IWD 2024: Double Dutch unveils a multi-channel campaign honouring women
This International Women’s Day, award-winning female-founded tonic and mixer brand, Double Dutch has revealed the twelve women set to join its exclusive Female Bartending Scholarship Programme as part of its International Women’s Day celebrations.
Double Dutch, the producers of award-winning premium mixers and tonics, With women only making up 6% of CEO positions (source: Hospitality Research EMEA | November 2023 by JLL) and the gender pay gap in hospitality rising slightly from 4.2% to 5.2% (source: Umbrella Training: Equal Pay in the Hospitality Industry as of 2023), Double Dutch’s Female Bartending Scholarship Programme is designed to empower aspiring female bartenders and mixologists in the UK to unlock new opportunities and further their journey in the field.
The Female Bartending Scholarship Programme, now in its fourth year, has acted as a breakthrough for women in the industry, helping scholars to excel in their careers. Scholars from previous programmes have since gone on to secure promotions and global positions, or used their new drinks knowledge to set up their own drinks consultancy service.
The full list of talented scholars from hospitality venues all across the UK includes: Nepheli Akrivopoulou (Bacchanalia, London), Nikki-Marie Brooks (Tobacco Factory Enterprises, Bristol), Helena Collins O’Connor (Soho Whiskey Club, London), Luana De Jesus Correa Luiz (Nightjar Shoreditch, London), Lydia Graham (The Common Room, Bath), Millie Melanaphy (The Haven, Lymington), Mila Michalikova (Tutto, Brighton, part of Black Rock Group), Guneev Sachdeva (Le Bab, London), Megan Sargent-Brown (Graduate Hotel, Cambridge), Hannah Staples (Rockwater, Hove), Lucinda Whiteman (EVE Kensington, London) and Jazz Yorke (The Domino Club, Leeds).
The eight-week mentoring scheme, led by the B Corp certified drinks brand, will encompass a wide range of topics, including new modules on drinks education and personal growth, plus brand new in-person experiences, such as distillery visits and opportunities for this year’s successful scholars to learn how to craft spirits.
Confirmed mentors for 2024 include beverage director at Outernet Venues Shannon Tebay, Gin Expert Emma Stokes, Ladies of Restaurants Founder Natalia Ribbe and Beefeater Gin Global Brand Ambassador Jon Gray. Each will provide expert one-on-one and group training, sharing their knowledge, insights and advice from working in the drinks and hospitality sector.
Raissa de Haas, co-founder of Double Dutch, noted that the high quality of the line-up of female bartending talent joining the programme this year.
“We can’t wait to see how they develop and grow over the next few months, de Haas said. “Our Female Bartending Scholarship Programme aims to provide more than just enhancing people’s skills, but is a platform designed to really propel women further into their hospitality careers. We have always been committed to celebrating and empowering women in the drinks industry and our Scholarship Programme is our way of doing what we can to help mentor women in the sector to flourish and unlock their potential.”
On what they hope to get out of the scholarship, Jazz Yorke, head bartender at The Domino Club in Leeds, who has been in hospitality for two years, said: ”I would like to develop my knowledge of the hospitality industry and my ability to lead and develop a team. Growing my connections with other women in hospitality is also very important and I am excited to meet and learn from others and their experiences.”
Luana De Jesus Correa Luiz, of NightJar Shoreditch, added: “Engaging with diverse minds, industry experts, and innovative ideas will shape not just my knowledge but my outlook on the world. The networking, mentorship, and exposure to cutting-edge concepts will be invaluable. This scholarship is more than an academic pursuit; it’s a catalyst for personal and professional evolution.”
This year for the first time, all applicants who didn’t make it onto the main programme will be invited to wider virtual sessions to benefit from the expertise of the trailblazers. This will include panel discussions on what a future in hospitality looks like, knowing your rights and how to talk about money.
To be the first to hear about future editions of the Female Bartending Scholarship Programme, sign up here: https://doubledutchdrinks.com/pages/scholarship-application
