Workforce Development in the Highlands

Towards the end of last year, I was invited by Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) to participate in some schools engagement work in the Elgin, Moray area.

Many Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) members across Scotland engage with DYW, assisting with initiatives to make it easier for employers to connect with students and prospective employees and it’s exciting to hear how energising this type of work is for employers.

SWA member Tomatin Distillery recently worked with DYW in Inverness and Central Highlands to partner with Millburn Academy to create a new mural to celebrate the distillery and all the people, landscape and industry in the region.  A really exciting piece of work and such a creative way of bringing in lots of different skills!

 

Amongst the events I was invited to, I was invited to speak to students at Elgin High School to let them know all about working in a trade association, the SWA being a trade association which works  to secure a sustainable future for the Scotch Whisky industry.

I was asked to share my opinions on transferrable skills and to let students know my “top tips” for the workplace.

I must admit that I had given this quite a lot of thought, it’s quite a responsibility to talk to people on the cusp of starting their working lives. I didn’t want to dissuade the students from exploring potential roles in policy, or indeed in the Scotch Whisky industry.

Equally, I think it’s important to always challenge the status quo, and one of the ways that we can do that is to be open about our thoughts and experiences. So here is my list of “top tips” which I sprung on a group of unsuspecting students! What do you think?

 

 

What do you think? Do you agree with me? Let me know!

 

Roles with a taste for the finer things

Luxury brand management – find your role in the whisky industry

You can’t deny that whisky oozes glamour and class. For many, it’s one of life’s little luxuries and as an industry, it’s another opportunity to flex your luxury brand management muscles.

With a rich and renowned history, Scotch whisky is a symbol of craft and character that requires a wide range of specialities. With a legacy of much-loved brands, a surge of new releases, global recognition and a wealth of innovation, this industry presents an opportunity for those working in luxury jobs to take on a fresh and exciting challenge.

 

A bounty of brands

From independent, smaller distilleries to the big names, Scotland is home to a bounty of brands. Every one of these brands need a manager to tell their whisky’s unique story, ensuring that the identity behind it remains recognisable, up to date and exciting to customers.

From Brand Managers to Brand Ambassadors, or Sales and Events Managers, there are a range of roles that could appeal. And these are just a taster of the luxury jobs that are possible within the industry.

The best thing about these types of roles is that many luxury brand management skills will be transferrable. However, we would of course recommend you have a personal appreciation for spirit.

Working in the whisky industry also brings experiences and opportunities that have a more luxury feel such as:

 

The start of an exciting career journey

You may feel that getting into whisky has its barriers, but it is in fact a very welcoming and collaborative industry.

If you’re already working in jobs with luxury brands, making the switch to the whisky industry will make use of your skills in collaborating, speaking, educating, and your ability to get people excited about a brand and its products.

It can also help for a whisky distillery to learn from someone with a fresh perspective who can bring in new ideas and learnings from their previous luxury job role. Whether you worked in the hotel industry or fashion, there are learnings and knowledge that you can bring to the brand to elevate it event further and enhance those all-important sales figures.

Once your foot is in the door, whisky offers many opportunities to grow and enhance your role. You can build connections, knowledge and experiences to further your career and take advantage of the close-knit community of distilleries in Scotland.

Take a look at our current vacancies here.

 

 

 

 

Demystifying careers in whisky

I recorded my first video explaining all about careers in Scotch Whisky.

In the video I  let you know a little of some of the key points about the industry and hopefully let you know some of the jobs that you might not necessarily think about.

You can watch it here.

Whisky Jobs  

What is a “whisky job”? Well, the more that I welcome new vacancies on to the Spirited Careers site, the more I realise that a “whisky job” is almost anything!

The latest Scotch Whisky Economic Impact Report tells us that the Scotch Whisky industry supports over 66,000 jobs in the UK, 41,000 of them being in Scotland. So what do all these people do?

To date, Spirited Careers has advertised over 150 jobs since it was launched in the middle of last year and the site has everything from a physiotherapist role to a reward assistant role.

The majority of roles advertised centre around the production side of this fascinating industry, with engineering and science based roles currently dominating the availability vacancies. This, obviously, demonstrates the need for a STEM focus in candidates.

But I have been noticing that there are some key soft skills that job seekers need to employ to get the most out of their search.

Here are my top tips for your Scotch Whisky industry new year job search.

