenting on the recent tranche of graduates, David Cunningham, Springboard Programme Manager for Diageo Learning for Life, who took the recent course in Hamilton, said: “This is the second time we have run the Diageo Learning for Life programme in the area and have once again helped to deliver valuable skills and confidence to young people looking to begin careers in hospitality.

“It has been great to see the group progress through the course, gaining skills and qualifications which make them attractive candidates to employers in the industry.”

Diageo Learning for Life graduate, Ryan Conway (18) from Hamilton, added: “The Learning for Life course has helped greatly with my anxiety and boosted my confidence, especially the two-week work placement. The experience and support from the programme has helped me to gain the necessary skills and qualifications to work in the hospitality industry, and will hopefully help to get my career off to a strong start.”

Businesses in Hamilton looking to staff their establishments or get involved in the Diageo Learning for Life programme can contact: Stewart Fotheringham, Business Engagement Manager at The Springboard Charity, on stewartf@springboarduk.org.uk / 07464 546 686.