Prime Minister visits Carlsberg-owned brewery
Rishi Sunak, joined by MP for Wolverhampton South West Stuart Anderson and Wolverhampton North East MP Jane Stevenson, met with senior leaders of Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) to learn more about the company.
They discussed the brewer’s heritage, its sustainability initiatives and also took part in the brewing process by dry hopping beer in the latest batch of Hobgoblin Gold being brewed.
Banks’s Brewery is one of the oldest in CMBC’s network and will be celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2025.
CMBC employs over 2,000 people across the UK, with more than 370 in Wolverhampton.
Supporting the sector
Sunak said: “It was brilliant to visit Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company where I had the opportunity to meet staff and engineering apprentices. The brewery tour was fascinating as I learnt about CMBC’s brewing history as well as their sustainability initiatives and how the work they’re doing spills over to support the local community.
“Successful home-brewed businesses are very much at the heart of growing our economy, and CMBC are doing just that by creating jobs to employ and train skilled staff in the West Midlands.”
The visit saw the Prime Minister and chief executive Paul Davies discuss the contribution both CMBC and the wider pubs and brewing industry make to the UK’s economy and communities, with Sunak meeting current and former CMBC engineering apprentices, alongside members of the brewing team before exploring the brewery.
Anderson said it was “fantastic” to welcome Sunak to the site. He continued: “Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company has a rich history. They employ hundreds of people in our city, and Bank’s Brewery is one of the oldest breweries associated with CMBC. It’s great to see CMBC’s impact on the brewing industry being showcased to the Prime Minister, as well as their dedication to supporting pubs, brewers, and local people through their apprenticeship schemes.
Working together
“It was a delight to visit Banks’s Brewery alongside the Prime Minister – I will continue to work to ensure that businesses in Wolverhampton are recognised and supported.”
CMBC chief executive added it was a “great pleasure” to host the visit. He said: “As one of the country’s leading brewers, this was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the innovative work we are doing in sustainability, the investment we are making in our people, and the role pubs and brewers play in our society.
“We were pleased to introduce the Prime Minister to some of CMBC’s engineering apprentices and trainees, and to get him involved in the brewing of our newest batch of Hobgoblin Gold ale. CMBC is looking forward to working closely with Government to support our industry and create the environment needed for brewers and pubs to thrive.”