 

  1. Allow yourself to be surprised.

There are lots of jobs that you might not even know existed. Quite often I find myself trying to find out more about the vacancies because it’s hard to understand where they fit in the world of Scotch Whisky. One which piqued my interest which came in, for example, was “Boutique Assistant”, a role for The Glenturret Distillery which is the location of the Lalique Boutique. Along with the elements of tourism, retail and whisky, this role perfectly illustrated the significance of the luxury market.

 

  1. Don’t write yourself off.

Make sure you don’t judge yourself on the name of the job alone. Our SWA members take time and effort to be specific in the job spec about the kinds of candidates they are looking for. Quite often this means taking time to do a analysis of the role against all of your skills. And remember that once you have a skill, you never lose it (however dormant it’s become!). Take this Quality Systems Lead role with Chivas Brothers for example, and note the emphasis on collaboration. Consider how your skills and experience can be applied.

 

  1. Think about the future too.

It’s ok to consider what you might want to do in the future and use the job adverts as research into this. If you remember one of my earlier blogs, about Steven Morris, the power of research and creating a vision for your future is more powerful than you might believe.  With many of the vacancies you see on Spirited Careers, you’ll find a little bit of inspiration for a future career. For example SWA’s own COO, Liz Gibb, began her education in music. But as she progressed in the world of work, she realised that qualifying as an accountant would (and has) open a lot of doors for career development. Being open to ideas and taking into consideration the whole life aspect of a job can pay dividends.

 

  1. Be mindful of new things.

We all know that the jobs of the future don’t exit yet. There have been perfect examples of these jobs on Spirited Careers. The Glenmorangie Company, not long ago, was looking for a Climate Manager. Ten, even five, years ago, I think I would have been hard pushed to believe this kind of thing would be a role. But here we are with a steady stream of jobs which fit neatly under the term “sustainability”. It’s probably unrealistic for everyone to be an early adopter, but when you’re looking for jobs, do think about what might be around the corner, because you may just find you’re in the right place at the right time.

 

So, what is a whisky job? At the moment, it’s a lot of things, as demonstrated by me, below, in front of the Spirited Careers banner. I have a whisky job. All my colleagues have whisky jobs… I just have to change the way I look at it.

 

 

Myth Busting Diversity and Inclusion

Have you heard any of these?

There are a lot of common myths in the world of diversity and inclusion swirling about.

D&I, I&D, DEI, EDI… whichever way you look at it, diversity and inclusion is of paramount importance, not only in today’s workplace, but society in general.  Here at the SWA we are working to help demystify some unhelpful ideas around diversity and inclusion.

Recently, we invited a panel of D&I specialists to discuss some of the myths around D&I and to offer SWA member companies some support for the challenges they are experiencing, remembering that a lot of these challenges are also opportunities.

One of the key outcomes of the discussion is challenging the perception of fairness. Is fairness itself a actually a myth?

A point which has been expertly made by one of our contributors was that if you remember when you were back in school and in an exam situation, some students, maybe even you, were given extra time to complete their work. Recalling your school days, you probably agree how “normal” this was. Perhaps someone had additional support needs in terms of reading and writing, or they happened to have broken their writing arm just in time for exam season. We never questioned it then. Why do we question it now?

We have been reflecting on how to achieve inclusion, how recognising differences and changing our approach will help support opportunities for all and help build links with all communities. If we want to effect meaningful change, we must be creative, be comfortable with being uncomfortable, and acknowledge that if we stick with the status quo, we will continue to get the same results.

One of our members summed it all up very neatly by referencing a quote she had heard: “It's not a pie that we are dividing up.  Giving someone more doesn't mean that someone else has to get less.”

Here are some top tips to help you think about D&I myths:

 

  1. Try being comfortable with being uncomfortable.
  2. Question how "norms" limit opportunities for furthering inclusion.
  3. Focus on actions rather than trying to change beliefs.
  4. Be creative - doing the same thing will only bring the same results.
  5. Demand change by asking more from yourself.

 

You will find useful resources for diversity and inclusion in lots of places. Why not start with researching Inclusive Employers?

If you are looking for role a new role, firstly, check our vacancies page and, secondly, you can reference the SWA Diversity and Inclusivity Charter. The Charter is undergoing a refresh but is a great place to start to find out the Scotch Whisky industry's aims in the this area.

