Plumpton College pledges £500,000 to support English wine industry

By Oliver Catchpole

Published: 06 January, 2026

The UK’s longest established wine education provider, Plumpton College, has pledged £500,000 in fully funded training to support the English wine industry and mark its centenary year.

Known as the Plumpton College Skills Pledge to the Wine Industry initiative, the training courses are intended to allow professionals and businesses to enhance their expertise and invest in long term growth without the usual financial barrier.

Due to the funding, access to the college’s portfolio of short courses, which range from vineyard and winemaking skills to business development and sensory training, will be free (not including CPD modules), for both individual professionals and whole teams from January to July 2026.

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Sam Linter, director of wine at Plumpton College, commented: “We are acutely aware of the economic fluctuations and recognise that these are particularly challenging times.

“Investing in training and upskilling is vital to driving growth and supporting recovery. At this crucial moment, we believe it is essential to champion the English Wine Industry and the wider wine trade, ensuring they have the resources and expertise to thrive.”

Since the initiative aims to strengthen the entire sector, the courses are open to all, including established producers, new entrants and wine trade professionals and there is no limit to the number of courses an individual or business can take (as long as spaces are available).

Travel bursaries are also available for those on low incomes.

These courses must be attended between 1 January and 31 July 2026, with places expected to be in high demand.

A refundable credit card deposit is required at time of booking to secure attendance, which Plumpton said will ensure commitment to the scheme.

Linter added that Plumpton believes “that investing in people – through training and upskilling – is the key to unlocking growth and resilience.

“Innovation is at the heart of this work, with technologies such as SMART vineyard solutions transforming how we cultivate, monitor and manage our vineyards for a sustainable future.

“We are not just navigating the present; we are helping to shape a stronger, smarter and more vibrant future for our sector”.

More details are available on the Plumpton College website.

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