From Beer to Whisky and Back: David's Career Journey at Greene King

At Greene King, we’re proud to offer great career progression opportunities. You can build a career that goes whichever way you want to go. David’s inspiring transformation is a shining example of this. 

The first step of his journey came in 2001, when he took one of our brewery jobs. Over the years, David embraced different roles, all the while refining his craft and accumulating experience. After leaving the business in 2007, David began an intriguing detour into English Single Malt Whiskey. His creations not only earned him a cascade of awards but are said to have played a pivotal role in the renaissance of English Whiskey!

Following this successful detour, he made a return to Greene King in 2021. With 15 years of immersion in the whiskey world under his belt, his beer-brewing roots were calling. Now, having shown excellence in brewing and distilling, this extraordinary journey has taken him back to where it all started.

Here’s a look at David’s Greene King career story in his own words. 

Why David joined Greene King 

Life at Greene King is full of opportunities. David has experienced this in both his stints with the company. He explained his remarkable journey, and his motivation behind rejoining the booming beer industry.

‘I joined in 2021 but had been here before. I left in 2007 to become the only distiller making whisky in England for over 100 years...almost certainly the first ever to produce an English Single Malt Whisky. I won lots of awards for the whisky I made, so happy days! There are now 49 English Whisky distilleries so I guess I helped start the revolution! After almost 15 years I'd had enough of whisky so came back to my first love of beer.’

David’s career path at Greene King

Progression comes in many forms. Of course, every career path needs a little nudge in the right direction. Thanks to the career progression opportunities available at Greene King, David was able to advance to leadership positions with the right training.

‘Originally it started way back in 2001 down in Draught Beer putting beer into casks on the then, newly installed cask filling system. I worked on the cask rackers and cask pumps as well as on the keg line. I came up to the Brewhouse after a year and progressed from there. I then became a Team Leader and then onto a Shift Brewer through a lot of hard graft!’

Seeing transformation across different Greene King brand

We’re all on a journey to be better. Our growth as a company has mirrored David’s own growth since joining in 2001. David’s experienced the different Greene King brands within his work and has seen some changes worth shouting about since coming back. 

‘It was a slightly odd path for me with leaving and then returning but the changes I've seen since I've been back have been truly amazing. A totally different company in a very good way...maybe if you've been here a while you may not see that but I definitely do.’

Greene King’s career progression opportunities and support

The growth of our employees is a huge priority. We want to create an environment where you can learn, grow, and have all the support you need. This support has had a clear influence on David’s career path. 

‘Greene King supported me originally through comprehensive training; both technical and management-focused.’

What is the best thing about working in hospitality?

There are plenty of reasons to work in hospitality. From the thrill-a-minute shifts to workplace camaraderie, there are plenty of benefits to take your pick from. As a beer-lover, it was a simple choice for David. 

‘Producing a product people want to consume.’

Advice for aspiring Greene King employees

We’re always on the lookout for the latest and greatest hospitality talent. There’s plenty of benefits of working at Greene King, and David had some simple advice for our future stars. 

‘Go for it... I didn't regret it the first time and definitely don't regret returning.’

Ready to choose a career at Greene King?

David’s career journey is a great example of the routes you can take at Greene King He’s not alone. Team members have gone from the pub to the head office and even from temp jobs to full time roles. Wherever you want to go, we’ll help you get there.

If you’re inspired by David’s journey we’ve got plenty of opportunities for you. Explore Greene King brewery jobs today and join the team.