BrewDog delivers first blueprint profit share

Brewer and bar operator BrewDog confirmed its first ‘blueprint’ bonus was paid to all bar staff last week

Blueprint was launched in May to mark the group’s 15-year anniversary. In addition to setting out BrewDog’s vision for the next 15 years, it also detailed a new rewards scheme for all employees.

BrewDog confirmed that each bar would share 50% of its profits with crew members, paid twice a year. James Watt, founder and chief executive, has also donated a fifth of his personal stake in the business to BrewDog’s 750 salaried team members. Based on the most recent fundraising valuation of £1.8b, the award will be worth around £30,000 a year over four years to each qualifying members of staff.

The first new Blueprint bonus (covering May and June) was paid this week to over 1,700 bar staff, resulting in an average £188 per team member (and up to £1,500 for full time crew in the more profitable locations). Over a third of BrewDog’s bar crew have received over £250. The total bonus payment to all crew totalled over £300,000.

Watt said: “We have been overwhelmed by the positive reaction to the Blueprint and this new bonus scheme. It’s early days, but in just two months, the scheme is paying out material bonuses, which on an annualised basis will help not only to attract and retain the very best in our industry, but also will provide much needed support to our people as we all face huge increases in the cost of living. This is a revolutionary reward model, but one which we hope will ultimately be used as an example to the rest of the industry and we invite others to follow our lead.”

It comes after more than 100 former employees signed an open letter last summer accusing BrewDog of fostering a "culture of fear" within the business.

The group claimed a "significant number" of staff had suffered mental illness with many feeling "pressured into working beyond their capacity".

The company hired consultancy firm Wiser to conduct a review of the business and admitted it had "made mistakes". Watt said he took "personal responsibility" for the situation.

BrewDog was founded in 2007 and now operates over 100 bars worldwide. Watt warned earlier this month that the price of its beers was set to rise due to inflation.