Academies
Academies are training pathways delivered by Hydra Consulting on their learning platform utilising a blend of off-line work with AI tools, online individual coaching and online/live group workshop(s). Academies have been established for all sales channels for beverage businesses.
Our standard Academies are shown below. We can also custom design academies for specific applications. All academies are fully scaleable for up to 25 participants. Pricing and structures shown below are for 12 person groups.
Academy coaches can be found here.
Build growth capability
Structured programs built around a specific commercial growth objective. Choose from Domestic Wholesale, Export, Tourism, Direct-to-Consumer or Story.
Capability sequence + practical application session.
Build specialist skills
Focused programs designed to strengthen a specific commercial or marketing capability. Choose from AI in Marketing, Pitching, Brand Building, Trade Sales or SME Market Research.
Focused capability development + direct business application.
Academy overview
The Academies
| Academy | Commercial objective | Tool sequence | Application session |
|---|---|---|---|
| SME Market Research Growth Academy | Build practical market research capability for better commercial decision-making. | Business Type → Market Research → Pricing → LeadFire | Market Entry Plan |
| Domestic Wholesale Growth Academy | Win more retail, wholesale and on-premise customers while improving channel profitability. | Business Type → Story + Pitching → Pricing → Personas + Occasions | LeadFire & Activations |
| Export Growth Academy | Develop an export strategy, identify priority markets and commence international sales. | Business Type → Story + Pitching → Pricing → Market Research | LeadFire & Activations |
| Tourism Growth Academy | Increase visitation, conversion, visitor spend and repeat visitation. | Business Type → Story → Concept Builder + Personas → Journey Builder | LeadFire, Tourism Channels & Activations |
| DTC Growth Academy | Increase direct sales, customer loyalty and customer lifetime value. | Business Type → Story → Personas → Occasions → Journey Builder | Journey optimisation, DTC Channels |
| Story Growth Academy | Develop authentic brand stories that connect with customers and differentiate the business. | SWOT → Story Building & Adaptation → Story Containers → Brand Operating Manual → Category Entry Points | BevGPT Copywriting |
| AI in Marketing Skills Academy | Use AI to improve marketing quality, consistency and productivity. | AI Fundamentals → Prompting → Workflows + Agents → Marketing Applications | — |
| Pitching Skills Academy | Build compelling stories and pitches that win customers, distributors and investors. | SWOT → Story → Personas → Pitching → Re-Pitch + Global UVP Review | — |
| DTC Sales Skills Academy | Build a distinctive, memorable DTC or toruism brand that supports long-term growth. | DTC & Tourism Personas → Consumption Occasions → Story → UVP/USP → Category Entry Points → Distinctive Brand Assets | — |
| Trade Sales Skills Academy | Improve trade sales capability to win more customers, distributors and retail ranging. | Trade Personas + Consumption Occasions → Pitching + UVP → Category Entry Points → Distinctive Brand Assets → Activations | — |
Academy structure in detail
| Stage | Duration | Participant activity | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. 👤 Pre-work | 60 min | Complete the academy diagnostic before the first coaching session. | Business capability profile and priority growth areas. |
| 2. 👤👤 1-on-1 Coaching | 30 min | Review the diagnostic, agree commercial objectives and tailor the academy to the business. | Personalised growth plan. |
| 3. 👤 Module 1 | 30 min | Complete and apply the first academy tool. | Practical business output. |
| 4. 👤 Module 2 | 30 min | Complete and apply the second academy tool. | Refined strategy and recommendations. |
| 5. 👥👥 Group Workshop | 120 min | Share outputs, discuss implementation challenges, review examples and learn from other participants. | Peer learning and improved implementation. |
| 6. 👤 Module 3 | 60 min | Complete and apply the final academy tool. | Implementation-ready output. |
| 7. 👤👤 1-on-1 Coaching | 30 min | Review all outputs, answer final questions and finalise the implementation plan. | 90-day implementation plan. |
|
8. 👥👥 90-day plan presentation (Growth academies) |
60 min | Develop a market engagement plan, review target customers or distributors and prepare for market entry. | Distribution, activation or market engagement plan. |