Acorn Brewery based at Wombwell near Barnsley is now entering it’s seventh year in the Micro brewing industry with 2010 set to be one of expansion both internally and externally. The brewer of award winning real ale brands including Barnsley Bitter and Barnsley Gold are embarking on a significant investment programme with the help and support of Enterprising Barnsley.
Managing Director David Hughes explains “ We researched the market for a fully automated CRM programme, and after initial training are about to launch the Brewman System which links information from our current Sage package. This basically means we can track each and every cask of ale through bar-coding from manufacture and leaving the brewery, through to specific delivery times to the pub. Brewman will also allow us to reduce the risk of over-pricing, calculate beer duty and provide information about the profitability of each product.”
COACHING FOR GROWTH...
The new Brewman System requires different levels of coaching for all eight full time and part time employees and this will be supported through the Enterprising Barnsley Programme as part of the coaching service it provides to manufacturers’ in the borough. Shaun Higginbottom of the Barnsley Development Agency introduced the support to Acorn which is now starting to see the real benefits the programme can offer.
“ We’re looking to increase capacity by 50% in the year ahead and this will include extra fermentation and conditioning space including new tanks. We’re also planning to build a mezzanine floor and create a bar area for real ale tours, CAMRA festivals and new product launches. It’s pretty exciting and we’re looking forward to the challenges ahead” says David.
GENERATING NEW EMPLOYMENT...
Acorn Brewery has also invested in generating new employment, and with the research and support from the BDA, and through Barnsley College has now employed it’s first apprentice who’ll learn the Acorn brewing recipes as well as gaining valuable NVQs in food and drink production. This is seen as a real long term investment for the company and one which will continue to grow in the future.
As well as the more conventional routes to market such as the large supermarket chains, wholesalers and independent pub outlets the company is also making use of an Enterprising Barnsley coach who sees the tourism and direct markets as an opportunity going forward. Above all the future looks very promising for this small but perfectly formed micro-brewer.
For the full range of Enterprising Barnsley Support please visit www.enterprisingbarnsley.co.uk or contact Barnsley Development Agency 01226 787538 for more details.
The £4.7m Enterprising Barnsley programme is funded by £2.89m from the European Regional Development Fund, £739,000 from Yorkshire Forward, and other funding sources.
Managing Director David Hughes explains “ We researched the market for a fully automated CRM programme, and after initial training are about to launch the Brewman System which links information from our current Sage package. This basically means we can track each and every cask of ale through bar-coding from manufacture and leaving the brewery, through to specific delivery times to the pub. Brewman will also allow us to reduce the risk of over-pricing, calculate beer duty and provide information about the profitability of each product.”
COACHING FOR GROWTH...
The new Brewman System requires different levels of coaching for all eight full time and part time employees and this will be supported through the Enterprising Barnsley Programme as part of the coaching service it provides to manufacturers’ in the borough. Shaun Higginbottom of the Barnsley Development Agency introduced the support to Acorn which is now starting to see the real benefits the programme can offer.
“ We’re looking to increase capacity by 50% in the year ahead and this will include extra fermentation and conditioning space including new tanks. We’re also planning to build a mezzanine floor and create a bar area for real ale tours, CAMRA festivals and new product launches. It’s pretty exciting and we’re looking forward to the challenges ahead” says David.
GENERATING NEW EMPLOYMENT...
Acorn Brewery has also invested in generating new employment, and with the research and support from the BDA, and through Barnsley College has now employed it’s first apprentice who’ll learn the Acorn brewing recipes as well as gaining valuable NVQs in food and drink production. This is seen as a real long term investment for the company and one which will continue to grow in the future.
As well as the more conventional routes to market such as the large supermarket chains, wholesalers and independent pub outlets the company is also making use of an Enterprising Barnsley coach who sees the tourism and direct markets as an opportunity going forward. Above all the future looks very promising for this small but perfectly formed micro-brewer.
For the full range of Enterprising Barnsley Support please visit www.enterprisingbarnsley.co.uk or contact Barnsley Development Agency 01226 787538 for more details.
The £4.7m Enterprising Barnsley programme is funded by £2.89m from the European Regional Development Fund, £739,000 from Yorkshire Forward, and other funding sources.
Latest News
30 March 2010
Enterprising Barnsley - Planting New Seeds for the Acorn Brewery, Wombwell
