Brewing skills for the future at Bristol Beer Factory 

Katie Green, West of England Apprenticeship Service Manager at the Western Training Provider Network (WTPN), shares how apprenticeships are opening up vital skills pathways across the region. As a not-for-profit partnership uniting providers, colleges, universities, charities and employers, WTPN works with government, businesses, schools and families to expand access to education, training and apprenticeships. 

When I first visited Bristol Beer Factory in Bedminster, what struck me immediately was their mix of creativity, independence and real commitment to doing things the right way. They’re known locally for their innovative beers, but behind the scenes they’ve also been steadily modernising, investing in new technology, embedding sustainability throughout their operations, and preparing their workforce for the future. 

As they expanded, it became clear that growth wasn’t just about equipment or production lines; it was about people. The team recognised that to maintain their quality and meet rising demand, they needed to bring in new talent and develop specialist skills from within. That’s where apprenticeships came in. The brewery identified a real opportunity to nurture the next generation of brewers, addressing skills gaps while staying true to their values of investing in people and building long-term capability. 

The Challenge 

During their scale-up, Bristol Beer Factory realised they faced critical skills shortages within the brewing team. They needed to recruit three new team members to support production, yet brewing is a specialist craft – and sourcing people with the right mix of experience, technical knowledge and passion isn’t straightforward. Apprenticeships offered a solution, but navigating the process and finding the right training routes required support. 

Our Support 

Through our SME Support Programme, Western Training Provider Network worked closely with Bristol Beer Factory to: 

• Conduct a face-to-face skills analysis to understand current and future workforce requirements. 

• Explore apprenticeship pathways, aligning them with the company’s values and needs. 

• Navigate apprenticeship processes, including funding opportunities, compliance, and provider options. 

Together, we identified the Level 4 Brewer Apprenticeship as the most suitable solution. However, since only one provider in the UK offers this specialist training—and does not provide recruitment support—the brewery required additional assistance to attract the right candidates. 

To bridge this gap, we supported Bristol Beer Factory with: 

• Drafting and publishing job advertisements. 

• Shortlisting and interviewing candidates. 

• Ensuring the recruitment process aligned with apprenticeship requirements. 

Outcomes 

By tailoring our support, Bristol Beer Factory was able to: 

• Recruit new brewing apprentices to fill immediate skills gaps. 

• Access niche training that develops specialist technical skills. 

• Build a future-ready workforce, increasing productivity and resilience. 

• Reinforce their commitment to sustainability and local growth through long-term investment in people. 

This case highlights how targeted apprenticeship support not only addresses pressing recruitment challenges but also helps SMEs embed workforce development into their growth strategies. 

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