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Community benefits as Belfast co-op brewers open Northern Ireland’s first taproom

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A co-operative craft brewery has expanded its retail operation by opening a new taproom creating jobs and positive impact for the local community.

Since its inception in 2015, production at Belfast-based Boundary Brewing Co-operative has increased rapidly as demand for its high quality craft beers has boomed. Over the years the brewery has expanded its premises, installed a canning line and increased production capacity by investing in three 2,000L fermenters using previous loan finance support from Co-op Loan Fund in 2019.

After seven successful years building its bold creative brand and establishing a reputation with impressive wholesale and online sales, Boundary Brewing is looking to diversify its operations by opening a new taproom (the first ever to open in Northern Ireland) and taking on the leasehold management of a busy city centre pub.

A loan and support from Co-op Loan Fund along with a successful record breaking community share offer has contributed to the funding of the new taproom situated next door to the brewery. Prior to the pandemic and lockdown, the taproom was used for successful pop-up nights held twice a month; but will now trade Wednesday to Sunday employing a team of staff creating local jobs and economic benefit for the area.

The taproom will also serve as a local hub where it offers a meeting place for clubs, groups and community organisations.

In a post on social media Boundary says the taproom offers “20 taps. Enormous fridges full of cans and Belgian beer. Awesome wine list. It’s beautiful, warm, comfortable and inviting.” Visits to the brewery will also be available to Taproom customers.

With over 2,000 co-operative members and enthusiastic involvement from the community, the Taproom will also serve as a local hub where it offers a meeting place for clubs, groups and community organisations and more once the taproom is fully underway.

Through a local business partnership Boundary Brewing has also taken on the leasehold management of a busy city centre pub to further expand the brewery’s commercial and retail operation. The advantage of the pub’s prime location and closeness to a major 15,000 students’ campus development by Ulster University means profits and operating income will create growth for the Brewery as well as investment into social and community objectives.

Matthew Dick, Founder & Managing Director of Boundary Brewing said: “The Coop Loan Fund has been a key partner in the development of Boundary Brewing. They have supported us at a critical point in our growth. We have been able to blend debt and equity because of this support, which has been crucial over the past four years.”

Kevin Lloyd-Evans, Lending and Relationship Manager of Co-operative & Community Finance which manages Co-op Loan Fund, said: “It is brilliant to see the Boundary Taproom open. The development has been amazing, it’s a story of enterprise, entrepreneurialism and community business. I hope this model of growth can be replicated by many more co-operatives.”

With 4 year-round core beers and a range of limited-edition special beers (of which about 10 are available at any one time), the Brewery’s distinctive creative branding featuring original abstract paintings by Belfast artist John Robinson means Boundary cans are fast becoming collectable items. Visit their website to keep up to date with their latest plans and newest beers.

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Collective take on college premises to form craft brewery

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A collective of hospitality and events workers in Plymouth have taken on the premises of a previously dormant college brewery to launch Borrowed Parts Brew Co. 

Operating out of a former teaching and commercial brewery installed by City College Plymouth in the year 2000, the group have revived and retrofitted the facility which has been sat idle for several years.

Photo by Laura Harris

Prior to 2020, a local economic and community development organisation Real Ideas negotiated the lease and helped the group secure initial backing allowing them to train to produce craft beer at scale and develop as a co-operative.

With an interest borne of personal experience, the group favour co-operative structures and collective ownership as a safeguard against exploitation and burnout all too familiar in the hospitality and brewing industries. The group say that their interests lay in ‘community ownership to counter capital led development of their community, both in terms of literal development projects and also the market-first ideology pervasive in society’.

The brewery is launching in May and will be serving at community, social enterprise and festival events in the area. They are also developing educational resources for students with the College, as well as offering paid work experience on select brew days.

In the longer term Borrowed Parts Brew Co have plans to include developing much more sustainable production practices. Currently their waste hops go to Snapdragons CIC, where slow worms burrow in its compost, and they hope to brew using waste bread once they can build up a localised supply chain.

Photo by Laura Harris

Jack Witek, a Director at Borrowed Parts Brew Co said: ”We simply would not be here if it were not for the Co-op Loan Fund. Coming at such a crucial time for us, the swift investment decision and the trust placed in us in receiving the fund gave us such a confidence boost after a very difficult and demoralising period. It has allowed us to put two beers on the market with everything that requires. Whilst we are a community oriented project, enterprises like ours need more than just volunteerism to get off the ground, and we are proud to be part of a virtuous cycle with our success helping other community and co-operative enterprises and livelihoods.”

Kevin Lloyd-Evans, Lending and Relationship Manager at Co-operative & Community Finance who manage the fund added: “The Co-op Loan Fund has an important role to play in helping the Co-op sector develop. Our smaller lending is often a catalyst for further investment and growth. Borrowed Parts is an excellent initiative grounded in the principles of co-operative development. We look forward to working further with them and supporting other groups with the same outlook and ownership structures.”

Visit the Borrowed Parts Brew Co. website for all their latest news and products.

Coop Loan Fund provides unsecured loans to co-operatives with no personal guarantees up to £85,000 with ongoing advice and support and no set lending terms.

Unique lending: to co-ops, from co-ops.

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Fair work founded on the principles of co-operation

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At a time of increasing precarious work and recent expanse of the exploitative ‘gig economy’, worker co-operatives can provide sustainability, equality and equity to members providing fair work at a time when it is greatly needed.

 This year Co-op Fortnight, the annual UK celebration of co-operation, is celebrating the benefits and diversity of co-op membership and encouraging people to #JoinACoop up and down the country. Built on values of co-operation; members of worker-owned businesses experience the benefits of autonomy, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity much more than they might expect in other workplaces.

Worker co-operatives have been reported to be more productive than conventional businesses in several sectors and have proven effective in creating sustainable jobs, improving quality of life for members, promoting community issues, and investing in local economies.

Worker-owned co-operatives can also offer extensive skills training and provide the opportunity for greater participation in governance and management of the business putting members at the forefront of decision making that helps their co-op succeed.

Coop Loan Fund is very proud to have worked with a number of excellent worker co-operatives over the years providing fair work in a sustainable, equal and equitable environment including:

Unicorn Grocery – Manchester’s worker-owned co-operative grocery
Stir to Action – Worker-owned organisation providing strategic economic development, national training programmes, and quarterly magazine.
Alpha Communication – Worker owned design & marketing co-operative
Blake House – Worker-owned film makers
Hempen – Worker co-op providing products for the health of people, community and planet.
Wild Thyme Wholefoods – Worker co-operative wholefood shop in Southsea.
R-Eco – Solar panel installers
Centrifuge – A social and economic development consultancy and worker co-op
Valley Organics – Wholefood zero packaging community shop and worker co-op
Café Kino – Vegan café, community space and worker co-op in Bristol

14 million people are members of a co‑op in the UK and you could be too.

Join a co-op, support your community and be part of a movement that has the potential to change society for the better.

Coop Loan Fund provides unsecured loans to co-operatives with no personal guarantees up to £85,000 with ongoing advice and support and no set lending terms.

Unique lending: to co-ops, from co-ops.