New “Empowering People” award aims to highlight the UK’s best independent craft brewery to work for
The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) have today announced a new “Empowering People” Award which seeks to highlight the best breweries in the UK to work for. The award is the newest category in the SIBA Business Awards 2023, which open for entries today.
The new award will put a spotlight on independent craft breweries who go above and beyond for the members of their team; empowering people to achieve more in their professional career, introducing initiatives and incentives which create a positive working environment, making efforts to promote diversity and inclusivity, or providing benefits or support mechanisms which encourage a happier healthier life for employees.
“The brewing sector is an incredibly hands-on and collaborative industry and the wellbeing of employees is at the forefront of all successful brewing businesses. This new award seeks to highlight the breweries in the UK who are not only supporting their staff but helping them to have a happier, more successful working life.” Neil Walker, SIBA Business Awards Chair of Judges.
The SIBA Business Awards seek to congratulate excellence in the brewing industry across a variety of categories, from pump clip, can and bottle design, to efforts taken by brewers to make their business more sustainable, innovative or successful, as well as naming the UK’s best pubs, bars and retailers of craft beer from independent breweries.
Christian Barden, UK & Europe CEO of Konvoy who are sponsoring the new Empowering People Award as well as the overall Brewery Business of the Year 2023, commented;
“I’m really proud to be supporting SIBA’s new award for Empowering People. Having been part of and built businesses across various organisations and continents it’s always empowered people that are encouraged to dream and work together with mutual trust and respect that create long term success stories. It’s so easily forgotten when the pressure is on but that’s actually when it matters most.
High performing teams are always about smiling faces and great results, and that’s the environment we’ll keep building at Konvoy. It all comes down to empowerment at every level, which is what my leaders create for me too. I look forward to seeing the great entries from breweries across the UK that are striving to do the same.”
The new categories introduced last year for the “UK’s Best Independent Craft Beer Retailer – Online”, “UK’s Best Independent Craft Brewery Webshop” and “Community Engagement” will also return for the 2023 Awards following huge interest from the industry.
“The SIBA Business Awards have evolved in response to changing consumer habits over recent years, as more people look to purchase beer online or discover their local brewery taproom. Independent craft breweries are embedded in their local communities and these awards highlight the businesses doing it better than anyone else in the UK.” Neil added on behalf of SIBA.
The SIBA Business Awards 2023 are judged by a panel of industry experts and presented at the UK’s biggest beer and brewing event – BeerX UK in Liverpool, March 2023. For more information about the awards visit www.siba.co.uk/businessawards
SIBA Business Awards 2023: Official Category Criteria
Marketing Implementation
For all aspects of effective marketing and communication strategy, including general or specific campaigns, promotions, PR, social media activity, product launches etc.
Entries must stand out from the crowd for marketing initiative, effective communication, a PR opportunity seized, or imagination and creativity deployed in the increasingly competitive virtual world of social networking.
Sustainable Business
For taking the ethics of environmental awareness and sustainable business operation way beyond the norm, with either a single innovative initiative or a holistic strategy for sustainability.
Entries must show how measures implemented in the brewery, such as production processes, energy economies, recycling and packaging, are minimising environmental impact to the benefit of both brewery and community.
Community Engagement
This award highlights breweries who have shown an outstanding commitment to engaging with their local community, supporting local initiatives, or raising money for charitable causes through events and fundraisers.
Entrants should demonstrate how the brewery is integrated into and supports the local community; either through a single successful initiative or a range of activities which engage local people.
Individual Design
For a single design of bottle, can or pump clip that clearly stands out, gains point-of-sale market advantage and ultimately drives the purchase of a brewery product.
Strong traditional designs are welcome, but entries are also sought for contemporary and original artwork that puts a brewery’s beers at the forefront of the evolution of point-of-sale as an essential marketing tool.
Multiple entries from a brewery are welcome, but should be entered separately and any entries which contain a range of designs within a ‘concept’ or ‘brand’ should be entered into the Concept Design Category below.
Concept Design
For the design concept behind a range of beers from a brewery, or a brewery’s entire branding and design strategy.
Entries must provide details of all aspects of the design concept and how it creates a distinct market identity, setting the brand apart in an intensely competitive field.
