Lea Gibson: Brewing & Distilling

3rd year

After working in whisky retail for a couple of years, and having family involved in the industry, I knew that Brewing & Distilling would be the perfect programme for me. Having already done a year at university studying another degree, it is so nice to be involved in something you know will definitely be your future.

The thing that drew me towards the programme was the passion I have seen in the industry. In fact, it was the manager of a distillery who recommended me towards the course, and it was clear from speaking to him how highly the programme at Heriot-Watt was regarded.

My student experience

Something that I particularly enjoy about it is how close everyone becomes. It is a programme in which the people who study it really love what they do and know what they want after they graduate. There is also so much to get involved in, such as the Whisky Society and the Brewing Society, which host really great social events. A good example of this is the Beer Festival held every year at the end of term, the highlight of every student’s year!

My industrial placement

Through this programme I have been given the opportunity of doing a placement with Molson Coors UK, the biggest brewery and one of the leading beer companies in the UK. This has given me a chance to see inside the industry from many different perspectives, from marketing to technical. It is reassuring to know that this huge company is interested in taking on placement students from Heriot-Watt and looking out for future talent!

I am absolutely loving the programme, and can’t wait to get out into the real world to put my knowledge to practice!

• Feedback
• Print page