bartenders

Julian Short and Mish Chinnah are two of 10 mentors for the Hand-Up Mentorship Programme. Images: Supplied

SA’s hip bartenders give back through Hand-Up Mentorship programme

Julian Short and Mish Chinnah are two industry experts in the Hand-Up Mentorship Programme aiming to upskill entry-level bartenders.

bartenders

Julian Short and Mish Chinnah are two of 10 mentors for the Hand-Up Mentorship Programme. Images: Supplied

At the end of 2021, Diageo South Africa, the country’s leading premium spirits company, launched a new bar mentorship programme for previously disadvantaged bartenders, called The Hand-Up Mentorship Programme. Since then, ten of Mzansi’s bar industry experts have been mentoring 100 bartenders in Durban, Cape Town, Johannesburg. 

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THE HAND-UP MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME 

The Hand-Up Mentorship Programme is described as a “by bartenders for bartenders” programme that aims to upskill entry-level bartenders to become competitors in Diageo’s World Class competition, which has supported, trained and inspired over 400 000 bartenders in 60 countries. 

“We are looking at helping create better bartenders so they can have great CVs and can get themselves good jobs,” said Brent Perremore, one of the programme founders. 

“We decided to focus on a diverse group of young women and black men bar staff as every year, the Diageo Bar Academy gets solid entries from them, but they tend to drop off before the national finals and don’t make into World Class,” added Perremore. 

The idea for the Hand-Up Mentorship Programme was born in 2019 when Perremore was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome and left temporarily paralysed. The programme was officially launched in August 2021. 

The mentees are preparing for the World Class National in April this year. 

MISH CHINNAH ON BEING A YOUNG MENTOR 

Mish Chinnah, based in Johannesburg, is one of the youngest mentors in the Hand-Up Mentorship Programme. The 24-year-old former drama student has achieved extraordinary things, including opening a non-alcoholic pop up during the COVID-19 pandemic called NIKS bar in the heart of Johannesburg. 

“It was the perfect antidote to coffee shops when people couldn’t go to bars,” she said.  

As one of the few female mentors in the Hand-Up Mentorship Programme, Mish hopes that the people in her group are inspired to push boundaries. 

“I want to help them upskill themselves so that when they tell people what they do for a living, people understand it is not just about pouring shots. I hope to create a support system for them in their jobs,” added Mish. 

JULIAN SHORT HOPES TO INSTIL HOPE AND PASSION 

Julian Short, who was born to parents in the hospitality industry, developed a passion for all things cocktail related in 2014. In 2017, Short won the title of South Africa Diageo World Class Bartender of the Year which set him on the path to becoming the owner of his own cocktail bar. 

After working the Johannesburg bar scene, the 29-year-old became the owner of Sin + Tax in Rosebank. 

As a mentor in The Hand-Up Mentorship Programme, Short hopes to instil a feeling of hope and passion in the bartenders under him. 

“I want to help them to think for themselves, to make them realise that just because you are a junior working, you can still be a professional.”

“It is very important to stand up for yourself in the hospitality industry,” concluded Short. 

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