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Brewing Apprenticeships How can breweries
Brewing Apprenticeships
Hot on the heels of our apprenticeships feature in the last edition of SIBA Independent Brewer, in this issue we bring you two more case studies showing how the Brewer Apprenticeship programme works both from the perspective of a brewery and an apprentice. We also include a reminder of the key benefits of the programme, which has been specifically developed by HIT Training in collaboration with brewers to support UK breweries in growing and developing the next generation of talent needed in their brewhouses.
HIT Training is the only training provider in the sector to offer the brewing apprenticeship and has been instrumental in designing the programme content and delivery model. The aim of the apprenticeship is to improve employees’ skills and increase their efficiency and productivity in a demanding and often sought-after role. HIT Training works closely with both employers and apprentices to deliver a training programme which meets the bespoke needs of individual breweries and apprentices’ career aspirations. The apprentices will gain from in-work experience covering a broad spectrum of activities, from gaining an understanding of ingredient provenance and the importance of stock control, to safe operation of brewing equipment, design of beer recipes and brewery promotion. Jill Whittaker, Managing Director of HIT Training, said: “We’re extremely proud to have been part of the trailblazer group which has developed the Brewer Apprenticeship and to be among the first to deliver it to the sector. The UK brewing and pub industries are significant contributors to the national economy with over 2,000 breweries currently in operation. It’s brilliant news to see the sector taking control of its future and making sure it has the best workforce for the exciting time ahead via offering high-quality training opportunities such as this apprenticeship.”
What is a Brewer Apprenticeship?
● Entry: Employers will set their own entry requirements in order to start on this apprenticeship. ● Duration: Typically a Brewer Apprenticeship will take 18 months.
● Level: This apprenticeship standard is set at level 4. ● Delivery model: Apprentices access a library of online learning resources, developed and designed to deliver the essential knowledge elements of the programme. ● Content: The online modules prepare each apprentice for the face-to-face workshops and provide invaluable revision resources for the learner. Each apprentice will attend 12 workshops (6 x 2-day residential) at the International Centre for Brewing Science at the University of Nottingham. Industry experts will bring the theory and practice of brewing to life with a series of lectures, practical sessions and tutorials. ● Requirements: If the employee does not have maths and
English GCSE passes at grade C or above, they will need to pass maths and English Functional Skills level 2 during their
Apprenticeship. ● End-Point Assessment: the employer, training provider and apprentice will agree when the apprentice is competent and ready to undertake the independent end point assessment.
Alongside the apprentice, HIT professional trainers will agree on a personal learning and development plan, setting a timetable of learning activities in preparation for the End-
Point Assessment (EPA). The HIT Training Consultant will meet with the apprentice regularly either online or face to face to complete and review assessments, provide further coaching where required and agree the next steps of learning.
● The measurable impact to business: apprentices learn new methods, techniques and efficiency models which, when brought back into the brewery, ultimately impact on improved business performance and efficiencies. ● HIT’s expert Brewer Trainers will review learning progress at each stage of the delivery, visiting the Apprentice’s
Brewery and assessing their application of their new found knowledge and skills. This is in essence a free business consultation with an industry expert. ● Apprentices, if requested, will also complete and earn their
Institute of Brewing and Distilling ‘General Certificate in
Brewing’ as part of their learning. ● Running a successful brewery, pub or licensed premises requires an expert team comprising the best chefs, kitchen staff, servers and managers. Investing in work-based apprenticeships for staff can make a world of difference to a team’s expertise, practical and social skills - and is not only affordable but worthy too. ● Creating a team that delivers high-quality customer experiences, entices people back time and time again and gets people talking about a business for the right reasons.
To secure future growth, brewers need to nurture their own talent. ● Providing skills that increase efficiency, productivity and enable innovation, in turn, boosts the bottom line. Investment in training and development of staff always pays dividends.
Case Study
Brewery Case study: Hydes Brewery
Brewer Apprentice Tom Allkins, Hydes Brewery Tom Allkins is currently doing his Brewer Apprenticeship with Hydes Brewery and is actually a member of the Hydes family. His Grandfather Chris Hyde was Head Brewer and Chairman and he also had an Uncle Andrew that worked as a Brewer too.
Hydes Brewery in Manchester has already had one Brewer Apprentice who passed their apprenticeship with distinction, and is currently nurturing their second apprentice. The scheme has been so successful for the brewery that more candidates are being sought. We spoke to Hydes’ Training Manager Laura Miller to find out more…
When did you first begin offering Brewing Apprenticeships and how many apprentices have you/do you intend to employ?
We first started offering brewing apprenticeships three years ago now and we have successfully seen one through the program (who graduated with a Distinction!) and we currently have another “in study”. We have been so pleased with the apprenticeships and their level of competence from the scheme to date, that it is highly likely that we will look to recruit another in the not too distant future!
Why did you decide to offer Brewing Apprenticeships?
Our small brewing team at Hydes is extremely experienced. Collectively we have almost 200 years served in the industry. Unfortunately, with great experience comes age! We therefore needed some new blood to join the team and prepare us for eventual retirement of certain members. We are a serious brewer with 160 years of brewing heritage, and we wanted to ensure that we plough forward with the very best people in our team. It made perfect sense to us to recruit younger, enthusiastic people who share our values and passion for beer and to give them the opportunity to study and fully understand the “nuts and bolts” of the process. It is also important for us that they get a full experience of the brewing industry and not just what Hydes has to offer. We want our team to be forward thinking and have a modern outlook and the apprenticeship fits this bill perfectly.
How does the scheme work from a brewery perspective?
