Women Leading Spirits (WLS) has announced a new education partnership with the WSET to expand access to professional development and internationally recognised training for women across the global spirits industry.

WSET will serve as the official education partner of Women Leading Spirits through its Social Impact Fund, offering annual scholarships for Level 1 and Level 2 Awards in Spirits online, with the goal of supporting approximately 100 scholarship recipients by 2030. 

Scholarship applications will be available to WLS members starting this September. The partnership will also provide preferential pricing for WLS members on selected WSET online qualifications; an annual calendar of four to six webinars and digital masterclasses; WSET participation in WLS international events, conferences and bootcamps; and the exploration of future leadership programmes for emerging professionals.

Co-founder and president of WLS, Larissa Arjona, said: “Education is one of the most powerful ways we can create opportunity and accelerate women’s leadership across the global spirits industry. Partnering with WSET allows us to give our members greater access to internationally recognised education, remove some of the barriers to professional development, and provide practical tools that can help them grow throughout their careers.”

WSET and WLS will also collaborate on educational content and programming designed to encourage participation in professional training and create additional opportunities for members to build knowledge, skills and industry connections.

Michelle Brampton, WSET chief executive, said: “As a charity, we believe education should be accessible to everyone with the ambition to learn and progress. Through our Social Impact Fund, we’re committed to creating opportunities for individuals who may face barriers to professional development. This partnership with Women Leading Spirits will help us extend that impact, supporting talented people across the global drinks industry to gain knowledge, confidence and skills through our globally recognised qualifications, and empowering them to realise their potential and take the next step in their careers.”