Can you tell us a little about your current role and the focus of your work today?

Since I retired in June 2023, I have continued to be involved in the industry through my role on the CIBD GNS committee. I regularly attend CIBD events where my focus is on passing on technical knowledge, process understanding, and contacts within the brewing industry to younger and early-career members.

Looking back, what path led you into the drinks industry, and what were some defining moments along the way?

I had a passion for all the sciences at school and would regularly look at the Scientific jobs section in the local paper for inspiration as to which path to follow. An advert for a Junior Laboratory Technician at a brewery with day release for further education caught my eye. January 1975 saw my first day at Wilsons Brewery in Manchester, with one day a week release to study for an ONC in Sciences and later a HNC in Chemistry

Passing the Associate Membership Examination of the Institute of Brewing in 1982 was a defining moment in my career. Whilst studying for this exam I was released from my day role to spend time with all the other departments within the Brewery and was encouraged to visit maltings, hop farms, glass manufacturers and other allied industries. Wilsons Brewery was part of the Grand Metropolitan plc group, and this gave me the opportunity to visit and gain knowledge from other breweries within the UK.

However, when Wilsons Brewery closed and I moved to a smaller family-owned brewery the interactions between all departments were more commonplace and with a smaller workforce this gave me the opportunities to work directly with middle and senior managers. These close working relationships helped me to understand the overall business far better than working for a large group. Again, the company was happy to sponsor me on external courses and encouraged me to attend CIBD events. At this point I didn’t need any encouragement as I was passionate about Brewing.

As part of a small Quality Control team, my skills and knowledge were used during commissioning of new plant to ensure and improve quality across both production sites. Some of the big projects have included a new cask racking plant when this department transferred operations to the packaging centre, a new centrifuge and tank farm associated with this, the replacement of a returnable bottle filler to a NRB filler, and a new brewhouse. These projects gave me the opportunity to work closely with both engineers and production line operators, and as such I was able to develop their understanding of the role of quality through this work.

A key priority I gave myself was to train and share my brewing and packaging knowledge with all employees. I led many internal trainings with employees at all levels on topics including taste training, pasteurisation, oxygen control, volume control and hygiene. These enabled other employees to gain an insight into quality.

From your experience, how have opportunities for women in the industry evolved during your career – and what still needs attention?

When I attended my first IOB meeting I was approached by a male who suggested that I was in the wrong room saying, “This is a meeting for Brewers, there are no ladies here”. I explained that I was new to the Brewing Industry, but in the right place to attend tonight's lecture. I found the whole evening intimidating being the only female in the room. Nobody spoke to me and I left shortly after the lecture finished. After 49 years in the industry, the same gentleman who questioned me at my first meeting has since acknowledged my place in Brewing saying, “so glad you ignored the first conversation we had”. He was one of the first people to congratulate me on being made a Fellow of the CIDB.

The Brewing Industry in 1974 when I joined was very much male dominated in brewing and technical roles, with few women in the industry who generally worked in a laboratory on Quality Control. The bottling hall operators were generally female, but supervisory and management roles were all held by males. Thankfully we are now in a far better place with attitudes to women greatly improved. More roles such are Brewers, Engineers, Technical Services and supervisory roles are now filled by women. Many off these roles were filled before 2010 when the Equality Act emerged, but I am sure that this influenced following appointments.

When attending CIBD banquets in the late 80’s and early 90’s women would attend in the year they received examination awards, but rarely afterwards. Few of us attended every year, however again during later years the number of regular female attendees has greatly increased. CIBD meetings and lectures are now also well attended by many women.

What advice would you offer to women entering the industry today?

Attend as many CIBD and other Brewing Industry events as you can. Everyone from early-career to senior members should take the opportunities to share their knowledge and experience. Within your own Companies, explore the possibilities of spending time in other department to gain a better understanding of the Brewing process and the industry as a whole. Actively seek out mentors.

Is there anything you’d like to share with other women considering a career in the drinks industry? Or any final thoughts you’d like to share?

Appreciate your own talents and potential, go for it. It may not be easy but hopefully it will be rewarding. Interact with others within the industry to exchange information and develop professional or social contacts. Acquire all the knowledge that you can, but just as important be enthusiastic about this industry.

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