Miles Beale, WSTA
The WSTA's Miles Beale says Drinks United is exactly what it says - a combined industry wide effort to tackle diversity and inclusion
Tell us about Drinks United - what is this initiative all about?
Drinks United is a joint initiative between The Drinks Trust, the WSTA and the WSET who all came together earlier this year in a first ever collaboration of its kind about changing the culture of the drinks industry. What we are trying to achieve is making the drinks industry a diverse, equitable and safe place to work.
Why now?
It all came about as a result of the survey led by Queena Wong in October 2023 where it became evident that many women in the industry didn’t feel safe. Our view was we had to come together as a collective now and address this issue as a priority. Alcohol can never be an excuse for poor behaviour. And there is an opportunity for the drinks industry to be the most attractive, inclusive and diverse of sectors. A place for talented people to thrive.
How will it be funded?
Initially we are looking for small donations from right across the industry. That will get us going. But I would add we aren not after huge sums. We are keen to leverage best practice, expertise and effort from within the industry to make Drinks United a programme that is the sum of all industry parts - and the catalyst for change and modernisation.
Michelle Brampton, WSET
WSET's Michelle Brampton says the Drinks United team will also be supported by an advisory group made up of diversity and equality experts from across the drinks industry
How will the EDI programme be structured?
The programme will be overseen by the programme board which was established earlier this year and consists of the chief executives’ and one board member from each of the wine and spirits industry ‘hub’ organisations the WSTA, WSET and The Drinks Trust.So basically Miles, Ross and me plus Nicky Forrest (managing director of Phipps PR) and Laura Willoughby (founder of Club Soda) as advisory council chair from The Drinks Trust, Lulie Halstead from the WSET and Caroline Thompson-Hill (head of beers, wines and spirits at Marks & Spencer) from the WSTA.
We’ve also just hired a programme manager, Laura Aiken who has a background in project management across culture change initiatives. She will be leading the programme board on a day- to-day basis and be responsible for making the programme happen.
Whilst these three organisations are collaborating to shape and drive the programme we have also established a voluntary advisory council. The advisory council consists of around 20 members from different backgrounds and organisations, many of them represented by business leaders and EDI specialists. Their remit is to help guide priorities, provide expert input and be ambassadors across the industry.
We anticipate meeting two to three times a year, with members supporting for two years and then new members can join if others move on.
Ross Carter, The Drinks Trust
Drinks Trust's Ross Carter says the Drinks United's founding members are close to setting out a three-year strategy
What will you prioritise and what has been achieved so far?
The priority is to eliminate discrimination and to promote a culture of personal safety and inclusivity in the drinks industry. This involves a comprehensive approach starting with a thorough audit of current practices to identify areas of improvement or service gaps. This is currently underway and is nearing completion.
Organisations are increasingly recognising the importance of implementing robust EDI and safeguarding programmes. These initiatives are not just about adhering to legal requirements but are fundamental to fostering an environment where every individual feels valued, respected, and safe.
As a result, and as of the beginning of 2024, our three organisations have made safeguarding and the assessment of existing EDI services the immediate priority. The outcomes of the assessment work will allow Drinks United to establish what more could be introduced in due course; be that by Drinks United itself, or by existing organisations in the industry.
In terms of where this may take us, time, and our work with the advisory council, will tell. That said, services such as training and awareness are critical components of EDI and safeguarding initiatives. Educating the workforce and business leaders about unconscious biases, cultural competencies, and the importance of inclusivity is vital, and is being implemented by many larger organisations already.
Establishing clear, actionable policies that outline expectations and procedures regarding diversity, inclusion and staff safety may be another area that DU will look to assist.
Ultimately, creating diverse teams at all levels within organisations is central to addressing EDI, as this not only enhances creativity and problem-solving but also ensures that decision-making processes benefit from a broad spectrum of perspectives.
We are becoming increasingly aware ourselves of the work that needs to be done. And over the coming months, together with the advisory committee, existing service providers in the industry and experts in the fields of EDI and safeguarding, we will be delivering a clear set of actions to address the priorities that have been identified.
We are nearing the completion of our three year strategy and this is something that I was keen to have set in place before I move on from The Drinks Trust.
Laura Aiken, Drinks United:
Laura Aiken has been recruited from outside the drinks industry to help oversee and manage what Drinks United can achieve
What is your role and what made you want to get involved?
My role as programme manager is to support the Drinks United board to shape their three year strategy and turn it into action. We have set our key priorities for the areas we want to address, notably safeguarding, setting up a survey to identify gaps, launching a hub to sign post existing initiatives and securing leadership commitment from across the industry.
I’ve worked around the world on culture change and inclusion programming and I’m really excited to support Drinks United to create a safe, welcoming and inclusive drinks industry.
As the programme manager for Drinks United, my role is to drive forward our vision of creating a safe, inclusive, supported and united UK drinks industry. With years of experience managing culture change initiatives globally, I’m here to help shape a three-year strategic plan and turn that into action.
With a background in the energy industry, I’ve worked in large-scale projects in a highly regulated, male-dominated sector, facing many of the same cultural challenges we see in drinks today. As a consultant, I drive culture change initiatives around the world that focus on inclusion, leadership development, and resilience. This experience has given me an understanding of what it takes to shift industry-wide mindsets and practices, and I’m excited to bring that to Drinks United.
Drinks United’s strategic objectives of safeguarding, inclusion, accessible resources and leadership engagement are designed to drive industry-led lasting culture change. We will be partnering with key players across the industry to amplify work already in motion, bringing together best practices in an online resource hub, and driving data-led insights through a planned industry survey.
In the short term, my priority is conducting a thorough audit of current EDI efforts and addressing gaps, while setting up a resource and signposting hub to support individuals and businesses across industry. We're looking for support from senior leaders in the industry to help us drive change and embed inclusive practices at every level, so get in touch if you'd like to learn more.
At the heart of this work is the belief that everyone deserves a safe, supportive place to thrive, and I’m incredibly honoured to work with the Drinks United board and advisory committee on this effort. We have an incredible opportunity to create an industry where safety and inclusion are the norm, and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes us.
* If you would like to get involved or find out out more about how the Drinks United is going to work you can contact Nicky Forrest on Nicky.Forrest@thisisphipps.com.
* Lead photo from iStock.
