MP toasts success of brewery
A FORMER Business Link manager has fulfilled his dream of running his own brewery.
Mark Burton is now brewing 1,000 gallons a week having opened Thorne Brewery with funding from Key Fund Yorkshire and others, and support from Business Link Yorkshire.
To celebrate this achievement, Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change and MP for Doncaster North, visited the King Edward Road premises on Friday to see the operation in action and to try a pint of real ale for himself.
Inspired by his background, Mark set up Thorne Brewery as a social enterprise (a business where profits are reinvested for social or community benefit).
With no experience of brewing, Business Link adviser, Paul Nevin, helped Mark access industry experts who took him through all the legal and manufacturing processes.
"Mark's business acumen means that he's been able to create a business that has a win win bottom line in terms of social impact allied to a secure commercial future," said Paul.
Mark equally recognises Business Link's contribution to his success, he said: "The Business Link support was invaluable both before I got started and once the operation got underway.
"We wouldn't be here without the expert support of the mentors."
The brewery's first beer is the aptly named 'Thorne Best Bitter' and the brewery is currently in negotiations to supply national pub chain Wetherspoons.
The brewery employs two, with plans to increase to six and expects to make a small profit by the end of the year.
The business is set for a turnover of nearly 300,000 in year one, reinvesting any profits to establish a visitor's centre.
This will support the company's aims to create jobs and training opportunities for local people, and to develop tourism in Thorne.
Paul Nevin believes the way this social enterprise venture has been set up is groundbreaking.
He told the Gazette: "The share dividend is innovative in that it is being paid in product (beer).
"This has made the scheme particuarly newsworthy, and is gaining national coverage, which is helping to market the product.
"I believe this scheme can potentially have national significance as it could change the way that all community shares schemes are marketed."
To receive a share in Thorne Brewery interested parties must join the Friends of Thorne Brewery, details can be found at www.thornebrewery.com
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Weather for Thorne
Thursday 24 May 2012
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