Arkell’s Brewer Jack Bridgman Achieves Distinction in Brewing Apprenticeship

Arkell’s Brewery Brewer and Quality Control Lead Jack Bridgman has graduated with distinction after completing his Level 4 Brewer apprenticeship.

Jack joined Arkell’s in 2012 as a cellarman, following in the footsteps of his father, Graham Bridgman, who has worked for Arkell’s for 43 years. Having grown up around the brewery, Jack remembers visiting as a young lad at weekends with his dad and helping to wash barrels. It was a place he had always wanted to work, and he has since progressed from cellarman to Brewing Operative and then Brewer and Quality Control Lead. Achieving a distinction marks a significant milestone in Jack’s brewing career.

The Level 4 apprenticeship ran from July 2024 to March 2026, covering every stage of the brewing process, from raw materials and brewhouse operations to fermentation, technical calculations and recipe design. Combining formal study with hands-on experience at Arkell’s, the course gave him a deeper understanding of the science behind brewing and the importance of every stage in producing quality beer.

One of the key elements of the qualification was designing a beer from scratch, requiring Jack to apply his understanding of brewing science to create a recipe in which every detail was carefully calculated, from sugar extraction from the malt to colour and hop bitterness.

The result was Jack’s Juicy IPA, a 4.5% ABV beer developed as part of his apprenticeship and brewed by Arkell’s as one of its seasonal ales in 2025. The beer marked an important step in Jack’s development, demonstrating how the knowledge gained through his qualification could be translated into a finished product.

Reflecting on his apprenticeship, Jack said: “My favourite part was meeting all the other brewers on the course, but learning every process in depth has also given me a much deeper understanding of how important every step of the brewing process is.

“Achieving a distinction was a feeling of pride and relief. It wasn’t an easy course, but hard work pays off.”

Head Brewer Alex Arkell travelled to Nottingham to join Jack for his graduation. He said: “Jack has always been hard-working and committed, and we are delighted to see him achieve this distinction. He is an essential member of the team and thoroughly deserves this recognition.

“His career at Arkell’s is a great example of how practical experience and formal training can work together to develop the skills and knowledge needed to progress in brewing. We are incredibly proud of what he has achieved.

“Jack’s career is set to take another step forward in March, when he will take up the position of Brewery Foreman following Bob Mercer’s retirement. He has already accepted the role, and we hope he will enjoy the same long and successful career at Arkell’s as his dad.”

Notes to Editor:

Jack Bridgman and Alex Arkell at Jack’s Graduation

Arkell’s Brewery was established in 1843 by John Arkell. It is Swindon’s oldest business, and one of just 29 family breweries left in the UK. With 183 years of brewing heritage, Arkell’s remains family-run, with four members of the Arkell family at the helm: Chairman Emeritus James Arkell, his cousin Nick Arkell, Head of Sales, and James’s sons George Arkell, Chairman and Managing Director, and Alex Arkell, Head Brewer.

The Arkell family work at the brewery alongside generations of other local families, brewing real ale and looking after nearly 100 pubs across Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Hampshire. Arkell’s ales include Award-winning beers such as 3B, Wiltshire Gold, and Malthouse Craft Lager. Special ales are brewed regularly, with Head Brewer, Alex Arkell, keeping the art of craft ale alive, offering drinkers new tastes and flavours all hand crafted in their historic tower brewery.

For further information please contact Helen Ryan via helen@arkells.com.

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