Women are missing out on opportunities to thrive in beer.

We recognise that many women seeking to break into or progress in the beer industry are required to self-fund professional development, take unpaid leave, and cover costs such as travel.

This becomes a barrier. As women have been marginalised across beer for so long, they need positive action to enable them to benefit from the educational and networking opportunities they have been excluded from for decades.

Women On Tap is piloting a new bursary scheme for International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day (IWCBD) 2026, supplying direct financial support to those who want to attend a local public brew day but are required to cover their own travel costs and who would find this a barrier to participation in the campaign.

We also recognise that the thought of going to in-person events on your own can also be a barrier. This said there will also be the option to request an introduction ahead of the day to someone you can speak to in advance and/ or who can meet you on arrival and be a buddy - as actively or passively as you would like! - through the day.

The Bursary Scheme and buddy-up option are part of a new Women On Tap Access to Beer project. Applications for the IWCBD 2026 Brew Day Bursaries are open now - see below.