Case Study

Transforming talent pipelines with Diageo

Our collaboration with Diageo is a leading example of how strategic partnerships can close skills gaps and create lasting career pathways in the brewing and distilling sector.

Together, we have developed a bespoke Graduate Apprenticeship programme, designed to equip Graduate Apprentices with both technical expertise and a sustainability mindset. Apprentices gain hands-on experience in Diageo’s production environments while receiving academic mentorship and practical skills training in Heriot-Watt’s cutting-edge facilities.

This collaboration has directly addressed skills shortages in the whisky and spirits sector, with graduates contributing to innovations in sustainable production methods and process optimisation.

Alumni like Kelly Fraser, now a Packaging and Automation Manager at Diageo, have seen career progression accelerated by the programme’s focus on professional development. Kelly now mentors current apprentices and champions the programme within Diageo’s leadership as a tool for building future technical specialists and driving industry innovation.