Courvoisier invests in more creative stars for The Future 500

Courvoisier is appealing to the design world to nominate the industry’s future stars for its nascent network, The Future 500.

The traditional French cognac brand is set to give 500 young entrepreneurs in a number of fields including art and design the opportunity to connect with other professionals to help ‘fast-track their future’.

The scheme is in its second year and successful applicants for 2009 will join the original 500 from 2008 to partake in exclusive events and social opportunities hosted by Courvoisier. Courvoisier brand manager Claire Richards says, ‘The inaugural year of the network has proved hugely successful and many active members have been collaborating to benefit their careers. We have also been connecting members in an offline environment, setting up breakfast meetings and other events to allow them to interact further.’

She adds, ‘We also have a full-time network director who acts as a “concierge” for the network – introducing members and proactively looking for other opportunities to help them.’

Courvoisier’s backing is indicative of a larger trend in the premium drinks market towards collaborations, amid a climate of tight restrictions on brand advertising. Bombay Sapphire began its Design Discovery Award in 2002, and last week Grey Goose vodka hooked up with designer Rachel Roy to sponsor her New York show.

Prospective The Future 500 members can be submitted personally or nominated by others online. The top 100 recruits will be profiled in a supplement in The Observer newspaper on 30 November, and a prize of £5000 will be awarded to the single applicant deemed to be the ‘one to watch 2008’.

People aged 18 and over can register at www.CVTF500.com