Kirsty Summers: searching for New Skills for Scotch Whisky
The companies behind some of Scotland’s most iconic brands are being challenged to develop and grow their teams to deliver on changing consumer expectations.
They broadly agree that the key areas for skills acquisition in the coming years will be in sustainability, engineering, diversity and inclusion, and technology.
New ways of thinking from outside the sector are highly sought after by those in the hiring seat, as they look to both recruit and upskill, with the hope that fresh perspectives will continue to fuel innovation and create new opportunities for success.
As distilleries look to deliver immersive five-star visitor experiences, the demand for tourism specialists are increasing. Infrastructure and accommodation challenges in rural areas can limit the candidate pool for tourism roles, as well as the operational roles critical to the production of Scotch whisky.
In the sustainability space, early adopters were leading the charge, but more organisations are now hiring dedicated sustainability professionals to review the supply chain and operations and navigate the ever-evolving science and regulations to deliver industry goals.
Taking their cue from other industries at the forefront of the charge, such as manufacturing, and luxury goods, the Scotch whisky industry is innovating to ensure it can last another 200 years or more.
Key to this is reaching people ripe for a challenge, who have a background in a global industry and are passionate about bringing a premium product to the world.
New careers site Spirited Careers, launched earlier this year by the Scotch Whisky Association, aims to reach these people by showcasing the breadth of opportunities within the sector, and what transferable skills are highly-sought after by member companies.
Kirsty Summers is head of workforce and skills at the Scotch Whisky Association