UK: Number of independent breweries still rising in the UK

The recent gloomy figures on pub closures in the UK may have made you think it’s last orders for the beer industry, but nothing could be further from the truth, The Sun reported on September 29.

While the pub sector may be changing, the number of independent breweries is still rising and the industry is leading the way in the creation of innovative and exciting new jobs.

Figures from the Just Drinks tracker show the number of AI-related brewing jobs has doubled in the past year. Alongside this, breweries are becoming more creative, introducing roles from beer sommeliers to influencer managers and net zero specialists, appealing to both younger drinkers and jobseekers in general.

The sector is also becoming more inclusive, with some firms scrapping traditional CVs in favour of gamified hiring in the hunt for fresh talent.

Salaries vary widely, from apprentice brewers pocketing an average of £18,000, up to six-figure wages for bosses of big-name breweries.

However, the growing number of breweries means there are opportunities in almost every area of the UK, including rural and coastal districts.

Sharp’s Brewery in Rock, Cornwall, is one of the nation’s most remote but produces Doom Bar, the UK’s best-selling cask ale.

Its beer sommelier — one of only 200 in the world — is Ed Hughes, 39, who also lives in Rock.

He said: “Breweries are much more complex than we think. Roles range from sommelier, to engineers, to sales, to lab technicians, to logistics, to procurement and finance.

“I see myself as a beer ambassador. One week I could be involved in a cooking demo at a festival with a chef, the next I’m working on a new launch or training category managers for one of our customers.

“The supermarket wine aisle is easy to navigate. But, when it comes to beer, you’ve often got stouts next to double dry hopped IPAs, next to craft lager. It’s a confusing place to be faced with, so I like helping people go on their own voyage of discovery of beer styles and flavour.”

Joe Sidley, head of acquisition at Molson Coors, which owns Sharps, said: “We are always looking for individuals who possess the talent, drive, and values that align with our business.

“Once they’re on board, it then becomes our responsibility to supply them with the necessary training and support to help them realise their full potential.”

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