STROUD Brewery owner Greg Pilley has announced he will take on new staff and expand the company’s production three-fold after being awarded a £100,000 grant.

The funding, which has been matched by the brewery, was applied for through Defra’s Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE), and will enable the firm to quadruple its brewing capacity – thus meeting the ever-growing demand for its award winning beers.

First launched in 2007 and running until 2013, the RDPE scheme allows land-based businesses to apply for a share of almost £157 million to improve the sustainability of the UK’s farming, forestry and food sectors.

As well as expanding his production and creating at least two new jobs, Greg said the grant will also allow him to extend his range of bottled products and increase barley purchases by at least £60,000 by 2013 – an additional £600,000 over the next 10 years.

"I have no ambition to grow very large but I would like to see the business grow big enough to support a small team, say 5-6 people, making it sustainable in the long term," he said.

"Until now our permanent staff consisted of me and Ian Thorn, our head brewer, so if either of us takes a holiday, or on the rare occasions we are ill, it puts the business under strain.

"This grant will enable us to take on extra staff, brew more beer and continue to invest in the local area."

First established in 2006, Stroud Brewery produces a range of regular and seasonal beers, including its former Gloucestershire champion ale Budding and its warming festive tipple Ding Dong Christmas Porter.

All its malt is sourced from Warminster Maltings in Wiltshire – Britain’s oldest working floor malting – where staff use the use methods and tools first employed more than 100 years ago.

"There is a lot of pressure from industrial maltings which are offering much cheaper prices than local suppliers," added Greg.

"But we are committed to local malt and by extending I can continue this commitment.

"This means the grant is not only helping our business to grow but also our suppliers in the region, who will need to produce more to meet our demands." For more information about securing RDPE grants and advice contact Business Link on 0845 600 9966 or visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/southwest/rural.