THE five-day Great British Beer Festival wraps up tomorrow so it’s a great time to say cheers to a job in the brewing industry.
Up to 70,000 people will have poured through the doors of London’s Olympia to this showcase of the best of British brewing — with visitors sinking 75 pints per minute between them.
And with the number of independent breweries in the UK almost doubling in the past five years, there is plenty to drink to.
It has led to record job vacancies in breweries and rapidly growing numbers of specialist beer-related roles.
Nik Antona, the Campaign for Real Ale’s national chairman, said: “With nearly 2,000 breweries across the country, beer has never been a more exciting or compelling industry to join.
“Whether you’d consider trying your hand at pulling pints at a local pub or applying a chemistry background to brew the next bold beer flavour to shake up the industry, the opportunities are endless.”
‘A niche for everyone’
Entry-level jobs range from bar staff to brewery apprentices and tend to pay minimum wage, but there’s ample opportunity to progress fast. Head brewer jobs average £25,000 while top brewers with major firms can take home more than £50,000.
Nik adds: “With more styles and flavours than ever, coupled with pubs diversifying into new areas, such as library or allotment services, there is a niche to interest just about anyone.
“And for the lucky ones who are already passionate about beer in a personal capacity, what could be better than turning that hobby into a career?”
Hunting hotspot
THE number of job vacancies in this country is at a record high, up 5.3 per cent on this time last year. But where should you go to have the best chance of landing a job?
CV-Library says Cardiff is the UK’s jobs hotspot. Vacancies in the Welsh capital are up by 15.9 per cent.
Next was Edinburgh, where unfilled roles are up 15.7 per cent, followed by Glasgow, Leeds, Southampton and Portsmouth.
Lee Biggins, the site’s founder, says: “Employers have been upping their recruiting efforts.
“Our jobs-market data shows businesses have bucked the trend of slowing down their hiring plans during the quieter summer months.”
From baby-food company to beer sommelier
BREW lover Natalya Watson worked for a baby-food company but gave it up to become a beer sommelier.
Natalya, 30, from Bethnal Green in East London, says: “I studied microbiology at university. My first job was working in marketing for an organic baby-food company.
“Beer was a hobby outside of work, visiting breweries and beer festivals.
“Four years ago, I set out to see if I could make it a career. I got my start behind the bar at Mother Kelly’s in Bethnal Green, then landed a job in marketing for one of Belgium’s best-known breweries, Duvel Moortgat.
“From there, I achieved my beer sommelier qualification and now have my own business focused on beer education.”
Natalya, who hosts podcasts at beerwithnat.com, adds: “Only 17 per cent of British women drink beer regularly, compared with 53 per cent of men. But many of us in the industry are working hard to help change misperceptions.”
Aldi but a goldy
YOU would be off your trolley to pass up this opportunity. Aldi is hiring 800 apprentices across its stores and ten regional distribution centres.
Trainees will study one of three key areas — store, logistics or driving. Salaries start at £183 per week. The Successful candidates will earn recognised industry qualifications.
Kelly Stokes, Aldi’s personnel development director, says: “As the business continues to expand across the country, it is essential to harness the next generation’s skill-set.
“Apprenticeships are a great way to bring in talent.”
JOBSPOT
- HERMES is seeking courier drivers throughout the country. You can get more information at beacourier.co.uk
- HAWKIN’S Bazaar needs store managers, assistants and sales staff. Find out more at hawkin.com/careers
Beat the holiday blues
THE first day back to work after a summer break can be tough, so we’ve teamed up with Royston Guest, author of RISE: Start Living The Life You Were Meant To Lead, to show you how to harness that holiday feeling at work.
He says: “While you’ve been away from the office, your mind, body and soul have experienced a break from the daily grind and routine, and the longer you can prolong this positive energy, the better.” His top tips include:
1. Consider not just what you do, but why you do it, to feel positive about work again.
2. Don’t try to go from zero to productive all at once, and not within the first hour. This is the quickest way to bring on the holiday blues. Give yourself time to catch up on emails, news and even gossip before you jump into those deadlines.
3. Write down your priorities on a “success list”, not a “to-do list”. This will make you feel in control of your day, knowing what you want to achieve.
4. Know your current reality. Are you behind on sales or a deadline? Is there a challenging conversation that you need to have? Take stock of where you are at, address it and move on.
5. Celebrate your successes. It’s all too easy to reflect on what you didn’t do. Spend time celebrating what has gone well so far this year and what you are going to do differently.
6. When you are not working during the evenings or weekends, switch off phones or laptops. Remember, your next holiday is a marathon – not a sprint – away.