LONDON, U.K. — New figures from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) reveal that demand for wine and spirits education is higher than ever, both in Canada and globally.
WSET is reporting a record 85,487 in the academic year finishing 31 July 2017 — an increase of 19 per cent on last year and marking 15 years of growth.
As consumers seek to learn more about wine and spirits, the need for more knowledgeable staff is rising, encouraging professionals to pursue accredited qualifications and hospitality businesses to prioritise formal training to cater to customers’ discerning tastes.
“I am delighted to see that more and more businesses are recognising that education and well-trained staff are the foundations to better customer service and stronger profits,” says Ian Harris, CEO, WSET. “After another successful year for WSET we’re setting out strategies to take our progress to the next level.”
In Canada, a total of 37 Approved Programme Providers now offer WSET courses and the organization will participate in the Vancouver International Wine Festival for a second year in 2018.
“The new academic year will also see the release of an improved Level 2 Award in Spirits following the hard work of our research and development team to make sure WSET offers the most up-to-date and best-in-class education through its network of certified providers worldwide,” adds Karen Douglas, director of Education, WSET.
