Diageo India is to train and place over 300 students in Food and Beverage Services as part of its ‘Learning for Life’ initiative. For the motive, the company has joined forces with the Skill Council for Persons with Disabilities (SCPwD).
The partnership aims to provide valuable skills and employment opportunities to individuals with disabilities.
This will ultimately help the company in fostering a more inclusive workforce. The convocation ceremony for the programme’s first batch of 22 students took place at the Bengaluru training centre. The event also marks a milestone in Diageo’s commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion in the hospitality sector.
Launched in 2023, the expanded ‘Learning for Life’ programme focuses on equipping Persons with Disabilities for roles within the business and hospitality industry. The three-month residential training is conducted at SCPwD-affiliated centres in Delhi NCR (Noida) and Bengaluru.
The centre also has certified trainers to deliver courses on Food and Beverage ( F&B) services, interpersonal skills, employability skills, and communication skills. This comprehensive training ensures that participants are well-prepared to meet the demands of the hospitality sector.
Upon completion of the programme, students will be placed with SCPwD’s network of placement partners, which includes major names such as Accor Hotels, Lemon Tree Hotels, Marriott Hotels India, Royal Orchid Hotels, and various Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) such as La Pino’z Pizza and Compass Office Cafeterias. This collaboration aims to create a more inclusive hospitality industry, enhancing employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
Shilpa Vaid, chief human resources officer, Diageo India, shared, “Our ‘Learning for Life’ programme supports Persons with Disabilities by equipping them with essential skills and resources, opening doors to employment and opportunities. We are eager to work collaboratively to shape a hospitality sector that works for all.”
One of the programme’s beneficiaries, Ramya S, shared her transformative experience: “For the longest time, I wasn’t sure if someone like me could ever land a regular job. I worried about whether I had the right skills and how people would treat me at work. But the ‘Learning for Life’ programme changed everything. It gave me the platform and training I needed, and now I’m ready to join the hospitality industry with confidence and hopes for a bright future.”