Scotch Whisky is diverse drink, from cocktails to on the rocks, we are championing our industry to continue its journey in inclusion!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top tips for selling your transferable skills!

The Scotch Whisky industry supports many different jobs, actually far more than you might initially imagine.  As you can see from our careers map, you can work in marketing, tourism, production, engineering, health and safety… You could be responsible for the people, the planet and the prosperity of this iconic product and industry.

But what if you have come from another profession or sector? What if you are entering the job market after a break, or for the very first time? It can feel daunting to search and apply for positions if you are considering a move when you are unclear about how to articulate your transferable skills and experience.

Well, we wanted to help so we have put together some top tips for you. We spoke to some of our recruitment experts out there in the Scotch Whisky industry to give you a flavour of the kinds of things you can consider.

 

  1. Consider current or modern transferable skills.

Nicole, who has worked in human capital at International Beverage for the past 6 years, recommends highlighting your experience in self-management, social intelligence and innovation. These areas are highly prized in the Scotch Whisky industry as it continues to embrace new technologies and ways of working.

 

  1. Identify what the employer is looking for.

John, a recruitment expert who came to the Scotch Whisky sector earlier this year after clocking up 25 years of recruitment experience in the technology and financial services sectors, and now works in in-house recruitment at William Grant & Sons, advises that you determine exactly what the employer is looking for in any particular role. A good way to do this is to scan the job advert and highlight any key words or phrases which you feel are similar to your own skillset.  Once you have done this, and have a better understanding of your compatibility to the role, amend your CV to include the key words and phrases, using, where possible, the “house style” of writing. Mark, Senior HR Advisor at The Glenmorangie Company started his career in HR as a Recruitment Consultant. He then moved into Learning & Talent where he managed a team of Learning Coordinators before becoming an HR Manager; all within the Energy Industry. Mark agrees that you should: “highlight within the job ad, the key skills, competencies and experience the role requires and think about similarities and transferable skills in your own experience.”

 

  1. Consider what makes you stand out.

It’s always important, according to Kelly at International Beverage, that you ensure your CV stands out from the rest by bringing to life some of your key skills. Kelly is a recruitment and people expert who has worked in the industry for 2 years. She brings cross-sector experience from 18 years of management roles within the retail industry. Drawing on this experience, Kelly note that some of the things that she looks out for in applications are self-awareness, creativity, problem solving and resilience.

 

  1. Tailoring your CV is of the utmost importance.

As well as recommending that you carefully review the advert, Mark also recommends that you tailor your CV for the role you are applying for. This is because many recruitment processes are designed to remove unconscious bias from the selection process.  In the absence of names, pronouns etc, the review is based purely on the skills and experience so you must make it specific by focusing on results rather than transactional tasks. All of this has the added benefit of aiding a diverse candidate pool.

 

  1. Aim for a higher role

What about if you are seeking the next stage of your career and perhaps looking for another sector in which to develop? Often candidates in this phase of their careers look for the support of agents or head hunters. We spoke to Ailsa from FWB Park Brown to find out her take on this, sometimes hazy, stage. Ailsa notes the importance of candidates demonstrating how they have ‘acted up’ in their current role, how they have gone above and beyond their remit.  Aim to prove that you can ‘stretch’ into bigger responsibility, be that in leadership, budget level, strategy and so on. Also consider the next stage of the process. Be prepared to be challenged hard on your achievements, and make sure you have some well thought out examples to show how you will bridge any perceived gap between your experience in your current role and the requirements of the new role.

In conclusion, Gillian, Learning for Life Programme Manager at Diageo sums up a really important point to consider during your job hunt. Gillian, an expert in early careers and lifelong learning says: “I think being genuine and authentic is key. Being honest about what’s important to you, your moral compass, standing up for what you believe is right. These are all things you can take with you from job to job and will help you make really informed decisions and do the right thing. Most of us can learn how to do a new job but it’s your purpose that drives you to be the very best you can be.”

See here for current whisky jobs.

Midlife career change and relocation for work

Many people are choosing to make significant life changes whilst in pursuit of the next step in their career. For some that might mean reducing their hours or starting a new business, or even reskilling entirely. For others, a geographical move, coupled with being welcomed into an iconic industry, is the key driver.

