UK Wide - Free Cheese Knowledge Tour

practical training for everyone working with cheese

Join our 16-stop UK tour for free, practical training designed by independent producers to sharpen your expertise.

OUR MISSION

To deliver free education for everyone working with cheese, from farm shops to chefs, from first counter jobs to wholesale careers, funded by producers who believe knowledge builds a more confident market.

WHO WE HELP TRAIN

Farm
Shops

Your cheese counter is one of your highest-margin opportunities. Give your team the knowledge to talk about British and Irish cheese with confidence and turn browsers into buyers.

Deli
Counters

The best thing behind a deli counter is someone who genuinely knows what they're selling. We give counter staff the confidence to recommend, describe and sell with authority every day.

Wholesale & Distribution

Better product knowledge means stronger ranging decisions and better conversations with your retail customers. We help wholesale & distribution understand the cheese they represent & why it matters.

Chefs & Hospitality

From curating a cheese course to answering a guest's question at the table knowing your cheese changes everything. We give hospitality teams the product knowledge to do it properly.

And
Many More

Buyer, food hall manager, restaurant buyer or just starting out if cheese is part of what you do, there is a place for you on the CK Tour.

What we cover on our FREE courses

A full day of practical cheese education - built around the products you already sell and the customers you serve every day.

It's a hands-on, immersive day designed to make you more confident, more knowledgeable & more effective - whether you are behind a counter, running a kitchen or buying for a business.

Across the day you will cover:

  • Where cheese comes from - milk types, regions, and the makers behind the product
  • How to taste, describe and talk about cheese with customers confidently
  • Cutting, wrapping and presenting cheese professionally
  • Pairing cheese with condiments, crackers and drinks to increase basket value
  • Ranging and curating a cheese selection that works commercially
  • Seasonal selling — how to maximise sales at Christmas, Easter and beyond

  • Producer stories from our five founding partners - cheese you can actually source and sell

We run sessions across the UK & Ireland in 2026 - Edinburgh, Birmingham, Cardiff, Dublin, Bristol, Manchester, London, Glasgow, and more. Hit Find a Course Near You to see dates and register for free.

FIND A FREE COURSE NEAR YOU

 

Free Cheese Training at Clawson Farms by Cheese Knowledge Tour

Free Cheese Training at Clawson Farms by Cheese Knowledge Tour

The programme is funded by six founding producers who believe a more knowledgeable trade is better for everyone. No catch, no hidden costs.Read More »
Click to Register for free
Free Cheese Training at Virgin Hotel Edinburgh - Cheese Knowledge Tour

Free Cheese Training at Virgin Hotel Edinburgh – Cheese Knowledge Tour

The programme is funded by six founding producers who believe a more knowledgeable trade is better for everyone. No catch, no hidden costs.Read More »
Click to Register for free
[POSTPONED] - New Date TBC Free Cheese Training at Fen Farm Dairy-

[POSTPONED] – New Date TBC Free Cheese Training at Fen Farm Dairy-

Please note: This event is being rescheduled to late June to accommodate more retailers. New date to be announced shortly. - Free trainingRead More »
Click to Register for free

OUR VALUES

Knowledge
Drives
Sales

Training designed to build confidence and turn understanding into practical, commercial value from day one.

Built for
customer-facing
teams

Practical and relevant not academic. Created for retail & hospitality environments for everyday customer conversations.

Producer-backed,
education-led

Funded by producers, focused on building knowledge and confidence across the category.

Provenance
creates
value

Stories of origin and craft help sell. Provenance builds confidence and supports stronger relations and sales?

A growing
Cheese
Community

Open to all deli counter roles, seasoned buyers & hospitality teams. Shared knowledge strengthens the community.

Meet the partners

We are able to deliver these free courses thanks to the support from some great companies.

The Cheese Knowledge Tour is made possible by six founding producers: Carron Lodge, Cooleeney Cheese, Long Clawson Dairy, Isle of Mull Cheese, Stag Bakeries, and Gruyère.

Their products feature throughout the training as real, sourceable examples - not advertising. They fund the programme because they believe that a more educated cheese community is good for the whole industry.

Stag Bakeries
Carron Lodge
Clawson Farms
Isle Of Mull Cheese
Gruyere Cheese
Cooleeney Farm Cheese

FAQS

Is the Cheese Knowledge Tour really free?
Yes - completely free to attend. The programme is funded by six founding producers who believe a more knowledgeable trade is better for everyone. No catch, no hidden costs, no obligation to buy anything. Just register and turn up.
Who is the course designed for?
Anyone who sells, serves, or sources cheese — farm shop and deli staff, chefs, front of house teams, wholesale buyers, and anyone starting out in food retail or hospitality. No prior cheese knowledge or qualifications needed.
What will I be able to do differently after attending?
You will leave confident enough to talk about cheese naturally and informedly — recommending, describing, and upselling with authority. Most participants apply something they learned within their first week back at work.
How long is the course and what does the day look like?
9:00am to 4:30pm - a full day of tastings, demonstrations, practical cutting and wrapping exercises, and producer stories. No exam, no assessment. You receive a participant handbook on the day and a certificate of completion within 24 hours.
How can better cheese knowledge save my business money?
Knowing your cheese reduces waste, improves ranging decisions, and drives sales. When your team can talk about cheese with confidence, you sell more, waste less, and avoid slow-moving lines that tie up margin.
Who are the founding partners and why are they involved?
The CK Tour is made possible by six founding producers: Carron Lodge, Cooleeney Cheese, Long Clawson Dairy, Isle of Mull Cheese, Stag Bakeries, and Gruyère. Their products feature throughout the training as real, sourceable examples — not advertising. They fund the programme because they believe a more educated cheese community is good for the whole industry.
Where are the courses held and how do I find one near me?
We run sessions across the UK and Ireland in 2026 — Edinburgh, Birmingham, Cardiff, Dublin, Bristol, Manchester, London, Glasgow, and more. Hit Find a Course Near You to see dates and register for free.

We are able to deliver these free courses thanks to the support from some great companies