At a Glance
- Tasks: Support sales and marketing in the premium spirits industry while gaining hands-on experience.
- Company: Join Wemyss Family Spirits, a family-owned Scottish business with a passion for craftsmanship.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, hybrid working, and exciting distillery visits.
- Other info: Structured three-year development pathway with training support and exposure to senior leadership.
- Why this job: Kickstart your career in a dynamic role with real responsibility and growth opportunities.
- Qualifications: Recent graduate with strong communication skills and a passion for premium brands.
The predicted salary is between 25000 - 32000 € per year.
Wemyss Family Spirits is an independent, family‑owned Scottish spirits business with a distinctive portfolio including Wemyss Malts, Darnley’s Gin, and Kingsbarns Distillery. Rooted in craftsmanship, provenance and creativity, the business combines heritage with a modern, entrepreneurial approach to building premium spirits brands in the UK and internationally.
This is a graduate‑scheme style role designed to develop a future commercial leader in the premium spirits industry. The position combines sales and marketing, offering structured development over the first three years alongside hands‑on, real‑world responsibility from day one. The role is based in Edinburgh, with hybrid working, and requires the successful candidate to be in the office a minimum of three days per week. You will work closely with the sales, marketing and senior management teams, supporting UK commercial activity, distributor relationships and brand execution. The role reflects how modern sales and marketing teams operate, combining traditional relationship‑building with digital and AI‑enabled ways of working. It also involves regular travel to customer accounts, tastings and trade events.
Graduate Development Pathway (First Three Years)
- Year 1 – Foundations
- Develop a strong understanding of the Wemyss Family Spirits portfolio, brand positioning and routes to market
- Support UK sales execution, including tastings, activations and account follow‑up
- Assist with marketing delivery across digital, trade marketing and brand activity
- Build confidence working with customers, distributors, agencies and internal teams
- Formal training commenced: CIM Level 3 Foundation Certificate in Professional & Digital Marketing
- Year 2 – Development
- Take ownership of defined sales and marketing support areas
- Play an active role in planning and delivering campaigns and trade activations
- Use market feedback, data and AI‑supported analysis to inform commercial decisions
- Represent the brands confidently at tastings, events and customer meetings
- Formal training: CIM Level 3 completed, with practical projects applied directly to the business
- Year 3 – Consolidation & Progression
- Take on increased responsibility aligned to strengths (sales‑leaning or marketing‑leaning)
- Contribute to commercial planning, product launches and priority initiatives
- Apply AI tools to improve efficiency, insight generation and decision‑making
- Formal training completed: WSET supported through Level 3
By the end of Year 3, you will be a commercially credible, technically informed spirits professional ready to progress into a more senior sales, brand or marketing role within the business.
Key Responsibilities
- Support on‑trade and off‑trade sales activity and wholesale relationships
- Prepare sales presentations, decks and activation toolkits
- Assist in tracking promotions, activations and follow‑up actions
- Support tastings, trade shows and customer visits
Marketing & Brand Support
- Support delivery of marketing campaigns across digital, social, email and trade
- Assist with content creation and coordination of brand assets and POS
- Monitor competitor activity and market trends
- Liaise with agencies and suppliers to deliver projects on time and on brand
Commercial & Operational Support
- Maintain trackers and reporting for sales and marketing activity
- Use AI and digital tools to support research, analysis, content development and workflow efficiency
- Support ad‑hoc commercial projects across the wider business
Training & Development
Over the first three years, the company will support:
- WSET (Wine & Spirits Education Trust) training Levels 2 & 3
- CIM Level 3 Foundation Certificate in Professional & Digital Marketing
- Study support and exam fees will be supported, with learning integrated into day‑to‑day responsibilities.
About You
- A recent graduate (or graduating in 2026) with a minimum 2:1 degree
- Strong communication and organisational skills
- Commercially curious, proactive and hands‑on
- Genuine enthusiasm for brands, food & drink, and premium products
- Strong & demonstrable understanding of AI tools and applications (e.g. research, analysis, presentations, content creation or problem‑solving)
- Full UK driving licence (mandatory) and willingness to travel for tastings, events and customer visits
- Ability to work from the Edinburgh office a minimum of three days per week
- Interest in whisky, gin or premium spirits
- Experience in hospitality, retail, FMCG, sales or marketing
- Confidence using Excel, PowerPoint and digital tools
What We Offer
- Structured graduate‑scheme style role with genuine responsibility
- Direct exposure to senior leadership in a family‑owned business
- Hybrid working, with three days per week in our Edinburgh office
- Competitive starting salary and benefits
- Distillery visits, tastings and trade event exposure
- Clear progression opportunities beyond the three‑year pathway
Graduate Executive: Sales & Marketing employer: Wemyss Family Spirits
Wemyss Family Spirits is an exceptional employer, offering a structured graduate scheme that combines hands-on experience with comprehensive training in sales and marketing within the premium spirits industry. Located in Edinburgh, the company fosters a supportive work culture that values creativity and craftsmanship, providing employees with direct exposure to senior leadership and clear progression opportunities. With hybrid working arrangements and engaging activities such as distillery visits and trade events, Wemyss Family Spirits is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of commercial leaders in a dynamic and rewarding environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Graduate Executive: Sales & Marketing
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research Wemyss Family Spirits, their brands, and their values. This will help you tailor your conversations and show genuine interest during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Attend industry events, tastings, or trade shows where Wemyss is present. Making connections can give you an edge and might even lead to a referral.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to talk about your skills and how they align with the role. Highlight your enthusiasm for premium spirits and your understanding of AI tools in sales and marketing.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at Wemyss Family Spirits.
We think you need these skills to ace Graduate Executive: Sales & Marketing
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the spirits industry shine through. We want to see that you genuinely care about brands and have a keen interest in premium products like whisky and gin.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight relevant experiences and skills that match the role. We love seeing how your background aligns with our values and the responsibilities of the Graduate Executive position.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your writing straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and fluff. Make it easy for us to see why you’re the perfect fit for the role right from the start!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity with Wemyss Family Spirits.
How to prepare for a job interview at Wemyss Family Spirits
✨Know Your Spirits
Before the interview, dive deep into Wemyss Family Spirits' portfolio. Familiarise yourself with their brands like Wemyss Malts and Darnley’s Gin. Being able to discuss their unique selling points and how they stand out in the market will show your genuine interest and enthusiasm for the role.
✨Showcase Your Skills
Prepare to highlight your communication and organisational skills. Think of specific examples from your past experiences, whether in hospitality, retail, or during your studies, where you demonstrated these abilities. This will help you connect your background to the responsibilities of the role.
✨Embrace AI Tools
Since the role involves using AI tools for research and analysis, be ready to discuss any relevant experience you have with these technologies. Share how you've used them in projects or presentations, as this will demonstrate your readiness to adapt to modern sales and marketing strategies.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about the company culture, the graduate development pathway, and how success is measured in the role. This not only shows your interest but also helps you gauge if the company aligns with your career aspirations.