For our next blog, we had the pleasure of speaking to Steven Morris, Health & Safety, Environment and Quality (HSEQ) Manager for Gordon & MacPhail.  Steven is just one person who has recently made the decision to relocate to Elgin from Warwickshire to take up his new position in the iconic Scotch Whisky industry.

We asked Steven all about his move and he also gave us his tips for other professionals who may also be seeking a change in lifestyle and job.

 

My previous role was as a Health & Safety Manager for a Birmingham-based SME in the telecommunications sector. Prior to that role, I had been working freelance on renewable energy and major civil engineering projects, being my own boss, for a decade, a lot of that overseas.  I have been fortunate to work on some notable projects for clients such as Crossrail, Amazon, and Google. During this time, I worked on wind-turbine projects near Campbeltown, one of the 5 Scotch Whisky regions,  and later at Hunterston. Prior to my health and safety career I was involved in a musical project based in Glasgow, which took me to places such as Dunoon, Fraserburgh, Stirling and more.

 

There were many factors which played a part in my decision to relocate from Warwickshire to live and work in Speyside. At the forefront of my decision were the challenge that the new role provided;  and the opportunity to work in the Scotch Whisky industry for the renowned independent bottlers and distillers Gordon & MacPhail of Elgin. In addition, I was looking for the chance of a fresh start, a new culture to explore, its beautiful fauna and flora, countryside, and coastlines. I am a keen nature photographer, so the prospect of getting out into the beautiful forests and beaches in my downtime was extremely appealing. And, last but not least, to be at the source of the ‘Uisge Beatha’ (Gaelic for the water of life), the whisky itself!

Now, I don’t regard myself as a Scotch Whisky connoisseur, not in the slightest, however I have a healthy interest in the traditions, history, and science, and of course the taste, so when the role came up in discussion as a possibility, it was a ‘no-brainer’ to throw my hat in the ring. I have always had a connection to Scotland, and as I pondered my retirement options (although I am not there yet!), it became more and more appealing to explore purchasing a small home in a remote area of the Highlands to retire to and to indulge my desire to give a good home to rescue cats and grow old gracefully. Well, as gracefully as dozens of hungry cats will allow, so the decision to relocate has also brought my retirement plans out of pipe-dream territory and into firm reality.

 

Well, for me, the idea of relocating had already taken seed even after the interview phase and before the job offer had officially come through from Gordon & MacPhail. I was already searching for accommodation in apprehension and getting to know the lie of the land. Once I had accepted the job, the challenges were in coordinating the relocation, packing, selling unrequired things and arranging storage. On the day of the move the greatest challenge was travelling 500 miles with the cat in a car!

My new employer was extremely generous with their time and assistance with the relocation, and it was quite a smooth and well-coordinated experience. I had been harbouring the desire to retire to the Highlands for several years since a previous Health and Safety contract role brought me north of the Border, first to Campbelltown, and then a short while after, a wee bit further north, to Largs. My previous experiences of working in and with the people of Scotland were always positive and memorable ones, and when the phone rang with the good news, I was already emotionally and metaphorically packed and ready for the challenges ahead.

 

The principles of health and safety are reasonably transferable from and into most workplace situations, it is about protecting the people and all who come into contact via our undertakings. The skill of occupational health and safety is to build trust and forge critical relationships at all levels of the business.  The goal is to gain support as a mediator between the moral, legal, and financial arguments which support proactive and cost-effective improvements to the health, safety and wellbeing of the workforce, contractors and beyond.

 

  1. Research as much as you can, use sites like Wikipedia, trip advisor, local council websites etc. to obtain local knowledge. If you’re looking for rental accommodation look for smaller local groups closer to your new home, such as local buy/sell/let groups on Facebook or Gumtree. This can lead to direct contact with private landlords rather than having to deal with 3rd parties.
  2. The rental system in Scotland is different to than, for example, other parts of the UK. There are some subtle differences like length of contract and termination periods so it’s worth checking out the differences prior to taking the plunge.
  3. The NHS operates slightly differently in Scotland than it does in the rest of the UK. It’s worth noting that they use separate systems and this can cause delays in things like obtaining prescription medicines. To avoid any delay when switching GP surgeries/dentists, I would suggest you consider stocking up on a couple of months supply of any prescription medicines, from your current pharmacy, for you and your family before the date of your relocation.
  4. Midges and mosquitos! If you are planning on relocating to Scotland (especially the west coast) never be too far away from your bottle of “Smidge” (other insect repellents are available).
  5. If you don’t drive, or have access to a car, getting about can be a challenge. Bus routes and trains in the more remote locations may cause issues for your commute to work, study, or even local amenities.
  6. Immerse yourself in the culture, in the first couple of weeks is my best tip. I have been invited to go sea fishing, play cricket, and go mountain biking, amongst other things. Next up are archery, clay pigeon shooting, and of course, one or two invitations to a whisky festival!