The scheme allows the trainee to fully participate in the day-to-day activities of the brewery learning core skills “on the job”. Personal study is conducted out of work time (but we do allow some time for this in the workplace). There is also short and regular studies away from the brewery where the apprentice is able to mix with other members of their cohort. This is especially useful and allows the apprentice to share ideas and learning with colleagues on the scheme. We find that this helps to keep the scheme relevant and engaging.
Chris Hyde was Head Brewer and Chairman with Hydes Brewery
What are the key skills the apprenticeship covers?
All aspects of the brewing and packaging process. At Hydes we also like to involve the apprentice in engineering matters, basic accountancy about what is required from the brewer for the company accountant, order taking, distribution and delivery, as well as the opportunity to get involved in running a pub!
What are the main advantages to your business of offering the apprenticeship?
understanding of how things work in Hydes, but also has a wider understanding of what is going on in the industry. In short, they become a very valuable asset to the team.
What advice would you offer to breweries considering the apprenticeship?
Engage with the scheme! If you have a suitable candidate who really is interested in progressing themselves and learn a trade, then the rewards for both parties are excellent.
Longer term what do you hope your apprentice(s) will contribute to your business?
Our apprentices have shown to be a real asset to the team. Their studies have given them a thirst for more and I am sure that they will continue to Diploma level and maybe beyond. I have no doubt that they will be able to take up management roles with further training.
How do you think the apprenticeship will impact the future of the brewing industry overall?
My feeling is that the brewing industry, over the last 20 years, has become full of enthusiasts who have a passion for beer. There is nothing wrong with that, of course. But what I don’t see is that passion founded on a sound technical footing to underpin it. The brewing industry needs scientists and technicians as well as passion. The apprenticeship scheme allows the individual to substantiate his/her enthusiasm with a good technical knowledge. After all, brewing is the oldest biotechnology!
Case Study
Apprentice Case Study: Caitlin McErlean, Brewer, Cloudwater
Caitlin McErlean is a 26-year-old brewer who became the first woman in the country to successfully complete their Level 4 Brewer Apprenticeship. And as if that wasn’t enough, Caitlin achieved the highest grade possible at end-point assessment – a Distinction.
Uni passion
Caitlin’s passion for making beer began at university in Durham, whilst working at a local pub which specialised in craft beers. Soon, her interest in learning Chinese (yes, she also has a degree in Chinese Studies!) waned and by her second year she knew that brewing was the career for her. But where to start? Caitlin assumed she’d need a science-based degree, so decided to find work in hospitality and see if she could find another way in.
Joining the B&K team
Fast forward a couple of years and Caitlin joined Brewhouse and Kitchen, a brewery chain with over 20 ‘Brewpubs’. After succeeding in their internal ‘Beer Specialist’ training course she was then sponsored by the company to begin the L4 Brewer apprenticeship. Unexpectedly, 18 months into the apprenticeship, an opportunity came up at Cloudwater Brewery in Manchester, which Caitlin describes as, ‘my dream job, in my dream location’. As apprenticeships today are fully portable, not only was Caitlin able to transfer her apprenticeship to Cloudwater, but also was able to continue her ‘off the job’ apprenticeship training with HIT Training.
Workshops
In addition to working with her HIT trainer, as part of the brewing apprenticeship Caitlin also attended six two-day workshops at the International Centre for Brewing Science at the University of Nottingham. Here, she learned about the scientific and technical aspects of brewing, via a series of lectures and practical sessions run by beer industry experts. It was this element of the apprenticeship that Cailin says she enjoyed the most: “The mix of science and creativity was challenging but really stimulating. It was also a great opportunity to meet other apprentice brewers. Brewing is a really kind, sociable industry – everyone was happy to share their experience and help each other out.”
End-point assessment day
Just over two years after starting her apprenticeship, Caitlin was ready for her brewer end-point assessment. Working with her HIT trainer, she’d already completed a ‘Mock EPA’ and had put together an extensive brewer logbook she was able to refer to. This preparation was important she says, and her personal tip for EPA success would be: “Ask your trainer for the end-point assessment criteria. That way you can be sure you are focusing your preparation in the right areas.” Also key to her success on the day, Caitlin says, was the calm encouragement she received from her FDQ Independent Assessor, Graeme. “It was an intense, long day but I really enjoyed it. I was assessed whilst performing typical brewery tasks, then I completed an hour-long knowledge test and finally had a one-toone Q&A type discussion with my assessor. Throughout, Graeme was very encouraging, striking the right balance between being professional but also friendly. It really put me at ease.” Caitlin says when she discovered she’d passed with flying colours and was also the first female brewing apprentice to do so. “Honestly I cried! It felt so wonderful because it’s something I care about so much,” she said.
Cloudwater
Caitlin now works ‘hot-side’ as a full-time brewer with Cloudwater, which involves managing the brewing process from raw ingredients up to fermentation stage. She says she couldn’t be happier: “As well as working with great people, I just love the feeling of producing a beer that I know people are going to enjoy.” Having completed the apprenticeship, Caitlin isn’t ruling out further study. In fact, having the Level 4 Brewer Apprenticeship under her belt means she could now look towards gaining professional qualifications in Brewing or even studying for a Masters in Brewing Science. As she concludes: “The brewing apprenticeship has really opened up doors for me.”
Want to get involved and find out more about the Brewer Apprenticeship?
Breweries can enquire directly to HIT Training via www.hittraining.co.uk/brewer-apprenticeship. Interested breweries are welcome to attend any of the university workshops, by request, and meet the delivery team involved.
