Double Dutch has announced the recipients of its 2026 Female Bartending Scholarship, unveiling a cohort selected to coincide with International Women’s Day and reflecting what the company says is growing demand for structured support for women in hospitality. Industry reporting on the programme noted this year’s intake as part of the scholarship’s sixth edition and highlighted an increase in interest from applicants.

The scholarship, created to help women progress into leadership through training, mentorship and career development, traces back to the brand’s founders who launched the initiative in 2021. Company materials and sector coverage portray the awards as an attempt to tackle a persistent leadership imbalance in bars and restaurants while connecting successful applicants to industry networks.

For 2026 Double Dutch said applications rose by 35% year on year and expanded the programme’s reach across venues in Edinburgh, Manchester, London and Bristol. Organisers also altered the format to broaden access, inviting all applicants to three free virtual sessions led by hospitality mentors and partners whether or not they were selected for the final cohort.

Double Dutch named 14 scholars for 2026 and published the full roster, which includes bartenders, supervisors and managers from venues such as The Ned, Dishoom and The Royal Cocktail Exchange. Some sector outlets reported a differing figure for the final class, describing a final selection of 12 scholars, a discrepancy that underlines variations in early press coverage of the programme.

The programme combines virtual and in-person workshops on drinks education, confidence, personal branding and professional development, with sessions scheduled at Swingers West End, 58 & Co Distillery and The Chancery Rosewood. Hosts and partners say the practical, mixed-format approach is intended to deliver both technical learning and wider industry access.

Mentors named for the 2026 intake include industry figures such as Carmen O’Neal of 58 & Co and representatives from UK bar bodies and brands, reflecting a network drawn from producers, venues and specialist educators. The distillery hosting role and Carmen O’Neal’s participation were promoted by the venue, which framed its involvement as part of a wider commitment to skills development in London’s cocktail scene.

“International Women’s Day is about recognising progress but also being honest about how much work is still to be done. Hospitality is powered by incredible women, yet too few reach senior leadership. This scholarship is our way of actively creating pathways and opening doors. The response this year has been extraordinary. Taking the programme global and seeing a 35% increase in applications shows just how universal the appetite is for education, mentorship and support. We’ve heard from women at every stage of their careers who want to grow, lead and shape the future of drinks,” Joyce de Haas, co‑founder of Double Dutch, said. Raissa de Haas added: “As a business, we believe it’s essential to use our platform to champion women and drive real change. We want to help women build confidence, develop skills and step into leadership roles across hospitality. International Women’s Day is a powerful moment to celebrate the next generation of female leaders, but for us this work happens all year round. Our goal is to build a strong, supportive community where women can learn, mentor each other and thrive.”

The scholarship sits alongside other mentorship and apprenticeship initiatives in the drinks sector and wider hospitality training schemes that aim to professionalise front‑of‑house careers, from long‑running apprentice programmes to short intensive training grants. Double Dutch’s wider corporate profile as a premium mixer brand with international distribution and commitments to responsible sourcing and low‑sugar formulations frames the scholarship as part of a broader brand strategy to support sector sustainability and talent pipelines.