How the wine industry is helping youth employment

As English Wine Week gets under way, a college in East Sussex says the county's booming wine industry could help more young people move into employment.

Will Judd-Page is studying viticulture at Plumpton College and hopes a career in vineyards would combine his love of the outdoors with practical work.

"I really wanted to work outside, working with plants, machinery and tractors," he said.

But his ambitions now stretch beyond the vineyard itself.

"Now I'm in it, I want to add as many strings to my bow as possible," Will says.

"I want to learn more about wine tasting and how wine is made too."

He added he might, in the future, become a wine producer or become a vineyard manager.

The government has announced plans for a £2.5bn youth employment support package.

This includes 300,000 placements aimed at helping young people develop skills and move into work, as concern grows over the number of young people not in education, employment or training (Neets).

At Plumpton College, students can study a wide range of land-based subjects from age 14 through to postgraduate level, with a strong emphasis on practical experience alongside classroom learning.

Winemaker Deepika Koushik, who teaches every stage of wine production, says the sector is "continuing to expand".

"The wine industry has boomed in the last five or six years," she said.

"The number of new vineyards, wineries and English wines being produced has grown significantly."

She said winemaking remained a highly-skilled profession.

"It's something that's considered an art in a way, so it's never going to be replaced by AI," she adds.

College leaders say a combination of technical knowledge and hands-on experience is what employers increasingly want.

Director of Education Scott McCue said more than 90% of the college's Level 3 students moved into employment after completing their courses, many within the industries they studied.

With English Wine Week celebrating one of the country's fastest-growing agricultural sectors, the college says a greater focus on vocational education could help more young people build careers for the future.

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