Rebellion Brewery passes to a trust for its workers

For retail supervisor Lauren Plumridge, Rebellion Brewery’s move to employee ownership brought relief. After hearing about uncertainty elsewhere in brewing, she welcomed the business staying with its workforce.

The Marlow Bottom brewery, which employs 75 people, has transferred ownership to an employee ownership trust. The trust holds the business for employees’ benefit, giving staff a stake in its future.

Rebellion’s published transition plan says founders Tim Coombes and Mark Gloyens will remain involved for several years while a management team of longstanding employees takes more responsibility.

The change does not guarantee security or immediate bonuses. The brewery links the start of distributable profit sharing to reducing debt owed to its founders, with crowdfunding planned for spring 2027. Oxford researcher Marya Besharov also told the BBC that this ownership model offers no guarantees.

Still, the transfer has happened. For staff such as Lauren, it offers a concrete alternative to an outside sale: a local business held for the people who help keep it running.

Sources

• BBC News — Rebellion staff discuss employee ownership
• Rebellion Brewery — employee ownership announcement, 14 October
• Rebellion Brewery — transition and profit-sharing plans