The Scottish “women who beer” community, formerly known as Beers Without Beards, has launched a UK-wide mentorship programme.

It will offer women who are either starting a career or a project within the beer industry to find support and help from one of the Women in Beer’s (WiB) mentors. With a target of 24 mentees for the first year, the programme hopes to fund a minimum of 72 online mentorship sessions.

One of the mentors Big Smoke brewer Jenn Merrick said: “I am always keen to help women and queer people to consider brewing as a career, and WiB’s educational seminars, talks and mentoring sessions help to lay the groundwork by encouraging people, answering questions and providing support.”

WiB founder Amelie Tassin said: “In an industry where only 30 per cent workers are women [source 2023 SIBA Members’ Survey], programmes like this can help women build precious connections and find support when they can often feel isolated.”

Simpsons Malt vice chair and WiB mentorship sponsor Richard Simpson said: “After seeing the success of the Women in Beer Festival as a sponsor, we’re delighted to be able to take our support a step further by backing the launch of the mentorship programme, allowing women seeking to forge a career in brewing the opportunity to network with and seek advice from fellow women with years of industry experience.”

Open to all those who identify as women, applications can be made on the Women in Beer website https://www.womeninbeer.co.uk/mentorship.