The Beer Academy, the educational scheme launched to improve knowledge of beer, is now seeking its first executive director, The Publican reported on November 25. The Academy was formed in June to provide Britain’s first ever series of courses on beer for professionals and consumers. It is already supported by a large number of leading brewers, retailers and industry bodies.

Rupert Thompson, chief executive of Refresh UK which financed the initial Beer Academy courses, said: “The new executive director will be tasked with championing the Academy’s educational programme and developing it to cover all regions of Britain, with international courses a probable follow-on. “There will also be an immediate need to develop the Academy’s curricula to meet government agency criteria for accreditation and to create a three-year business plan.”

The executive director will be in place by early 2004.

26 November, 2003