The Bibendum training team. From left to right: Jamie Barrow, Emily Humphreys, Adam Balogh, Sara Cranmer, Julia Bailey, Mira Mentz, Monica Allan, and Matt Correal.
At the recent International Wine Challenge Awards, two of our course providers were celebrated as Trade Educator of the Year and Consumer Educator of the Year. These awards celebrate UK-based course providers who go above and beyond to offer the best experiences for students, whether they are wine enthusiasts or work in the trade.
Last week we shared some insights from ThirtyFifty, Consumer Educator of the Year, and now we're catching up with Bibendum Wine, whose training team won the award for Trade Educator of the Year.
Julia Bailey, Head of Training, shared some of the reasons behind the team's successes.
If you're looking for a course provider in your area, head to our Where to Study page.
Can you tell us a bit about the history of your institution and its journey to becoming a leading WSET course provider?
Bibendum started supplying the London on trade in 1985, and since then the business has grown to become a national distributor, and for the last two decades training has been high on our agenda. We pioneered training support as a value-add service, starting with offering WSET training to our trade customers back in 2007! We really believe in the value of training; by building up the skills, knowledge and confidence of those working front of house they can recommend wines with confidence, and cascade this knowledge to their teams. Offering the WSET qualifications was a natural progression from our bespoke training, and crucial for investing in individuals who are serious about progressing their career in the trade.
What does this award mean to you and your team?
We are absolutely thrilled to have won the International Wine Challenge Trade Educator of the Year award! As one of the first wine suppliers to champion education, our training team has been fuelling passion in the industry for almost two decades – and this award is a testament to the team’s relentless pursuit of quality, innovation, and (dare we say) fun in our extensive training programmes across the UK and Ireland. It's fantastic to see our efforts recognised by the industry.
What is your teaching philosophy, and how do you apply it to your WSET courses?
Our mission is to inspire passion and confidence to sell more, and better, wine through our tailored training. We believe in a personalised approach, providing tailored training programmes to meet their needs, and this extends to our delivery of WSET qualifications. When you take a WSET course with us we can guarantee it will be a unique experience, tailored specifically to those working within hospitality. The most important thing for us is that our training is effective, so we measure our success through various metrics, and ensure all our training is interactive, relevant and fun.
How do you incorporate practical learning and tasting sessions into your courses?
We advocate a blended learning model, by merging traditional classroom methods with technology for enhanced learning that allows for more engaging, hands-on learning experiences. Our diverse methods cater to various learning styles, incorporating group activities, blind tasting, upselling skills and quizzes. We look to include wines and dishes from the customer’s menus wherever possible.
Some students showing off their groupwork
How do you support your students throughout their WSET journey?
Leveraging adult learning theory and technology, we’ve created digital modules to support our WSET students through their qualification. This is in addition to tutor 1:1 check ins, marked practice questions, blind tasting practice, and exam technique preparation sessions. In addition, we find that the flipped learning approach we utilise for WSET Level 3 fosters discussions, problem-solving, and exam skill refinement.
Any standout success stories or testimonials from your students that you would like to share?
A testimonial from one of our WSET students, Louise Ward, Relationship & Events Manager at Fazenda Rodizio Bar & Grill:
“I'm thrilled to announce that I recently passed the WSET Level 2 Award in Wines with DISTINCTION!
A big thanks to my instructor Jamie Barrow from Bibendum for his excellent teaching and guidance throughout the course. Jamie brought his passion and depth of wine knowledge to every class. He made what could have been an intimidating topic very accessible and above all so much fun.
Earning this qualification reflects my growing passion for wine. I'm looking forward to further developing and expanding my understanding of the wine world. The WSET Level 2 has equipped me with skills to feel confident selecting, tasting and pairing wines. If you're considering taking your wine-supping skills to the next level, I highly recommend the WSET courses and Jamie's classes. The instruction, materials and tasting components provide such a valuable, well-rounded foundation. I'm delighted to add this distinction to my credentials.
Cheers to continuing my wine journey!”
Jamie Barrow from the Bibendum training team
Who has been a significant influence or mentor in Bibendum’s wine education journey?
The spirit and culture of the Bibendum business still remains at the heart of what we do. Our core values of being pioneering, artisanal and mindful help to inspire us, guide our progress and drive us forward.
Finally, do you have any exciting future plans in the pipeline for Bibendum’s training department?
We’ve very recently launched our Mindful Winemaking e-learning course, which is a deep dive on the approaches of sustainable, organic and biodynamic wines specifically designed for those working within hospitality. And whilst wine lies at the heart of our passion, we’re always up for a challenge and so we are looking to expand our training service across categories with more support around spirits, beer and cider going forwards. Watch this space.
To find out more about the WSET Awards in Wines, Spirits, Beer, and Sake, visit our qualifications page.
