Double Dutch, the producers of award-winning premium mixers and tonics, has launched its Female Bartending Scholarship Programme for the third year, as part of its ongoing mission to foster upcoming female talent in the hospitality industry.

With research revealing that women accounted for just 30 percent of all hospitality leaders, with most of these found in HR roles, Double Dutch has launched its third scholarship cohort to help reduce these disparities of women in senior positions and curb inequalities within the hospitality industry.

Applications for the programme open today, with eight places available for women, trans women and non-binary people at any stage of their career.

The scholarship is helping women to unlock new career opportunities, further their progression in the industry, expand their network, whilst expediting drinks knowledge and building confidence.

Amy Warne, a scholar from last year’s programme, successfully secured a promotion to Head Bar Coach at The Botanist upon completion of the course, helping her to continue her progression within her career.

This year’s scholarship will feature a host of trailblazers within the industry including Anna Sebastian, founder of Celebrate Her, an initiative to showcase female bartenders and offer networking opportunities, Laura Willoughby, founder of Club Soda, a global movement committed to help people drink mindfully and live well, Carmen O’Neal, founder of 58 Gin Distillery, Kelly Harrison, Head of Bars for New World Trading Company, an award winning gin producer, and Claudia Carrozzi, President of UK Bartenders Guide, the leading professional community for the bar and hospitality sector.

The programme involves three months of curated sessions covering a wide range of topics including mixology, cocktail families, signature serves, building menus, flavour pairings, mindful drinking, social media, marketing and professional coaching to help women build a well-rounded knowledge of the industry and how to level up.

Based on feedback from last year’s cohort, the sessions will have a greater mixture of in-person sessions, making it more hands-on and engaging, enabling scholars to build relationships with other participants alongside weekly virtual sessions, all timed around on-trade hours.

Raissa de Haas, co-founder and co-CEO of Double Dutch, who along with her sister and co-founder Joyce de Haas won the Young Entrepreneur category of the 2022 Business Champion Awards, said: “The hospitality industry is particularly difficult for women as they are so underrepresented in senior and management positions. A big part of the Female Bartending Scholarship Programme is helping women to progress further in their career and supporting them building their personal brand in hospitality.

“After seeing the shocking statistics that only 5% of females get appointed to the top job of CEO in hospitality, we created a programme that covers all vital elements for a career and progression.

This includes personal branding, building your own social media platform, photography, creating signature serves and flavour pairings, alongside looking at ways to capitalise on your skills, with the sessions delivered by key hospitality experts.

The programme has already empowered 18 women to level up in their career, and we are super excited to welcome eight more scholars onto the programme.”

Priyah Shah, a scholar from last year’s programme, commented: “I’d only ever been on the other side of the bar, but the opportunity to be truly creative with flavours, meet new people and provide them with a memorable drinking experience is what appeals to me about bartending. I decided to apply for the scholarship as I wanted the opportunity to learn from amazing female entrepreneurs and experts in the industry, specifically championing women in business where they remain underrepresented.”

Rebecca Bird, from Bird at the Bar, a 2022 graduate, added: “I worked in an office for 25 years, but I was always hosting parties and helping plan events. I loved making cocktails at home and making my own ingredients, especially using those that are local or foraged. People were always telling me that I should be doing this as a career, so at 49, I finally made the leap!.”

Applications are now open for the 12-week programme and close on 3rd May with the first scholarship session due to start on Monday 19th June at Club Soda, followed by a second face to face session at 58 Gin Distillery on 10th July.

Applications can be made here – https://doubledutchdrinks.com/pages/scholarship-application