As a sector, it supports close to 1 million jobs, provides £17 billion in wages, and delivers £34.3 billion of GVA across the UK economy.

Local parliamentary constituencies have, on average, 2-3 breweries and 80 pubs, which provide local, flexible employment and support a network of other local businesses and suppliers, including agriculture and farming at local and national level. 

The sector provides local, flexible employment, and invests in staff training and upskilling from accessible first entry level, with clear career paths throughout the sector and wider hospitality.

It is a key driver for local regeneration, with a major contribution to make to increasing social mobility and productivity.  Its investment yields fast returns at local level for local economies.

Beer and pubs are a major tourist attraction, contributing £23bn to GDP.  The brewing sector is a UK manufacturing success story, and has huge cultural export value. In 2023, approximately £464m worth of beer was exported from the UK (source: statista)