Brewer Apprentices Celebrate Success at 2025 Graduation and Untapped Awards

HIT Training’s annual Brewer Apprenticeship Graduation Event brought together the next generation of brewing talent to celebrate their achievements, innovation, and passion for the craft. Held on 23rd October 2025 at the iconic Albert Hall in Nottingham, the event recognised the dedication of 36 brewer apprentices who have completed their programmes and are now making their mark within the UK’s dynamic brewing industry.

Celebrating Brewing Talent and Achievement

The graduation ceremony was a vibrant celebration of brewing excellence, spotlighting the skills, creativity, and commitment demonstrated by each apprentice throughout their training journey. It also reflected the strength of collaboration between employers, mentors, and training providers across the sector.

Apprentices, employers, and industry partners gathered to mark the culmination of another successful year, highlighting the ongoing partnership between HIT Training and Nottingham University in championing brewing education and career development across the UK.

The 2025 Untapped Competition: Showcasing Creativity

A highlight of the day was the 2025 Untapped Apprentice Brewer of the Year competition, which saw seven talented finalists –  known as the Super Seven – present their unique brews to an expert judging panel.

🏆🍻 And the winner is… Joseph Woods from Resting Devil! 🍻🏆

Joseph impressed the judges with his exceptional brew, Beelzebub, a 5% American pale ale designed to impress. Built on a foundation of extra pale ale malt, wheat, oats and cara, the beer glows at 10 EBC and balances a 25 IBU bitterness with clean drinkability. Expect vibrant tropical bursts of pineapple, mango, and stone fruit, amplified by US-05 yeast for a crisp, modern finish.

With its playful name and powerful profile, Beelzebub perfectly captured the spirit of the competition – combining creativity, technical skill, and a deep understanding of flavour.

Joseph’s path into brewing wasn’t a straight line. He first joined Resting Devil Brewery to help with sales and deliveries, but his curiosity about the brewing process soon pulled him into the brewhouse. After shadowing and assisting Head Brewer Josh, Joseph quickly fell in love with the craft – captivated by the way science and creativity merge to produce endless possibilities in beer.

His passion, curiosity, and hands-on approach have now earned him national recognition as the 2025 Untapped Apprentice Brewer of the Year, marking a proud milestone in his brewing journey.

Recognising the Super Seven

Each of the finalists showcased remarkable creativity and brewing knowledge, making the competition a true celebration of emerging talent within the industry.

A special thanks goes to SIBA – The Society of Independent Brewers and Associates, for recognising each member of the Super Seven with a place in their inaugural Apprentice of the Year award category, to be presented at the 2026 BeerX Awards ceremony.

Reflecting on the event, Jeremy Scorer, Licensed Trade Director at HIT Training Ltd, said:

“This year’s graduation has once again demonstrated the exceptional passion and craftsmanship that defines our brewing apprentices. Events like this not only celebrate individual achievement but also showcase how vital apprenticeships are in developing the next generation of brewing professionals. We’re incredibly proud of all our graduates and finalists – their creativity, innovation, and dedication are what continue to drive this industry forward.”

Looking Ahead

The event once again reaffirmed HIT Training’s commitment to supporting the next generation of brewers through high-quality apprenticeship programmes that empower individuals to develop their skills and careers within the thriving brewing sector.

As we raise a glass to this year’s 36 graduates and competition finalists, we look forward to seeing how their innovation and dedication will continue to shape the future of British brewing.

👉 To learn more about our Brewer Academy, click here.