Our qualifications are designed for those who are just starting out in their careers, as well as established professionals, and the many enthusiasts who have a passion for wines, spirits sake and beer.
The Wine & Spirit Education Trust is an awarding body and registered charity devoted to the development and delivery of qualifications and courses in wines and spirits. Established in 1969 for the UK wine trade, WSET has since grown to become the global industry leader.
As an independent, not-for-profit organisation, our educational products offer impartial and sound learning on which individuals and businesses can build knowledge and expertise.
Social responsibility is a part of all our teaching programmes, therefore WSET is proud to support Wine in Moderation and DrinkAware.co.uk.
WSET qualifications are available through a network of over 800 Approved Programme Providers (APPs) working in over 70 countries and in 15 languages.
We also run our own flagship school, WSET School London from our headquarters on Bermondsey Street, London. The school offers the full suite of WSET qualifications alongside tasting sessions, career talks and bespoke programmes.
WSET sits at the heart of the global drinks industry, and we are committed to using our influence to create positive impact. This includes developing initiatives with our partners to make drinks education accessible and affordable, helping to create a more diverse, inclusive and sustainable global drinks industry.
Michelle Brampton CEO
Our values
Diversity and inclusion have always been at the heart of our business. They are central to our mission to provide accessible best-in-class education and qualifications to inspire and empower the world's wine and spirits professionals and enthusiasts. Read more about our diversity and inclusion here.
Our credentials
WSET is committed to delivering our qualifications to the highest standard. We achieve this through a quality assurance programme where all course providers (Approved Programme Providers) must meet rigorous approval criteria and on-going monitoring requirements.
WSET, as an awarding organisation, is recognised as an awarding body by the English regulator for qualifications, examinations and assessments, Ofqual. It is also a member of the UK’s Federation of Awarding Bodies.
In addition, we work closely with the industry to ensure that our qualifications and education products are job-relevant. Many of the industry’s leading brands support our work through our Corporate Patronage Programme.
Operations
WSET qualifications are developed and administrated by our Academic and Operations teams. These teams, supported by the rest of the business, oversees the appointment, administration and support of our extensive network of third-party teaching and examination centres around the world (APPs).
WSET - An awarding organisation
WSET is an awarding organisation (exam board). We are responsible for the creation, processing and quality assurance of WSET qualifications. The qualifications are delivered to candidates through our global network of Approved Programme Providers (APPs). As the awarding organisation, WSET is responsible for ensuring that APPs deliver our qualifications according to our standards and requirements.
Governance and Quality Management
WSET is recognised as an awarding organisation by Ofqual, the English regulator for qualifications and exams.
The WSET Supervisory Board (ASB) is a committee of the Board of Trustees that oversees the activity of WSET as an awarding organisation to ensure:
- the continued integrity of WSET qualifications
- that WSET continually reflects best practice in all aspects of its operations, meeting regulatory criteria.
Six WSET teams deliver these core functions:
- The Quality Assurance team is responsible for managing our APP approval process and for quality assurance and compliance, supporting our APPs to ensure best practice in their delivery of WSET qualifications.
- The Educator Training Programme team is responsible for the design and delivery of WSET’s Educator Training Programme (ETP). In practical terms, ETPs form the training component of WSET’s Quality Assurance system for APPs. Each APP must have an ETP trained educator who takes responsibility for ensuring that their APP meets the teaching standards required by WSET.
- The Qualifications team is responsible for setting WSET exams. They design WSET’s qualification specifications and decide the assessment format and content at all levels. The team also marks, verifies and moderates WSET assessments.
- The Product Development team is responsible for creating and developing all WSET teaching materials, such as session plans, textbooks, and the Systematic Approach to Tasting (SAT). Also works with the Qualifications team on the content of the qualification specifications.
- The Translation team is responsible for translating all supporting learning materials (such as session plans, textbooks, and SATs). The team also supports the Qualifications team in the translation of all examination scripts and with the Product Development team to ensure clarity and consistency in all WSET teaching materials.
- The Exams team is responsible for processing exam orders, issuing results, and dispatching our exams and certificates to APPs around the world.
If you would like any further information, please complete the contact form.
WSET operates a range of policies for the benefit of students, covering: diversity and equality; malpractice and maladministration; reasonable adjustments; complaints and appeals; privacy, and special consideration. Please contact WSET or your Approved Programme Provider for further information.
Zero tolerance policy
WSET has a reasonable expectation that its staff and those representing WSET at our Approved Programme Providers (APP) will be treated professionally and respectfully as they carry out their jobs. Inappropriate behaviour including verbal or physical abuse, persistent or unrealistic demands or threats that cause stress to staff will be viewed as misconduct and we will take appropriate action that is available to us including permanent exclusion from WSET qualifications
