Gloucester Brewery has set its sights on supporting Gloucestershire-based charities and raising more than £50,000, holding the community at the heart of its operation.
Gloucester Brewery’s dockside base
Already engaged with more than 70 local charities, the brewery is looking to broaden its community engagement and use its position as a leading business in the region to promote, support, and engage with charitable causes in the surrounding area. It already offers fundraising event spaces free of charge, raising awareness for a variety of groups.
Following a well received launch event in March, Gloucester Brewery is now committed to hosting free quarterly charity community networking events. The next will be Charities In a Digital World, on 7th July. It is hoped attendance will exceed the 55 charities that attended the inaugural event.
This focus on community follows the appointment of highly-experienced managing director Geoff Smith at the start of March. His priorities are to grow the business, diversify its offering, and ensure that it gives back to the community in every way possible.
Geoff has an impressive track record of successfully starting new businesses and directing multi-million pound operations. Alongside his proven commercial mind, he has a passion for strong brand values and will ensure that every business decision not only benefits the brewery, but also the local community, the wider area, and the environment.
With plans to open up to five additional venues over the next three years, the team will be looking to offer these spaces to local charities to host fundraising events and essentially create an ecosystem of like-minded people in the Gloucestershire area. This while also providing great social hubs in which to enjoy its award-winning beer.
The brewery is also continuing to reduce its carbon footprint, introducing an all-electric fleet of vans, undertaking an ongoing tree planting campaign, ensuring that its growth area remains within 40 miles of Gloucester, sourcing sustainable products, and hosting regular local litter picks.
The community service integral to the brewery’s operation, and one that has helped many other businesses across the county, is The Growth Hub. Through continued business guidance and invaluable introductions, the business support network is helping the brewery go from strength to strength, with business guide Andy Kime regularly imparting his expert advice and acting as a sounding board for Geoff and the team.
Since working with The Growth Hub, Gloucester Brewery has been introduced to contacts at the University of Gloucester, with a number of hospitality students now gaining real world experience across the brewery’s multiple venues.
“When I first started at the brewery, the first and most obvious thing that stood out to me was how firmly it was rooted in the local community,” said Geoff. “Right from the off, this became a priority for me, and over the past few months we have forged some fantastic relationships with local charities, and already hosted some great evening events.
“Of course, the success and growth of the brewery will always be my key area of focus. However, I believe it is essential for us to give back to the community that fundamentally allows us to do what we do.”
He added: “The brewery has been working with The Growth Hub and Andy Kime for quite some time now, and since I have been at the helm, he has been working with us on a consultancy basis — constructively challenging what we are doing through financial analysis and strategy planning.
“What I think makes The Growth Hub’s support so valuable, beyond gaining access to its impressive business connections, is that they offer a unique perspective that is often lost in the busy business world.
“Speaking to someone who can see the business from the outside offers clarity, and that’s exactly what the Growth Hub has given us. It has also been a great support for our community outreach efforts.”
Andy Kime said: “It’s been a real pleasure working with Geoff at the brewery, and they are a shining example of a well-rooted Gloucestershire business. Not only do they brew great beer, they have a wider consideration for the local community, which is something we always support at The Growth Hub.
“They have truly diversified their business and I have no doubt there are some really exciting things in store for Gloucester Brewery in the near future.”
