Now in its second year, National Wine Careers Week is raising awareness of the many exciting opportunities across the UK wine sector and inspiring more people to consider a future in the industry. Led by Plumpton College, in the heart of the South Downs National Park, alongside founding partner Nyetimber and principal partner NFU Mutual, the initiative is also supported by WSET, WineGB, Drinks United, and Veraison Education. Together, we are championing wine as an exciting career choice with opportunities spanning production, hospitality, retail, marketing, logistics, and beyond.
The campaign aims to shine a light on the wide range of roles and training available, and it comes at a pivotal time for the industry. The UK wine sector contributes £8.9 billion to the economy and supports more than 412,000 jobs, yet careers in wine remain under-recognised, particularly among young people. National Wine Careers Week is helping to change that by championing real stories and career opportunities.
At Nyetimber, we’re passionate about supporting the next generation of talent. As a true pioneer and the first producer in England to grow Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier exclusively for sparkling wine, we’ve always been driven by an innovative spirit and a commitment to crafting world-class English Sparkling Wine. Achieving that takes a highly skilled and passionate team, which is why we’re so excited to help inspire future talent and welcome more people into the industry.
We’ve partnered with WSET to launch a new Nyetimber work experience programme, giving WSET School London students a unique behind-the-scenes insight into life at England’s leading sparkling wine producer. Over 10 days, our candidate will work across Brand, PR, Digital and Trade Marketing at our London office, gaining a broad perspective of the business and the many career paths on offer.
The programme also includes hands-on experience at the Nyetimber Estate, supporting dining experiences and open weekends alongside Brand Ambassadors and the Events Team, as well as opportunities to meet key trade partners and experience major brand activations and sponsorship events, including the HSBC Championships at The Queen’s Club.
‘We are proud to support National Wine Careers Week and its focus on encouraging people to explore careers in wine. At Nyetimber, we think in generations, not years, and as one of the UK’s largest employers in the wine industry, we recognise the importance of nurturing new talent. The sector offers a wide range of career pathways, and initiatives like this are vital in helping the industry continue to grow and thrive,’ says Eric Heerema, Owner and CEO of Nyetimber.
Alongside National Wine Careers Week, we also take part in careers talks, panels, and industry discussions at Plumpton College and WSET School London, sharing our experiences and helping more people discover the amazing opportunities within the world of wine.
