A £2million investment in a Derbyshire craft brewery is due to be completed this summer (2016).
Thornbridge Brewery of Bakewell, Derbyshire, makes and sells craft beer across the UK and Europe.
It has announced a £2million plan to increase brewing capacity at its riverside plant. This will include installation of a new bottling line(similar to pictured), improved warehouse facilities, increased brewing space and the creation of 11 new jobs by the end of this summer (2016).
A previous expansion in the Derbyshire company’s operations was assisted by a £78,000 grant, in October 2014, from the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership; the partnership of businesses, local authorities, skills and training providers and community and voluntary organisations which works to grow the economies of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. That grant, from D2N2’s Unlocking Investment for Growth (UI4G) programme, added to Thornbridge’s own major investment, then enabled it to double production and pursue new markets.
UI4G was funded by the UK’s Regional Growth Fund and the European Regional Development Fund, and awarded through D2N2’s Investment Panel, with the aim of creating long term sustainable jobs.
Thornbridge has also recently opened a new bar in the Dutch city Den Bosch. The brewery also exports to other countries, including America, Sweden, Italy, Japan and Australia.
Simon Walkden, Chief Financial Officer at Thornbridge Brewery, said: “We are an ambitious company and have been planning for this investment over the past 12 months.
“It’s not all about equipment though as, in preparation for a 70% expansion to our brewing capacity, we have employed an additional 11 staff to take overall employee numbers to 46.”
To find out more about Thornbridge brewery, click here
To find out more about D2N2’s UI4G programme and to see other recipients of the fund, click here
Media wanting more information on the above release should contact Sam Burbage, Social Media and Marketing Officer, at the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, on 01159 578254, or by email: sam.burbage@d2n2lep.org
