Brewery workers, or brewery operatives, can be involved in the whole beer making process or just certain stages. Making beer includes:

• weighing and mixing ingredients
• monitoring quality
• labelling and packing the product
• loading the beer, ready for dispatch.

They often work under the supervision of a technical brewer, who is responsible for the entire brewing process.

Brewery workers use machinery to monitor the temperature and quality of the beer. When the beer has been mixed and gone through the fermentation process, they transfer it into kegs, casks, bottles or cans for final packaging, before loading it for distribution.

They are increasingly using computerised machinery, with only certain work like weighing and measuring being done by hand. Their duties will often include sterilising equipment, cleaning the work area, and keeping records of ingredients.

Hours and Environment

Brewery workers normally work 40 hours a week, often including shifts.

Breweries are noisy, hot, steamy places, with strong smells. Caution is necessary when operating machinery. As a brewery workers you will wear protective clothing such as overalls and ear protectors.

As a brewery worker you may need to work outside, loading products or unloading raw materials in all weathers. Working indoors can involve standing for long periods, doing some heavy lifting. This work may not be suitable for people sensitive to dust.

Skills and Interests

As a brewery worker you need:

• good practical and manual skills
• to be physically fit
• to be reliable and responsible about hygiene, health and safety issues
• good observational skills and attention to detail
• the ability to operate machinery
• flexibility, and the ability to work on a range of different jobs
• the ability to work well in a team
• to be numerate, with the ability to accurately weigh and measure
• good communication skills.

Entry

You do not need to have formal qualifications to start work as a brewery worker. Some employers will prefer you to have GCSE/S grades. A GCSE in Manufacturing may be particularly useful. You are most likely to be asked for qualifications if, or when, you want to progress and become a supervisor.

You may be at an advantage when applying for work if you have experience in another manufacturing or processing environment. 

It is sometimes possible to get in to this field through an apprenticeship scheme (see Training).

To work in this area you need have normal colour vision.

Training

As a brewery worker, you will usually receive on-the-job training from your employer. This will cover all stages of the beer making process and you may be encouraged to work towards NVQ/SVQ levels 1 and 2 in Food and Drink Manufacturing Operations (SVQ Level 2 only).

The Institute of Brewing and Distilling offer courses in this area, including:

• the General Certificate in Brewing (GCB) 
• the General Certificate in Beer Packaging (GCP).

See Further Information for the Institute's contact details. 

If you want to progress to a supervisory position, the NVQ/SVQ Level 3 in Food and Drink Manufacturing Operations may be helpful. 

You may be able to get into this job through an apprenticeship scheme. Funding for apprenticeships is available for 16-24 year olds and some over-25s. To find out more, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk. For information about apprenticeships in other parts of the UK, see Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Opportunities

There are now fewer job vacancies for brewery workers because of the increased use of machinery. Jobs are advertised locally and you can get the contact details for some breweries from the British Beer and Pub Association (see Further Information for contact details).

With experience you may progress to supervisory level, however, it is difficult to move into technical brewing without a degree or doing specialist training with the Institute of Brewing and Distilling. For more information see the Brewer: Technical profile.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Brewery workers can earn around £10,000 to £12,000 a year.
With experience and extra responsibilities brewery workers can earn around £20,000 or more. 

Salaries usually include a shift allowance.

Further information

33 Clarges Street
London
W1J 7EE
Tel: 020 7499 8144 Providence House
2 Innovation Close
York
YO10 5ZF
Tel: 0845 644 0448 Market Towers
1 Nine Elms Lane
London
SW8 5NQ
Tel: 020 7627 9191