Hallgarten & Novum Wines Welcomes Second HeadStart Apprentice
We are delighted to have welcomed Alex Parsons, the second successful candidate to our HeadStart Apprenticeship scheme. The 18 month HeadStart programme was launched late in 2019 to develop the future talent of the wine industry, providing a 360-degree perspective of the wine sector from vineyard to table.
Prior to the HeadStart programme, Parsons graduated in 2020 from the renowned Plumpton College, with a Wine Business Degree, and has since spent time working in the hospitality sector, at various wine bars across the south of the UK.
The HeadStart programme encompasses placements across the Hallgarten business with time embedded within all head office departments including customer services, finance, marketing, buying, supplier management and logistics; these placements are interspersed with time spent in Trade with the regional and national sales teams. The apprenticeship will end with a month working the 2022 harvest with one of the company’s key European partners. The HeadStart programme is designed to give the apprentice total visibility of the Hallgarten & Novum business, allowing them to generate a deep understanding of the financial, strategic and commercial aspects of the company.
Hallgarten & Novum Wines Managing Director, Andrew Bewes, commented: “Alex was one of a number of candidates that showcased the desire to hit the ground running in the wine sector, and it is our pleasure to welcome him on board. We are sure he will prove to be a leader of the future!”
“The past 15 months have been some of the hardest for individuals in the wine industry, so now more than ever we feel it is our responsibility to continue to give something back to those starting off in the sector. The HeadStart programme is a fantastic way of nurturing the talent of tomorrow, guiding them towards their chosen career path in the world of wine. I am pleased to say that our first HeadStart Apprentice, Amica Zago, and fellow Plumpton graduate, remains with the business and looks set to successfully graduate from the scheme later this year.”
Hallgarten & Novum Wines HeadStart Apprentice, Alex Parsons, commented: “Being given this opportunity to work at one of the UK’s leading wine importers and becoming immersed in the day-to-day running of the business is a dream come true. I am very excited for what the next 18 months has in-store!”
