Diageo India (United Spirits Ltd.) partnered with the Skill Council for Persons with Disabilities (SCPwD) to train and place over 300 students in food and beverage services through the ‘Learning for Life’ program. The first batch of 22 students from the Bengaluru center celebrated their convocation with key attendees, including Shilpa Vaid, Chief Human Resource Officer at Diageo India, Ravindra Singh, CEO of SCPwD, Lizanne Pinto, Area Director of Human Resources at Marriott International, and Amlan Kumar Dasgupta, Vice President of Skill Development at Royal Orchid and Regenta Hotels.
In 2023, Diageo India expanded the ‘Learning for Life’ program to include individuals with disabilities, equipping them for roles in the business and hospitality sectors. The three-month residential training, conducted at SCPwD-affiliated centers in Noida and Bengaluru, is led by certified trainers and assessors.
After completing the program, students secure jobs with SCPwD’s placement partners, such as Accor Hotel, Lemon Tree Hotel, Marriott Hotels India, Hotel Royal Orchid, Regenta, La Pino’z Pizza, and Compass Office Cafeterias, all working together to create a more inclusive hospitality industry.
Shilpa Vaid, chief human resources officer, Diageo India, said, “We’re proud to strengthen our partnership with SCPwD, advancing inclusion in line with our Spirit of Progress ESG action plan. Our ‘Learning for Life’ program seeks to support Persons with Disabilities, equipping them with vital skills and resources while opening doors to employment and opportunity. We’re keen to work collaboratively, shaping a hospitality sector that works for all”.
Ravindra Singh, CEO of SCPwD, added, “Diageo India’s leadership in driving inclusion and diversity sets an example for others to follow. Together, we are not just creating job opportunities but breaking down barriers that have previously limited Persons with Disabilities from gaining mainstream employment.”
One of the program’s beneficiaries, Ramya S, shared, “For the longest time, I wasn’t sure if someone like me could ever land a regular job. I worried about whether I had the right skills and how people would treat me at work. But the ‘Learning for Life’ program changed everything. It gave me the platform and the training I needed, and now I’m ready to join the hospitality industry with confidence and hopes for a bright future.”
