Microbrewery toasts new growth fund
A MICROBREWERY and a farmers market are just two of 21 small businesses in Warwickshire set for growth after new funding.
Church Farm Brewery, Budbrooke and Stoneleigh-based Rugby Farmers Mart are among the businesses sharing in a payout of £437,736 from Warwickshire County Council.
The council is paying out grants of between £5,000 and £35,000 as part of a £1m pot, available over the next three years.
The funding is intended to help firms pay for assets such as buildings, plant, machinery and equipment.
Church Farm Brewery has been awarded £ 25,000 (with match funding of £100,000 from the business). The cash boost is to allow the firm to purchase and install a 20-barrel brewing plant.
The former dairy farm set up the microbrewery in 2012 as a diversification business, using converted milk processing and holding vessels to brew its beer. Since then, the business has gone from strength to strength producing a range of hand crafted ales using only the finest local ingredients. However, progress was being hampered by the brewing equipment which needed updating.
Sam Brown, Master Brewer at the brewery, said: “In order to continue to grow, we needed a custom brewery installation with the capacity to deliver increasing demand over the next five years.
“Thanks to the grant we’ve been able to buy and install new equipment which will increase our brewing capacity from 140 to 400 barrels per week, as well as accommodate a planned expansion.”
Church Farm’s ales include: Harry’s Heifer, IPA, Pale Ale and Brown’s Porter. It also makes a range of craft products including Kiwi Wheat Beer and Chocolate Stout.
Rugby Farmers Mart, which was founded in 2006 to replace the livestock market in Rugby, started trading two years later at Stoneleigh Park.
It has been awarded £27,708 (with match funding of £41,562 from the business) for new sheep pens and a walkway. The funding will have an immediate impact, increasing the firm’s ability to serve local customers and attract business to Warwickshire from across the country.
“The grant has been very useful,” said head auctioneer Tom Wrench. “The first phase is already in place and giving us greater capacity which is very important because, while we have a strong local customer-base, we also have buyers and sellers coming from as far afield as Essex, Kent and north Yorkshire.
“The grant has also enabled us to take on an apprentice – a trainee auctioneer.”
The funding is directed towards small enterprises (fewer than 50 employees) primarily in sectors such as:
• manufacturing/ advanced engineering;
• automotive;
• intelligent transport systems;
• IT services/ digital media and creative industries;
• low carbon technologies;
• business and professional services;
• tourism.
Cllr Izzi Seccombe, leader of Warwickshire County Council and board member of the Coventry & Warwickshire LEP, said: “Small businesses like Church Farm Brewery and Rugby Farmers Mart have an enormous amount to offer – they play a vital role in delivering jobs, growth and prosperity to the region. We should be very proud of the many thriving small businesses in Warwickshire and the county council will continue to do all it can to help them.”
