Diageo celebrates Learning for Life graduates

Over 2,000 participants supported since 2014, with 80% of graduates securing long term employment

As the hospitality sector gears up for a busy festive season, Diageo has celebrated the graduation of 16 participants from its most recent Guinness Learning for Life programme at The Open Gate Brewery in Dublin.

The programme, which is free to access and offers a QQI Level 1 certificate from Liberties College, provides skills training and mentoring to people from disadvantaged and minority communities, helping them gain qualifications, experience and confidence for careers in hospitality.

The current graduating class completed immersive training in key hospitality areas, including mixology, barista skills, bar and table service, and customer experience excellence.

Their development was enriched by guest lectures at Roe & Co Distillery and the Guinness Storehouse, alongside personalised coaching and mentoring.

This equipped them with highly transferable skills to support long-term careers across the hospitality industry and beyond.

Since its launch in Ireland in 2014, Learning for Life has supported over 2,000 people, with 80% of graduates securing long-term employment.

Diageo has invested more than €1.5 million in the programme over the past decade, underlining the company’s continued commitment to supporting education, employment, and community impact in Ireland at a time when demand for skilled employees is high.

Upon completing the programme, graduates are paired with participating hospitality businesses.

To date, more than 500 businesses have participated in Learning for Life, helping to strengthen the sector’s resilience and supporting Ireland’s broader economy.

For graduate Lisa Reddington, the ceremony was particularly special as she attended the Graduation alongside her father, marking a proud family milestone and a shared celebration of achievement.

Lisa went on to say: “I’ve worked my whole life in the fitness and retail trade, but after losing my job just before Christmas last year, I was looking for a new direction when I discovered Learning for Life.

“I knew it was going to be competitive, but I was determined to give it a go and securing a place on the course was truly life changing.

“The tutors were fantastic, and the programme opened my eyes to an entirely new industry.

“What struck me most was how much everyone genuinely loved what they did.

“They say you never work a day in your life when you do something you love, and I think I’ve finally found that.

“Even though I’ve always lived locally, I’d never been through St. James’s Gate, so that in itself was an amazing experience.

“Having my Dad there on the day made it even more special.

“He’s always called me his ‘worry child’ because I worked long, unsociable hours and missed family events, so for him to see me happy, settled, and progressing in something I love meant the world.

“I completed my work experience in the Guinness Storehouse and have since been offered a permanent position there, which is incredibly exciting.

“The people are wonderful, and I’ll continue developing my skills on the job. I can even walk to work now, and it really feels like it was meant to be.”

For fellow graduate Svetlana Bersiedova, the course has been transformative: “If I had to sum it up in one sentence, the Learning for Life course was absolutely fantastic!” she said.

“With no prior experience in the hospitality industry, I entered a completely new world, but the amazing lecturers, their constant support and inspiring dedication made learning both theoretical and hands-on experiences incredibly rewarding.

“I had the chance to develop both my professional and personal skills in a warm, friendly atmosphere where classmates felt like lifelong friends. Thanks to this course, I’ve gained confidence, new knowledge, and motivation and I feel fully ready to embrace new opportunities and build a successful future.”

Commenting on the success of this year’s programme, Shane Kelly, corporate relations director of Diageo Ireland, said; “Learning for Life is about opening doors.

“It provides people with the opportunity, training and confidence to pursue meaningful careers, while also helping businesses across Ireland find skilled and motivated employees.

“We are very proud to see another group of graduates in Dublin today, ready to take their next steps and I am thrilled that six of the graduates have secured employment in The Guinness Storehouse.”

Learning for Life, Diageo’s flagship global hospitality skills training programme first launched in Ireland in 2014.

Delivered in partnership with First Western, Springboard, Skillet Positive Work and the Guinness Storehouse, the initiative operates more than 90 training programmes on the island of Ireland.