Birmingham-based craft beer maker Attic Brew Co is one of more
than 2,000 businesses being backed by a multi-million-pound
scheme helping firms cut their energy usage and fuel bills.
Run by friends Sam Back and Oli Hurlow, Attic Brew Co has been
given a net zero grant to help buy new energy efficient beer
making equipment as well as a super-efficient boiler,
double glazing and lighting for its Stirchley-based brewery.
The new equipment will cut the brewery's carbon emissions by 65
tonnes a year - the same amount of carbon produced by three
family cars over their entire lifetimes on the road – and slash
fuel bills by £30,000 a year at current prices.
The energy efficiency scheme is run by the West Midlands Combined
Authority (WMCA) through Business Growth West Midlands (BGWM),
and funded by the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero
(DESNZ).
Attic Brew Co has grown rapidly since starting life just six
years ago in the attic of managing director Sam.
It now has an annual turnover of £2.2 million and employs 40
people at its multi-award-winning brewery and tap room in
Stirchley, and at its Barrel Store in Birmingham city centre. The
company also supplies Waitrose and CrossCountry trains as well as
pubs and other retailers.
But like many businesses, high energy costs have been threatening
to slow down their ambitious plans to continue growing and be
more sustainable.
West Midlands Mayor visited the brewery to
toast the success of the business and hear how it will be boosted
by becoming more energy efficient.
Sam said: “Our bills had gone up by 50 per cent which is a
massive amount for us and it was set to start eroding our
margins. We're a very energy intensive business and currently
spend around 10 per cent of our production costs on fuel.
“The support we've had means we've been able to reduce equipment
running costs, the level of heating we need and the co2 we
produce. It has also unlocked additional support to help find
future avenues for improvement.
“Without this help it's likely we'd have had to scale down our
plans to maintain the fantastic growth we've seen since we began
brewing commercially in 2018.”
, Mayor of the West Midlands
and WMCA chair, said: “Stirchley has changed so much over the
years, and Attic Brewery is a great example of that. It's amazing
to see how this brewery has grown into such a hub for the
community. And it's businesses like this one that I am delighted
to be supporting with grants that will help them grow.
“During my visit, Sam and Oli showed me how this investment in
energy-saving technology will help them cut costs, reduce carbon
emissions, and continue their ambitions for sustainable growth.
Local breweries like Attic Brew Co are an important part of our
communities, creating jobs and offering spaces where people can
come together. I'm backing our breweries and would encourage
residents to do the same.”
According to CAMRA – the Campaign for Real Ale – there are 42
independent breweries in the West Midlands. The consumer group
has called for more support to help pubs and breweries deal with
high energy bills.
West Midlands CAMRA chairman Ash Corbett-Collins said:
“Breweries, along with the pubs that they serve, are battling to
stay afloat against a horrendous tide of financial challenges,
including spiralling cost of goods and high energy bills, and a
restricted access to market.
“With many independent breweries not being able to see a light at
the end of the tunnel, WMCA's funding comes at an ideal time for
a brewery like Attic Brew Co.
“Independent breweries like Attic, are integral parts of local
economies and provide greater choice to consumers in a space
dominated by giant international breweries who often have a
stranglehold over draught beer served in pubs and bars.”
The West Midlands has a higher proportion of energy exposed
businesses than any other UK region which is why tailored support
to help firms be more energy efficient is a key element of the
WMCA's work to boost resilience and productivity.
It will also help the West Midlands achieve its #WM2041 ambition of becoming
a net zero region within the next two decades.
All SMEs - from businesses in the everyday economy such as coffee
shops and hairdressers to manufacturing firms - can apply for a
free energy audit.
Eligible businesses will then have the opportunity to access up
to £100,000 of match funding to implement recommended measures
that can reduce their energy demand.
This could include supporting investment in new machinery and
equipment, improved manufacturing processes, or LED lighting and
insulation.
The Business Energy Advice Service and Net Zero Decarbonisation
Scheme are among a range of support programmes for SMEs that can
be accessed for free through Business Growth West Midlands, the
business advice service set up by the WMCA.
Find out more at www.businessgrowthwestmidlands.org.uk.
