New funding announced at WineGB's annual conference hosted at Plumpton College

We were delighted to host the annual WineGB conference at our AgriFood Centre. A perfect place to host, with Plumpton College being the only UK's centre of excellence delivering training, education and research in short courses, apprenticeships, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees for the last 30 years.

At the WineGB conference, delegates heard from a range of speakers, including Sam Linter, director of our Wine Division and Chair of WineGB. It was a pleasure to welcome the Rt Hon Steve Barclay, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, who announced a £1.5m scheme to support the wine industry with its continuous rapid growth. The new Future Winemakers' Scheme will aim to encourage the next generation of vintners.

This investment recognises that wine is the fastest growing sector of agriculture in the UK worth well over £10b a year. The funding will be targeted at educating, training and upskilling, as businesses estimate thousands of new vineyard jobs will be created over the coming years. In addition, the funding will also go towards delivering new courses at Plumpton College.

Jeremy Kerswell, Principal, commented; 'Plumpton College will work closely with WineGB and the wine industry nationally to provide innovative, demand led education and training to enable the future growth and success of the industry.'

Sam Linter, Director of Plumpton Wine Division, commented; 'We look towards the future of the UK wine industry, empowering the next generation of winemakers is not just an investment in individuals, but a strategic move towards driving innovation and sustainable growth within the sector. By prioritising training and development initiatives, we are nurturing a talent pipeline that will shape the landscape of British winemaking, elevate quality standards, and reinforce the UK's position as a key player in the global wine market.'