This blog post is part of Wine Jobs UK’s commitment to supporting National Wine Careers Week 2025. As a dedicated jobs platform for the wine sector, we’re proud to highlight the impressive career paths available across our industry.
The UK wine industry is experiencing remarkable growth and transformation, yet many job seekers remain unaware of the vast career opportunities it offers. From 12th-18th May 2025, the inaugural National Wine Careers Week aims to showcase the impressive breadth of roles available within a sector that currently employs over 400,000 people and contributes more than £10 billion in Gross Value Added to the UK economy.
This initiative, spearheaded by Plumpton College (home of the UK Wine Education Centre) and supported by prestigious names including Nyetimber, WSET, WineGB and Drinks United, comes at a pivotal moment for the UK wine landscape.
Beyond the Glass: The Diverse World of Wine Careers
The wine industry offers far more diverse career paths than many realise. The sector encompasses:
- Production roles: Viticulturists, winemakers, and quality control specialists
- Business operations: Import/export managers, logistics coordinators, investment advisors
- Commercial positions: Buyers, sellers, and marketing professionals
- Consumer-facing roles: Hospitality specialists and tourism coordinators
With the UK’s domestic wine industry experiencing exponential growth – including a 123% increase in vineyard hectarage in just ten years and now boasting over 1,000 vineyards – the demand for skilled professionals across these disciplines continues to rise.
Building Meaningful Career Pathways
Jeremy Kerswell, Principal of Plumpton College, emphasises the accessibility of wine careers: “The wine industry is an exciting and dynamic sector, offering many different opportunities and entry levels to many people. We want to highlight the various skills and talents that can be tangibly applied to any number of jobs at whatever level of experience and expertise.”
This sentiment is echoed by Eric Heerema, Owner and CEO of The Nyetimber Group, one of the UK’s largest individual employers in the wine industry: “At Nyetimber, we think in generations, not in years, and as one of the largest employers within the UK wine industry, we want to welcome in new talent who can help this fantastic sector continue to grow.”
Nyetimber’s ongoing collaboration with Plumpton College offers valuable work experience to students, showcasing how wine careers can develop in numerous exciting directions.
Explore Your Options During National Wine Careers Week
For those interested in exploring opportunities within the wine sector, several events are scheduled during National Wine Careers Week:
- Plumpton College Open Day & Spring Fair: Saturday 10th May 2025 – Meet experts to discuss career options and educational pathways from short courses to degrees
- WSET London School’s ‘Careers in Wine’ Session: Tuesday 13th May 2025 – Featuring a panel of speakers from different areas of the wine world at various career stages
- Vineyard Visits: Year-round opportunities to experience first-hand what careers in production, hospitality or tourism entail
Join the Movement
At Wine Jobs UK, we believe the future of the UK wine industry depends on attracting diverse talent with varied skills and perspectives. Whether you’re considering your first career move or looking for a meaningful change of direction, the wine industry offers a wealth of opportunities to build expertise, gain qualifications, and grow professionally in a thriving sector. Throughout this week we’ll be showcasing the latest job opportunities that demonstrate the sector’s diversity.