Firstly, THANK YOU for deciding to put yourself forward for DRINKLUSIVE, The Three Drinkers Inclusivity Incubator. We are thrilled to read all the applications and get one step closer to bridging the gap of representation within the world of drinks content creation and communication.

Ok, so, what is this all about?

When I (Aidy Smith) joined the drinks industry fresh out of my teens as a gay man with Tourette Syndrome, it was an... interesting experience. From a journalism and creator standpoint, things were massively cliquey, and it took years of standing alone at networking events and tastings before being acknowledged. Putting it bluntly, there has been a tragic lack of support and mentorship within the wine and spirits consumer journalism world. With there being so few perceived opportunities, people don't really want to share, help, or create a culture where they work together.

It's about time this is addressed.

Be the change you seek they say, so that's exactly what I am doing with my incredible team who are ready to inspire change. It's SO important to us to have a forward-thinking industry built up of people from all walks of life. A richer and more diverse culture allows the industry to thrive, think outside the box and become inspired by those who have been forced to learn and think differently. It's this innovation that will help the industry reach new audiences and help people from all communities find a love and passion for what's in the glass. We thank you for wanting to be a part of that change.

With all that said, a little housekeeping. We want this program to help whose who can benefit from it. So, please only apply for this position if:

1) You have the capacity to take on both Level 2 and Level 3 of the WSET educational qualifications. Level 2 requires 28 hours of learning time and must be taken within your incubation term (January 2024 - June 2024). Level 3 of WSET requires 86 hours of learning time and must be taken prior to December 2024.

2) You can commit to writing 2 pieces of paid content each month for a 6-month period starting January 2024

3) You are open to having your face shown on video content that would sit on The Three Drinkers social channels and your own social channels.

4) You are thirsty to learn and make the most out of this opportunity.

5) You will be living in the UK during the mentorship.

If you have any questions regarding the mentoring programme or the application process, please do not hesitate to contact Sophie Furukawa (sophie@thethreedrinkers.com).