News | 12/03/2025
Local Business Spotlight: Wheatsheaf Brewery – Pints, logistics and people
Wheatsheaf Brewery successfully secured a £6,000 grant from the Rural England Prosperity Fund – part of the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The scheme was designed to support rural businesses and communities by addressing the unique challenges they face. Rural businesses could apply for 50% match funding for eligible capital projects and access grants between £5,000 and to £77,000. The funding focused on projects that supported diversification, boosted rural tourism, or enhanced visitor experiences.
We spoke to Franklyn Gillham and explored how the funding has made a difference for Wheatsheaf Brewery and the impact it’s having on their future.
The business in a nutshell:
Wheatsheaf Brewery, based in Huntingdon, is a craft microbrewery dedicated to making high quality, full flavoured ales. They currently manufacture ale in small batches which are packaged in bottles and in casks. These are sold directly to the public at their pop up taproom, at markets, and to local pubs and bottle shops.
Project overview:
Wheatsheaf Brewery has invested in two new pieces of equipment that will both increase the volume of ale being brewed and diversify their offer, all whilst reducing their transportation miles and other logistical constraints.
The first piece of equipment is a larger, better quality uni-tank (fermentation and conditioning vessel) that will run alongside their existing standard fermenter. The team had been scouring the second-hand market to find an affordable option to expand production. With the funds now in place, the larger volume tank with superior control systems, enables them to brew more beer with a fuller flavour profile. It also delivers the possibility of brewing a wider range of beers including lagers, wheat beers and hoppy ales, alongside their traditional ales.
The second piece of equipment brings cask washing in-house and ends their current dependence on borrowing a machine at another brewery a few miles away. The cask washer does what its name suggests and as well as reducing mileage, it eases production constraints enabling the team to brew more often. It also gives the team greater control over their production schedule.
Ultimately, the growth in production enabled by the new equipment, will boost this local business allowing them to open their onsite taproom more regularly and enable them to supply even more local pubs and beer festivals.
As the natural waste product from the brewing process is donated to a local farm for animal feed, the increased volumes will benefit the animals too.
What inspired you to pursue this project for your business, and how did the rural prosperity fund grant come at the right time for you?
The timing of the rural prosperity grant fund was perfect for us. We started the business two years ago with a plan to grow but even we were surprised this year by a significant 55% increase in sales. We knew we would need an additional fermenter to meet the demand but now we needed it sooner than expected. Discovering the fund has enabled us to purchase a larger and better quality model, along with an additional cask washer that reduces our dependence on another brewery whilst boosting our eco credentials.
How will the grant-funded purchases or upgrades impact your business's daily operations and your ability to grow or innovate?
We brew a range of traditional ales with English-style flavour profiles. The new fermenter has greater functionality that will enable us to expand the range and produce higher quantities of beer. This includes better temperature control for brewing different styles of beer, and greater pressure that will intensify the flavour profile of our beers. We will also be able to fill into different types of containers - at the moment, we can only fill bottles and casks.
Having our own cask washer means we are now in control of our production, are not contending with logistical constraints and have cut down our mileage, which is good for the environment.
How will these changes benefit the local community and/or the natural environment?
Our customers tell us that the Wheatsheaf Brewery is a community space and we love that they see us that way. Our pop up taproom is always popular as a place for our neighbours to socialise together - much needed as there is not a pub on our estate. Increasing production will enable us to open the taproom more often (maybe every day!).
Our waste products from brewing, the mash and hops are donated to a local farm for animal feed. It means we are supporting local farmers with good quality, natural feed so increased production will certainly benefit them too.
What has the process been like working with the economic development team to secure this funding? Has their support made a difference in helping you navigate the grant application?
We cannot praise the support of the economic development team enough. From telling us about the fund, to supporting us to complete the forms and sharing all the information needed, to being so enthusiastic about our business and what we are doing. The team has proactively encouraged us every step of the way and we value their continued guidance.
Visit Wheatsheaf Brewery's website here.
Get in touch with the Economic Development team today to see how we may be able to support your business, send an email to economic.development@huntingdonshire.gov.uk.