Ellis, Victoria and Bosworth, Gary (2015) Supporting rural entrepreneurship in the UK microbrewery sector. British Food Journal, 117 (11). pp. 2724-2738. ISSN 0007-070X
|
Text
Microbreweries paper for BFJ FINAL.pdf - Accepted Version Download (427kB) | Preview |
Abstract
Purpose: The UK has seen rapid growth in the number of microbreweries but a concurrent decline in public house numbers raising concerns about the sustainability of this growth. This research explores the impact of funding upon competition in the sector and the entrepreneurial characteristics of microbrewers. With an emphasis on rural based businesses, the local economic impacts are also examined. Design/methodology/approach: The research is informed by analysis of trends in both the brewing and public house sectors in the UK. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with microbrewers, including 5 who had received funding to support their development. These were supplemented with three days of participant observation at collaborative brewing events with 26 microbrewery owners and 3 microbrewery managers. Findings: The findings indicate that the value attached to microbreweries extends beyond their economic contribution with wider outcomes including training and job creation, the preservation of listed buildings and the enhancement of rural tourism. Funding stimulated entrepreneurial responses but support for these wider outcomes ran the risk of distorting competition. Originality/value: As competition increases in the sector, microbrewery owners need to become more entrepreneurial to maintain their market position. Competition is heightened by a number of lifestyle enterprises that can survive with lower profit levels while routes to market are limited by a decline in the public house sector. In such a pressured market, there is a need for clearer assessments of the impacts on local economies and entrepreneurship when grant funding is provided.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Alcohol, Business support, Entrepreneurship, Funding decisions, Local development, Microbreweries, Public houses, Sustainable growth |
| Subjects: | N100 Business studies N800 Tourism, Transport and Travel N900 Others in Business and Administrative studies |
| Department: | Faculties > Business and Law > Newcastle Business School |
| Depositing User: | Rachel Branson |
| Date Deposited: | 05 May 2020 09:15 |
| Last Modified: | 31 Jul 2021 18:16 |
| URI: | http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/43004 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |
Downloads
Downloads per month over past year
