Joined Diageo in September 2006.

Diageo is the world’s leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, beer and wine categories. These brands include: Smirnoff, Johnnie Walker, Baileys, J&B, Tanqueray, Guinness, Harp, Bushmills, Jose Cuervo, Gordons and Captain Morgan.

September 2006 to September 2007, based at Diageo Baileys Global Supply site in Dublin.

Role: Packaging Change Coordinator.

This involved working with Customer Satisfaction, design agencies, brand teams, suppliers and operations to design and develop Baileys packaging for various market promotions around the world and Smirnoff promotions for the island of Ireland.

Travel around Ireland and UK was required to visit suppliers and approve first production run specifications of new packs.

Other role responsibilities included management & control of Baileys packaging specifications, introduction of new components on-line, managing minor change requests from market and providing support to production teams in Dublin and Belfast sites.

September 2007, based in Guinness Brewery, St. James’s Gate Dublin.

Role: Continuous Improvement Brewer

This involves driving and supporting improvement projects across the site.

Main projects I’m currently working on include:

• examining yeast propagation, pitching and recovery processes in an effort to reduce waste from fermentation
• optimising milling process of malt to improve quality of grist (milled malt & barley).

Role also involves supporting production teams with ongoing CI initiatives.

I have thoroughly enjoyed working for Diageo in my roles to date, and have gained great experience during this time. The business is also supporting me this year in attaining a professional diploma qualification in brewing.

The Diageo Graduate Scheme consists of 3 x 12 month rotations across the business to gain maximum breadth and depth of experience. There are opportunities for the third role to take the form of an overseas assignment.