Wine Owners Golden Vines Scholarship aims for wider BAME representation

Wine Owners, together with the Gérard Basset Foundation, Lay & Wheeler and IG Wines, are proud to announce the launch of the Wine Owners Golden Vines® Off-Trade Startup Scholarship for 1 BAME/BIPOC entrepreneur wishing to break into the wine trade.

The new Golden Vines Scholarship will support the learning and business management platform operating costs of 1 BAME/BIPOC entrepreneur with a dream – and a plan – to start up a wine merchant, retailer, wine importer or distributor.  Alternatively, the judges will consider an entrepreneur who has recently started trading (up to 12 months before the launch of the Scholarship) but recognises their need for efficient and scalable operating practices and an online presence to gain market access and realise growth.

Prepare the ground for your successful wine business with a package of learning that comprises mentorship from both Wine Owners and Lay & Wheeler and 2 internships to get to grips with the trade and the software you will be using to run your business

Then when you’re ready to turn your business plan into reality, the award will pay for the setup of your business management platform and e-commerce; including support, masterclasses and an online user group that promotes industry best practice.

A 3-month paid internship with Lay & Wheeler, one of England’s oldest fine wine merchants, during which the Scholar will work between Lay & Wheeler’s HQ in Great Blakenham and their Mayfair office. The Scholar will be exposed to all aspects of Lay & Wheeler’s business, from warehousing and logistics through to sales and marketing. Based upon the Scholar’s business plan and their skillset, the Scholar will also be assigned a mentor from the Lay & Wheeler management team, who will hold a monthly meeting with the Scholar as well as consultations on an as-needed basis for 3 months following the completion of their internship.

Once the Scholar has successfully completed their Lay & Wheeler internship, they will next complete a 1-month paid internship with IG Wines, who will give them hands-on experience using Wine Owners’ Wine Hub, providing invaluable training to seamlessly apply the software into their own business. The Judges will provide IG Wines with the Scholar’s business plan, so that the internship may be tailored to best suit their goals. Full training, Wine Hub Certification and unlimited support will further be provided by Wine Owners.

Following completion of these internships, the Scholar will receive Wine Owner’s Hub Pro plus integrated e-commerce free for 1 year. The only software as a service wine business management platform designed by the industry for the industry, it will give the Scholar a decisive edge in setting up their business. During the course of their first year of operations, the Scholar will benefit from mentorship by Wine Owners senior leadership team.

In summary then, this Scholarship will allow the winning Scholar an unprecedented, life-changing chance to break into the wine mercantile industry with the benefit of hands-on experience with and mentorship from leaders in the sector, as well as technical support and software which will allow them to hit the ground running.

• Magnavai Janjo – Sales Director, MJ Wine Cellars

• Katy Keating – Managing Director, Lay and Wheeler

• Sasha Lushnikov – Co-Founder, Liquid Icons & Gérard Basset Foundation

• Nick Martin – Co-Founder & CEO, Wine Owners

Visit the Liquid Icons website for more information, application process, terms & conditions.