Inaugural Students Graduate from Lipton Tea Innovation & Technology Academy
Nairobi, 25 September 2024 – The Lipton Tea Innovation & Technology Academy (the “Lipton Academy”), the world’s first comprehensive education institution dedicated to tea, announces the graduation of the inaugural cohort of students of its Integrated Tea Entrepreneurship & Management Programme (the “programme”). The three top-performing graduates will be equipped with the resources to open their own tea retail businesses.
The programme aims to foster entrepreneurship as a means to create economic opportunities, targeting high school graduates and above in the tea growing areas of Kericho, Bomet, and Limuru. Open to young aspiring entrepreneurs from the area, the programme involves an intensive training course held at the University of Kabianga that culminates in a business pitch before a panel of experts from the University, LIPTON Teas and Infusions, and the tea industry.
The three top-performing graduates of the programme, from the initial cohort of 41 students, now benefit from access to seed capital on favourable credit terms and a further one-month accelerator programme designed to enhance their financial literacy and business management skills, equipping them with the resources to manage their own tea shops.
Co-funded by LIPTON Teas and Infusions, the Kenyan Ministry of Education, and the University of Kabianga, the Lipton Academy was inaugurated in February this year to provide vocational training as well as bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD level courses for as many as 3,000 Kenyans annually. The curricula vary from introductory skills in business and diversifying farm incomes to advanced scientific research and technological innovation in tea cultivation and harvesting.
Sylvia-ten Den, Head of Tea Plantations – Africa at LIPTON Teas and Infusions, said: “This is just the beginning for the Lipton Academy. Congratulations to Brenda Chelangat, Elkana Kibet, and Martin Kipkemoi on securing seed capital which will allow them to launch their new businesses and open their own tea shops. Best of luck to the rest of our first cohort; you have our support on this journey.”
Professor Eric Koech, Vice Chancellor of the University of Kabianga, added: “Today, we are graduating a total of 41 graduands for this short course on Integrated Tea Entrepreneurship and Management. The graduands have been drawn from various tea growing regions in Kenya and I’m certain that they will make a difference in their specific areas in terms of the tea value chain. These graduands have been equipped with the requisite knowledge and skills to enable them to pursue entrepreneurship and generate sustainable income.”
Martin Kimutai, one of the three winners of the business pitch competition said: “Winning the means to open a tea shop was a pivotal moment for me, it validated my passion for innovation and sustainability within the tea industry and gave me confidence to pursue my ideas further. This is just the beginning, and I am confident that with dedication and hard work I can turn my passion into a thriving career. I'm eager to continue exploring these opportunities through the Lipton Tea Innovation & Technology Academy.”
About the Lipton Tea Innovation & Technology Academy
Co-funded by LIPTON Teas and Infusions, the Kenyan Ministry of Education, and the University of Kabianga, the Lipton Tea Innovation & Technology Academy is the first comprehensive education institution dedicated to tea. Training up to 3,000 Kenyans annually, the Lipton Academy supports the development of the region’s tea industry beyond raw material production to create globally sought-after talent. By enhancing quality and responsible practices, it will help raise living standards and support women's education and empowerment. The Lipton Academy offers vocational training and degree programmes, from bachelor's to PhD levels, focusing on tea cultivation, harvesting, processing, business skills, and technological innovation.