A Drink on Me
The Worshipful Company of Distillers (WCD), one of London’s historic livery companies, has supported the work and students of Heriot-Watt University’s International Centre for Brewing and Distilling (ICBD) for several years. The hub of the UK’s thriving distilling industry, the WCD champions education and training in distilling, philanthropy, and fellowship both in London and Scotland.
The WCD has on several occasions supported ICBD PhD students and, since 2017, has run the Worshipful Company of Distillers MSc Project Award, an annual prize paid to the ICBD MSc student who submits the most innovative research proposal. On top of that, this year it has launched the Worshipful Company of Distillers Entrepreneurship Fund, which promises to provide a programme of financial and professional support to student entrepreneurs.
In the wake of these developments, we sat down with Clive Bairsto, Development Director of the WCD, and asked him about the current direction of the WCD and its charitable wing, the Distillers’ Charity.
The Livery Company
Livery companies in London go back to the medieval era. Back then, they were fraternal guilds that over the years gained regulatory powers in Greater London before being made corporations by royal charter. These days, livery companies serve as industry hubs as well as centres of fellowship, trade, and charity. “I think our regulatory powers finished at the end of the 18th century,” Clive explains. “There are maybe two or three livery companies which still have them.”
The WCD birthed a charitable wing, the Distillers’ Charity, in 2021 due to the huge growth of its philanthropic potential. The annual auction they’ve run in Scotland since 2014 escalated suddenly in 2021 when, instead of the roughly £250,000 their auctions typically raised, they raised £3 million!
“This auction took it to a new level,” Clive remembers. “We were auctioning off very, very bespoke products donated by companies in our industry.” Today, it is the largest of its kind in Scotland.
The Worshipful Company of Distillers’ Impact in Scotland
The WCD is unusual in that it works extensively outside of London. “Within Scotland, we support about six charities,” Clive tells us, “and largely their focus is to provide hope and opportunity in an area where distilling is a paramount component: the Highlands and the Central Belt.” On top of its charitable giving, the WCD supports education in distilling – including, of course, the ICBD, which the WCD supports because of what Clive calls “the excellence component”.
“We recognise the unique offering the ICBD brings to our industry through high-level collective study”, Clive says. “That’s why we think it’s important: we can pick up on and communicate with those students who are at the high-end operative level of the future.”
We’ve always thought that academe can benefit from a fillet of entrepreneurship, and so we thought we should provide a prize or an award that recognises and encourages it.
Part of the WCD’s process of identifying and rewarding high-performing students is its MSc Project Award, which seeks to support talented postgraduate students who’re about to enter the industry. Additionally, the WCD provides more holistic support: members host lectures and workshops at the ICBD several times per year and have just relaunched their ambitious entrepreneurship award programme. As Professor Dawn Maskell, Director of the ICBD, says, “The support of the Worshipful Company of Distillers has been a consistent boon for both the ICBD’s students and staff – beyond its scholarship support, its guest lectures and additional events have proven to be invaluable opportunities for students to enhance their learning experiences.”
Clearly the WCD’s members think so, too, as they continue to champion the ICBD as the tip of the spear when it comes to the next generation of distilling talent.
The Worshipful Company of Distillers Entrepreneurship Fund
The WCD Entrepreneurship Fund is a huge opportunity for ICBD students. The current package promises £5,000 and a robust programme of professional support, mentoring, and networking opportunities for the lucky winners.
With the WCD being at the centre of the distilling industry in the UK, it is remarkably well placed to help guide, boost, and support the business ideas and careers of the successful students. We’re excited to see what our students come up with!
To find our more about partnering with Heriot-Watt, please contact Development Executive, Laura Tulloch at l.tulloch@hw.ac.uk, and learn more about Heriot-Watt's campaign for global impact, Shaping Futures.
This piece originally appeared in the HW Donor Impact Report 2023/2024. To get your copy, contact Stewardship Officer, Frederick Johnson - f.johnson@hw.ac.uk.