Jack Bridgman, who has worked at the historic brewery since 2012, completed his Level 4 Brewer apprenticeship after nearly two years of training.
He is following in the footsteps of his father, Graham Bridgman, who has worked for the family-run business for 43 years.
Jack spent time at the brewery as a child, visiting with his father at weekends and helping to wash barrels.
He eventually joined Arkell’s as a cellarman before progressing to Brewing Operative and later Brewer and Quality Control Lead.
His apprenticeship, which ran from July 2024 to March 2026, covered all aspects of brewing, including fermentation, raw materials, technical calculations and recipe development.
As part of the qualification, Jack was tasked with creating a beer from scratch, working out everything from sugar extraction and colour to hop bitterness.
His creation, Jack’s Juicy IPA, was a 4.5% ABV beer which was produced by Arkell’s as a seasonal ale in 2025.
Speaking about his achievement, 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 attend Jack’s graduation and congratulate him on his success.
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 has also accepted a promotion to Brewery Foreman, with the appointment scheduled for March following the retirement of Bob Mercer.
Alex added:
“We hope he will enjoy the same long and successful career at Arkell’s as his dad.”
Founded in 1843, Arkell’s is Swindon’s oldest business and remains under family ownership.
It produces beers including 3B, Wiltshire Gold and Malthouse Craft Lager, and operates nearly 100 pubs across Wiltshire and neighbouring counties.