Steven concluded by saying “relocation can seem daunting and there’s no way of knowing if it is the right thing for you and your family, unless you take the plunge.”

He goes on to say “I can give you the wealth of my experience and say that in my opinion (having lived and worked in other European countries and in other industries), Scotland has the most to offer in terms of exciting permanent employment opportunities, diversity of people, architecture, history, tradition and cultural identity, nature and the environment, and of course, the Scotch Whisky!”

Slainte Mhath!

 

 

 

 

Career change at 40: Making a career change at midlife

In the first part of our career changers mini-series, we focus on midlife career changes, those people in their 40s who would like to make changes in their lives. We will debunk the myth that career changes are only for the “young”, demonstrating that it's possible to switch careers at any stage of life and take advantage of the renewed fulfilment that it brings. We have some exciting features to come including real-life stories from people who have successfully transitioned to new careers in the whisky sector.

Did you know that at aged 40, Vera Wang swapped editing the designs of others for making her own. Colonel Sanders decided he didn’t want to be a labourer anymore and opened his first restaurant in his 40s.

The desire to change career paths could hit you at any stage of your life, and at 40, you’re still 20 years away from retirement – that’s plenty of time to pursue the things that make you feel fulfilled.

While a midlife career change is understandably daunting, it’s an opportunity for you to align your professional role with who you are now. What you wanted from your career in your 20s may have evolved as you’ve matured and it’s never too late to reinvent your role and set new personal and professional goals.

 

Why is change in the air?

So, you’re thinking about a career change?

Before handing in your resignation, it’s a good idea to spend some time reflecting on the reasons behind your motivations to move. This will help you nail down what you’re looking for (and what you want to avoid) in your next position.

There are lots of things you can consider.

 

Time for a skills deep dive

Once you know that you would like to make a change, it’s time to start thinking about how you can make it happen.

In a competitive job market, remember that your age isn’t a negative – the skills and experience you will take to a new workplace are incredibly valuable, even when faced with a completely different sector.

When looking at new sectors, sit down and review your past roles, volunteer work and conduct a skills audit. We often forget that many of the skills we develop during our careers are fully transferrable to other roles and are quite often the key to helping you get a foothold in the industry.

The Scotch Whisky Association’s Director of Industry Sustainability, Ruth Piggin, armed with skills developed in the farming, sugar, tobacco and water industries, wanted to make a change into the Scotch Whisky sector. She focused on drawing parallels with her background in public affairs, supply chains, environmental science and regulation, searching for roles which would give her the freedom to develop her career in a new sector.

Ruth acknowledges that she experienced some of the things that can commonly put people off making changes. Like many professionals in her position, she had both feelings of imposter syndrome and worries that it was the wrong time for a new position with young children at home. Following the advice of a good recruitment consultant and taking time to assess her skills and experience, Ruth then had a clear idea of what she could bring to the table in this welcoming and forward-thinking sector.

Preparation is key

A career change in your 40s can be a big step, so you’ll want to know exactly what you’re getting into and be confident that the grass is greener somewhere else.

Some ideas to focus on are:

 

Scotch Whisky holds a world of opportunity

Scotland is home to over 140 malt and grain distilleries. That makes it home to the greatest concentration of whisky producers in the world, one that offers a wealth of varied roles and world-famous brands known for their provenance, craft and heritage. It’s also an industry with worldwide reach - if you’re after a change of scenery!

The Scotch Whisky industry is over 500 years old, full of heritage and spirit. The work is varied, exciting, dynamic and sociable and there are so many roles to explore, from production to marketing, supply chain to tourism.

 

Don’t just take our word for it

In the next article, we will hear directly from someone who has already made the change in the Scotch Whisky industry.

In the meantime, keep an eye on some of the current vacancies by signing up to receive updates from Spirited Careers.