'Whisky's next generation: are you ready?' by Sam Kirk

Chat to someone who works in the Scotch whisky industry and they might let you into a little secret. It’s the best job in the world.

Whether you’re making it, shipping it or selling it, there’s so much to love about being a cog in the wheel of this great global industry that brings so much pleasure to people around the world.

Is that why whisky folk tend to stay in their jobs for a long time, if not a lifetime? At International Beverage, celebrating the 10, 20 or in some cases the incredible 40 year service of members of our team isn’t uncommon.

But it also presents a bit of a problem.

Our industry’s older generations are rightly revered for the vast amounts of skill and knowledge they hold, honed over time and bringing all the consistency, quality and commercial savvy our businesses need. But many of them are also edging towards a well-earned retirement. 

That’s why we also need to focus on talent: a fresh flow of great people to become the next generation of brilliant distillers, blenders, bottlers and brand managers.

There are barriers to attracting younger recruits. Whisky has had a bit of an old fashioned image in the past. Production and operational bases can be far from popular city centre locations. And competition from other sectors for the best and brightest is fierce.

To counteract this, International Beverage is working hard to build our teams from the grassroots up with the skills we need for our future. Here are four things to consider:

1. The right package: the whisky industry has some of the best benefits packages. At IBHL we benchmark our packages to ensure they measure up and suit a range of needs from pensions to healthcare, whether that be salary protection during long term ill health or a massage to enjoy at the end of a long day. We strive to provide security and look after our people, so we have continued with our flexible working approach introduced during COVID-19. We are innovating in the areas that are important to all generations.
2. Education: working in whisky offers so many incredible opportunities, including the chance to train and gain the skills needed for a long and rewarding career. That’s why we invest in apprenticeships, graduate programmes and a host of other schemes and qualifications to help our new recruits achieve their goals. As our Knockdhu Distillery Manager Gordon Bruce always says: ‘Every day is a school day in whisky’…and that’s no bad thing.
3. Culture: everyone wants to be proud of where they work and to be valued as a team member: supported through tough times and celebrated when success comes. A great company culture is all about building a genuine, shared sense of purpose, passion and pride where everyone feels comfortable being their true self. For us that means investing in and celebrating our people and our brands; giving back locally with charity and community initiatives; doing the right thing for the environment; and being thoughtful about how we support each person as an individual, personally and professionally, so they can flourish. Don’t just take my word for it though, 82% of our team told us International Beverage was a Great Place to Work in our recent engagement survey!
4. Selling our industry: whisky is a wonderful, unique heritage industry, which is also incredibly modern and vibrant. We are proud to shout about it! Working with beautifully crafted products and rich storied brands, global opportunities and travel, and the security of a sector that’s been around for centuries and isn’t going anywhere. What’s not to like?