There is growing demand for initiatives supporting women into leadership roles within hospitality – ‘a sector where women represent a significant share of the workforce but remain underrepresented at senior levels’.
That’s according to mixer brand Double Dutch, which has just graduated its 2026 cohort of Female Bartending Scholars, drawn from a field of applications that was 35% up on the year.
Launched in 2021 by the brand’s twin founders Joyce de Haas and Raissa de Haas, the Female Bartending Scholarship was created to directly address the leadership gap by empowering women behind the bar and across the drinks industry through structured training, mentorship and career development.
This year’s scholars, drawn from all over the UK, took part in an expanded programme of virtual and in-person workshops covering drinks education, confidence, personal branding, professional development and industry access.
Live sessions were hosted at London venues Swingers West End, 58 & Co Distillery, with the final graduation ceremony taking place at The Chancery Rosewood.
Recent research carried out by one of the Scholarship Mentors, Anna Sebastian of Anna Sebastian Hospitality, highlighted that hospitality is often a long-term career destination for women – even for those who initially enter the industry by chance.
Sebastian’s findings suggest that entry into the sector is split between intention and circumstance, with 57% joining through a pre-existing passion for hospitality and 41% entering by chance.
However, career perception ‘shifts significantly’ over time, with 78% of employees who initially viewed hospitality as temporary now seeing it as a long-term career.
While many go on to build those lasting careers in the sector, the research also highlighted key structural challenges – 39% of women cited a lack of mentorship around progression, and fewer than one-third of women felt adequately supported in their roles.
When asked what training would most support their progression, respondents highlighted leadership and management, career development, and wine and beverage knowledge.
Raissa de Haas said: “This research shows exactly why we started the scholarship. Lack of mentorship, insufficient training and support are holding women back from being the leaders in hospitality and we’re here to change that.
“This industry is vibrant, creative, innovative, the lifeblood of our cities and social lives, and every person should feel seen and supported.
“Seeing the confidence, talent and growth across the group over the past few months has been incredible. This programme has never just been about cocktail or technical skills – it’s about helping women build long-term careers, networks and belief in themselves within hospitality,” said de Haas.
“A huge thank you to all of our incredible mentors who gave their time, knowledge and encouragement throughout the past three months. Having people willing to openly share their experience and support the next generation really does make a difference.”
Among this year’s Double Dutch scholars was Rebecca Knox, a bartender at Edinburgh’s Hey Palu. She said: “Being part of this scholarship means an investment in myself and my future career in hospitality.
“It means putting myself out there to meet new people with similar goals, and that chance to join a community that is dedicated to changing the shape of hospitality and women’s place in it. I can definitely see hospitality being part of my future.”
Another participant was Alexa Jacob, a bartender at Edinburgh’s Panda & Sons, who commented: “Being part of the Double Dutch scholarship is such a wonderful opportunity to not only build skills that will help my career, but also forge connections with other incredible women working in the industry.
“The biggest way hospitality shaped me was through how much it brought me out of my shell. I used to be an incredibly shy person and hospo taught me how to talk to strangers and connect with them on a different level.
“A younger version of myself definitely didn’t value human connection to the degree I do now and I’m very happy that hospitality helped me grow in this direction.”
