Apprenticeship Success

We caught up with Marcus Taylor-Brown, our youngest brewery operator who has just passed his brewing apprenticeship…

Marcus, tell us a little about yourself…

When I’m not in work I enjoy spending time with friends and family. Also, working night shifts can be tiring so in my spare time I enjoy being at home resting and catching up on the TV!

What is your role on a day-to-day basis?

I work as a brewery operator in the filtration department. I am mainly filtering the beer ready for tanker loading and sending down to kegging. Essentially, getting the beer to the best possible place before it’s sent out. I work 12-hour shifts and when I’m not busy getting the beer close to finished product, I try and help others as much as I can. I get to help the team and it’s a great learning opportunity for me.

Congratulations on passing your recent exams, can you tell us a bit about this?

Thanks so much. So, I have just passed my Level 4 brewing apprenticeship – I’m chuffed to have passed! The process end to end was two years; I started out at a microbrewery and moved to Greene King last year to complete my apprenticeship. I have loved it here so far, everyday has been like a school day – there is so much to learn and pick up on.

There were three parts to my final exam – a multiple choice exam with an invigilator present, an hour’s brewery tour with an assessor and time spent in three different parts of the brewery. I chose filtration, the brewhouse and cellar management and dispense.

How have the brewery team supported you with your studies?

The whole team have been so supportive and friendly. My shift team have been brilliant – they are so open to letting me watch the processes and how it all works. I have learnt so much from the team already and I’m grateful to Peter, my line manager, and the wider team.

At 18, I think that makes you one of the youngest qualified brewery operators in the country?

Yes, I think so! I’m the youngest brewery operative here and I think the youngest the team have had in over 30 years so that’s pretty cool. My first experience in the brewing environment was at the age of 16 and I haven’t looked back since.

Finally, what do you think to the announcement on us investing in a brandnew brewery?

I think it’s exciting news. I keep wondering how it will look inside! It’s going to be exciting to see a new brewery go up from scratch – this is such a rare opportunity and could be the only time I get to see this in my career.