Portfolio of Evidence (PoE) for Pommelier Qualification

The Portfolio of Evidence (PoE) is the opportunity for candidates to demonstrate they are the ultimate cider advocates.  We want to see evidence that they are passionate, knowledgeable, engaging and proactive in their efforts to ensure cider is more widely understood, respected and consumed.

The PoE should forms two parts:

• Cider advocacy
• Personal project

Cider Advocacy 

The aim of this section is for the candidate to highlight excellent cider advocacy, both their own and that which they have observed by makers, retailers and pubs.

By presenting these example of best practice cider advocacy, it will demonstrate they have understood, and can command the key learnings from the courses, including:

• Use of cider language
• Awareness of cider Stylisation
• Understanding of cider legislation
• knowledge of the principles of cider and food matching

Personal Advocacy 

Highlighting their own cider journey and how it is contributing to the betterment of cider.

Please provide your evidence in photographic form and/or a description of what you have done, when and why!

Examples include:

• cider blogging
• cider writing
• cider training
• cider selling
• cider making

Professional Advocacy

Recognising and highlighting existing exemplifications of successful cider advocacy in the Trade (bulleted examples provided above).  This can be activity that you have undertaken yourself professionally, or could be retail and On Trade activity that you have observed.

Please provide your evidence in photographic form and/or a description of:

• what you observed
• where/when you observed it
• why you think it constitutes great cider advocacy
• how you think it could be improved

Examples include:

• what brand of cider you have chosen
• what style of cider it fits into
• why you think that cider is a good match for the course

Personal Project 

This is a paper-based exercise that will demonstrate ultimate understanding of cider language, styles, marketplace and consumers that has been learnt on the journey to Pommelier.

The Personal Project is all about the demonstration of one’s knowledge and passion for cider and documenting how you could put this into effect to make a difference in the market place.  Examples of suitable projects themes include, but are not limited to:

• Create your own cider brand, giving considered thought to:
• The style of cider?
• How is it made?
• What is its USP and why?
• What language does it use and why?
• What type of packaging and branding and why chosen?
• What legislative considerations have been incorporated?

• Create your own cider festival, giving considered thought to:
• What ciders would you present and why?
• How would you categorise them and why?
• What other information would be available to consumers?
• What training would you provide to bar staff?

• Create your own cider competition, giving considered thought to:
• What are the cider categories?
• What scoring system will you use?
• What method will you use to reach that score?
• How will your competition be different to those already in the market?
• Who are the judges?
• What style guidelines and briefing will be provided to judges?

There is no expectation that you have created and executed the above in reality – that is a big task!  The purpose of this exercise is for you to demonstrate your newly upweighted knowledge, skills and passion for cider as a paper exercise.  This could then form the template for your own future cider advocacy.