130 BrewDog jobs boost for the north east

BrewDog has received a £1.5 million Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) award which will result in investment of over £20 million and the creation of 130 new jobs at Ellon.

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The brewery is set to expand its workforce at Ellon from 370 to 500 to keep up with the demand for its craft beer.

The company, which has received various accolades, including being named by The Sunday Times Fast Track 100 as the fastest growing food and drink company in the UK, has added another feather to its cap. Today the London Stock Exchange has named BrewDog as one of the 1,000 most inspiring companies in the UK.

During a visit to the state of the art eco-brewery in Ellon Deputy First Minister John Swinney said “BrewDog is a remarkable Scottish success story, beginning with Martin and James’ passion for quality craft beer in 2007 and growing into a major award winning company. I am delighted to support this growth through today’s RSA award, which will create a further 130 jobs in the north east.

“With a presence across the globe it is only right that this young company should receive so many accolades, including today’s London Stock Exchange Group’s 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain 2015.

“Scotland is fast becoming one of the world’s leading food and drink nations and demand for our products has seen rapid growth in the overseas markets for many years now.

“The Government Economic Strategy launched last week sets out the ambitions to further increase economic growth and boost competitiveness, including further boosting our exports. Scotland’s food and drink industry will benefit from this targeted approach.

“In our drive to make Scotland a fairer and more prosperous country for all who live and work here, I also welcome BrewDog’s commitment to the living wage for its employees.

“The Scottish Government is constantly working to make sure Scotland is an excellent place to do business, and I commend companies like BrewDog who are taking advantage of market conditions to expand and create quality products with international appeal.”

James Watt, co-founder and Captain of BrewDog, said:

“At BrewDog we are on a mission to make other people as passionate about craft beer as we are. And our people are pivotal in achieving this. One of our proudest moments in 2014 was announcing that BrewDog is a Living Wage Employer – everyone on our team, from the incredible brewing and production crew to the passionate bar staff, are critical to the growth and success of BrewDog and the craft beer industry.

“We are truly thankful for the immense support from the RSA and Scottish Enterprise. With the increased funding we are able to make our dreams a reality and add loads more integral and talented people to the BrewDog team. Each new hire will help us with our massive plans for 2015 and the years following and manifest our mission in Scotland and across the world.”

Allan McCabe, head of RSA, Scottish Enterprise, said:

“To ensure the continued growth of the food & drink sector in Scotland, we need to ensure that our companies have ambitious business leaders with a global mindset who can innovate to keep up with market trends and really inspire their employees.

“I think it’s fair to say that BrewDog is such a company; under the strong leadership of James and Martin, and with an ambitious growth strategy, the company has come a long way in a relatively short time. We are pleased to be able to support this new expansion, and will continue to support the company as it sets out to achieve its international growth plans.”

Xavier Rolet, CEO of the London Stock Exchange Group, said:

“There are more than four million SMEs in Britain and their success is inextricably linked to the success of the economy. Our landmark ‘1000 Companies to Inspire Britain’ report profiles the most exciting and promising of these SMEs, which are of exceptional importance to economic growth and job creation. We need to ensure that the best start-ups have the environment and the support they need to scale up and make the transition from million-pound-starlets to billion-pound superstars.”

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