Gift VouchersShop Our Beers

    Sustainability: Championing people with passion

    People are at the heart of a sustainable future – from our teams to the guests we serve. Championing People is about creating a fair, inclusive and empowered culture that drives long-term impact. Our four priorities are learning and development, employee engagement, equity, diversity and inclusion, and brand experience, because sustainability starts with people.

    Championing People with Passion

    People are at the heart of a sustainable future – from our teams to the guests we serve. Championing People is about creating a fair, inclusive and empowered culture that drives long-term impact. Our four priorities are learning and development, employee engagement, equity, diversity and inclusion, and brand experience, because sustainability starts with people.

    Learning and Development

    Why

    Investing in learning builds a skilled, engaged workforce ready to meet challenges. It supports talent retention, bridges skills gaps and boosts employee experience. We’ll also prioritise climate upskilling to prepare for a more sustainable future.

    Mission Critical Goal

    We will empower our employees to take meaningful action on climate change, creating a culture of sustainability that is supported by climate-literate leadership and upskilling rolled-out to all employees.

    Highlights

    ·       We have a structured onboarding process with tailored induction pathways to support new employees

    ·       Our THRIVE digital platform offers on-the-go learning and company-wide communication

    ·       Our apprenticeships span brewing, hospitality, marketing, engineering and more, combining hands-on experience with academic learning

    ·       Our award-winning apprentices are recognised for excellence in brewing and hospitality

    ·       Our Leadership Essentials Programme launched in 2024 for managers (Level 3+)

    ·       Our Train a Trainer initiative builds in-house expertise and fosters a learning culture

    Employee Engagement

    Why

    Employees who have good-quality jobs and are managed well are not only happier, healthier and more fulfilled, but are also more likely to drive productivity, better products or services, and innovation. This mutual-gains view of motivation and people management lies at the heart of employee engagement.

    Mission Critical Goal

    We will continuously work to make sure our colleagues thrive at St Austell Brewery and, by 2027, will earn external accreditation that recognises us as a brilliant place to work.

    Highlights

    ·       Our Culture Amp platform enables us to track and improve employee engagement and satisfaction

    ·       67% engagement score achieved, with a 6% increase in engagement and 10% drop in turnover in six months

    ·       Regular feedback loops drive continuous improvements to strategy and workplace culture

    ·       Flexible work scheduling supports work-life balance and enhances recruitment and retention

    Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

    Why

    Beer brings people together—it’s the original social network. Our sector thrives on diversity and inclusion, uniting people from all walks of life. But we know there’s more to do, especially as female representation in brewing has declined in recent years.

    Mission Critical Goal

    We will create an equitable and inclusive workforce ensuring we train our teams on EDI, are a disability-friendly employer, and work to reduce our gender pay gap by 3 percentage points by 2030.

    Actions

    ·       CEO-led EDI Steering Committee established in 2022 to drive inclusion across gender, disability, and LGBTQ+ areas

    ·       Employee Advisory Group of 20+ staff helps shape our EDI initiatives with real-time feedback

    ·       Data-driven decisions have been powered by the Culture Amp platform since 2022 to enhance workplace culture

    ·       Gender equity focus: we have achieved a 50/50 gender split in our leadership team and we offer flexible work options to support women in senior roles

    ·       Community and awareness: we have partnered with Cornwall Pride and run internal campaigns on menopause and neurodiversity

    Brand Experience

    Why

    Our mission to deliver great experiences is deeply linked to our sustainability strategy. For us, sustainability means balancing people, planet and business. Today, guests value not just quality but the positive impact our beers, meals and pubs have beyond their personal enjoyment.

    Mission Critical Goal

    In our effort to deliver great experiences for everyone who touches our brand, we will work to ensure we see positive and continuous growth in our brand-touchpoint experience metrics, including ensuring that 100% of our managed pubs receive a Reputation score within the 800-900 band.

    Highlights

    We are actively enhancing our brand experience by integrating sustainability into our operations, which positively impacts its reputation:

    ·       We have committed to net-zero emissions before the government target of 2050, aligning sustainability with our brand values

    ·       We partnered with University of Exeter on a huge circular-economy pub refurbishment at Pier House

    ·       We have collaborated with Biffa to reduce pub waste by 80% across managed venues

    ·       We teamed up with Olio app to redistribute surplus food and support communities