The Academy of Food and Wine Service (AFWS), established in 1988, is the professional body for front-of-house service dedicated to improving the image and awareness of food and beverage service as a viable career choice and improving standards across the industry. The Academy can offer advice and training to anyone following, or considering, a career as a sommelier, wine waiter, waiter, bar manager or restaurant manager.
AFWS is a not-for-profit organisation funded primarily by: membership fees – it currently has over 1,500 members; charitable donations, for training and development work; and industry benefactors.
Established to replace the former Guild of Sommeliers, AFWS was formed with a mission to develop the level of food and wine service skills in the UK. It has now become nationally recognised as the industry’s leading authority for raising the profile and standards of food and wine service skills.
With the continued growth and changes in the food and wine industry training is key to maintaining and developing service skills and standards. AFWS works closely with key stakeholders in the market utilising their skills and experience for the benefit of the industry as a whole.
The Academy has also formed the UK Guild of Wine Service, as the UK Association for Sommellerie, under the presidency of leading sommelier and wine expert Gerard Basset MW, MS. His committee is made up of key personalities in the world of sommellerie who all play a key role in developing and setting new standards of wine service training.
A parallel UK Guild of Food Service has also been formed under the presidency of Silvano Giraldin, former maitre d’ at Le Gavroche, now director of Roux Consulting.
Both these committees work within the AFWS structure to ensure that the Academy’s training programmes and events satisfy the needs of the industry.
The Academy is also affiliated to the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale, making AFWS the official professional body for sommeliers in the UK.
The Academy’s objectives
• For every practising waiter/waitress, wine waiter and bar assistant in the industry to be a member of the AFWS, their professional body
• To gain greater recognition for front-of-house professionals through accreditation, certification and recognition
• To help members develop and maintain their knowledge, skills and ability by organising events, seminars, tutorials, tastings and competitions
• To provide an interface between educators, service staff and their employers
• To enhance the career prospects of AFWS members
• To offer suppliers a platform on which they can present their wares to AFWS members
• To raise the standards and profile of service personnel and provide levels of recognised competence in restaurant service.
What the Academy does
• Develops training study packs, tutored tastings, product master classes and skill build seminars to enable continuous professional development
• Hosts prestigious competitions such as the UK Sommelier of the Year and UK Restaurant Manager of the Year to celebrate and reward excellence and raise the profile of the front-of-house profession
• Offers a number of international travel scholarships, which give individuals the opportunity to learn about international hospitality
• Developed partnerships and initiatives with other industry associations. Members have free access to the UK Skills Passport scheme, which provides members with access to further learning resources
• Organises dinners, social and business events to help members network with colleagues and industry leaders
• Holds regular free training initiatives for members
• Provides access to industry professionals as mentors.