Business Innovation
For breweries that have shown true innovation in their business. This could be anything from a bold export operation getting beer in to the hands of new consumers or an internal innovation which has improved efficiency or profitability.
This broad category should be entered by any brewery who believe they have done something innovative within the industry.
Commercial Achievement
The commercial achievement award should be entered by breweries that have experienced commercial success in one or all areas of their business. Whether it is a brewery starting from scratch or an established brewer expanding their reach, the commercial achievement award aims to highlight the most business savvy from our industry.
Empowering People – NEW!
This award highlights independent craft breweries who go above and beyond for the members of their team; empowering people to achieve more in their professional career, introducing initiatives and incentives which create a positive working environment, making efforts to promote diversity and inclusivity, or providing benefits or support mechanisms which encourage a happier healthier life for employees.
This award seeks to congratulate breweries who put their team well-being at the heart of their business.
UK’s Best Independent Craft Brewery Taproom
For Taprooms which are located within, or in very close proximity to, working independent craft breweries.
Judges will be looking for an extraordinary commitment to serving the best quality and range of independent craft beers (including cask, keg, bottles or cans) in a welcoming and attractive environment.
This award is specifically for Brewery Taprooms and not for ‘Brewery Tap’ pubs or off-site ‘Taprooms’ not located within or near to the owner brewery. If you are a brewery with an off-site Taproom or Brewery Tap pub then you can enter this into the relevant Best Independent Craft Beer Bar or Pub category.
UK’s Best Independent Craft Brewery Webshop
This new award names the UK’s best independent craft brewery webshop. Entries should demonstrate how the brewery webshop offers a positive user experience, intuitive and attractive design, and of course excellent customer service.
This award is open only to webshops run by independent craft breweries on their own website, and is not for online retailers (for this see retailer category below).
UK’s Best Independent Craft Beer Retailer – Multiple
For independent retailers selling beer from multiple locations. Entrants can be specialist craft beer shops, or businesses which have recently shown a commitment to promoting independent craft beer, but must be an independent business with fewer than 10 outlets.
UK’s Best Independent Craft Beer Retailer – Single
For independent retailers selling beer from a single location. Entrants can be specialist craft beer shops, or businesses which have recently shown a commitment to promoting independent craft beer, but must be an independent business trading from a single location.
UK’s Best Independent Craft Beer Retailer – Online
For independent retailers based in the UK selling beer online. Entrants can be specialist craft beer retailers, or online retailers which have recently shown a commitment to promoting independent craft beer, but must be an independent business.
(Please note this award is not for brewery webshops, which have their own separate award above).
UK’s Best Independent Craft Beer Bar or Pub – City
For pubs or bars which have shown an extraordinary commitment to serving the best quality and range of independent craft beers (including cask, keg, bottle or can). This award is specifically for pubs or bars located in urban, city, town centre, or suburban locations across the UK.
UK’s Best Independent Craft Beer Bar or Pub – Rural
For pubs or bars which have shown an extraordinary commitment to serving the best quality and range of independent craft beers (including cask, keg, bottle or can). This award is specifically for pubs or bars located in rural, village, or isolated locations across the UK.
Best Independent Craft Beer Promotion
This award is for breweries, content-producers, agencies or other businesses within the beer industry who have shown innovation and success in promoting beer to either consumer or trade audiences.
This award is looking for the UK’s best beer festivals, video or audio beer content, tutored beer tastings, hosted beer events (in-person or online), or other promotions of beer via apps, point of sale, or any other means which have the aim of promoting independent craft beer in the UK.
Supplier Associate of the Year
This award seeks to highlight the UK’s best SIBA Supplier Associate and is SIBA Brewing Member nominated.
From brewing ingredient suppliers and brewery fabricators, to business consultants and agencies, The Supplier Associate of the Year is a company which has shown a real understanding of brewery needs and actively supported independent craft brewing businesses throughout the year.
SIBA Brewery Business of the Year
This judges’ choice award is the top prize at the SIBA Business Awards and is presented to the brewery who have, across a variety of areas, shown themselves to be running an outstanding brewing business which sets themselves apart from the competition.
