Career talk: an introduction to the UK drinks industry (webinar)
The UK wine and spirits industry offers a diverse and dynamic range of career paths.
If you’re looking to explore these opportunities but you’re not sure where to start, this session offers a great overview. Join an inspiring panel of speakers from a range of sectors and backgrounds as they discuss the industry they love and how to crack into it.
Event details:
Career panel talk
Our Career talk series is back – this time online! In this first session, we’re looking at the wine and spirits trade as a whole, offering an overview of what makes it such an exciting and community-driven place in which to build your career.
Hosted by Magnavai Janjo DipWSET, one of our expert educators, our panel of speakers will offer a broad overview of the varied roles available across the trade, from production to sale. They'll offer insights into their own positions and organisations, as well as the other roles they work collaboratively with across the industry. They’ll tell us how they achieved personal success, what attributes and interests are best suited to the different areas of the trade, and where to start if you are new to the industry. They'll also discuss the unique challenges and exciting opportunities in front of those working in the drinks industry today.
Over the following months we’ll be exploring each major sector of the industry in detail, including production, import/distribution, retail, hospitality and communications. This session aims to set those sectors in context and open you up to a world of opportunity.
Who is it for?
People starting out on their career journeys interested in what opportunities the drinks industry offers
Professionals from other industries considering a career change
Individuals already in the industry seeking inspiration to advance their careers
Please note that, as the speakers are UK-based, this talk will focus primarily on the UK wine and spirits trade.
Hosted by
Magnavai Janjo DipWSET
Wine Educator and Importer, Founder of BAME Wine Professionals
Magnavai has spent his entire working life in the wine industry. He began as a Wine Specialist at his local Waitrose and subsequently spent the following couple of years selling wine to both the on- and off-trade, including a stint at Majestic Wine's Commercial arm.
His passion for wine goes beyond the academic, as he has worked through a few vintages in several countries, the highlight of which was making a private label wine. He specialises in the commercial aspect of wine and has created wine brands for some leading UK supermarkets. As well as being one of our regular wine educators at WSET School London, Magnavai is currently an MW student and also runs MJ Wine Cellars, a UK importer. In 2020 he established BAME Wine Professionals, an organisation aimed at shining a spotlight on wine talent in the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities.
The panellists
Brad Madigan
Managing Director, Campari Group UK
Brad Madigan is the Managing Director for Campari Group UK, a position he has held since 2018, having relocated to the UK from Australia where he lead the Commercial Function for one of Campari Group’s Largest Business Units.
Brad started his career at Unilever, working across several customer and people management roles before moving to Diageo, where for six years he worked across National On Premise and led the National Independent Channel, managing both retail and wholesale accounts. Brad joined Campari Group as part of the Australian start-up team in January 2010, responsible for setting up the Independent and On Premise channel teams before taking the lead for the Commercial Function in 2014.
Brad was a previous board member of the Australian Drinks Association and the Diversity & Inclusion Council for the Drinks Industry. With over 20 years’ experience in the FMCG industry, 14 of which have been in alcohol industry, Brad has a strong understanding of the current opportunities and challenges facing the industry.
Elizabeth O’Kelly
Industry recruiter, Partner at Vinokelly Search
Elizabeth set up Vinokelly Search with her husband five years ago, when their second child was six months old! Vinokelly Search is a niche headhunting company focused on the wine, spirits, cider, beer, tonics, tea and coffee sectors only. They work with clients on specific opportunities and find them the exact people for their roles. Since setting up Vinokelly Search they have grown every year, even in the last 12 months – in fact it’s been a record year for them. They aim to provide a fast and very personal service, working in partnership with their clients. They tend to work on repeat assignments with their clients and get to know them very well, so the longer they work with them the more likely it is that they can spot someone who is exactly right both in terms of skills and culture. Prior to setting up their company she worked in headhunting in the City and in the commodities sectors.
Jack Merrylees
Head of Communications and PR, Majestic Wine
Jack Merrylees is Head of Communications and PR at Majestic, the UK’s largest specialist wine retailer. He has worked in a number of roles around Majestic over the last eight years after starting out on the shop floor, and has extensive experience both in customer and supplier facing positions. Now responsible for both the internal and external communications for the retailer, Jack's role is to engage colleagues, suppliers, customers and the media with transformation of Majestic under its new owners and board - as well as providing up to date comms and insight for the current situation with COVID and Brexit. This encompasses working closely with the press, social media, industry leaders and critics - alongside the buying and marketing teams at Majestic. Jack has also worked across the hospitality sector, has a degree in Medieval History and Archaeology and is currently studying for the Master of Wine qualification.