Student brewers get royal approval for their business which started in university KITCHEN
TWO graduates have received royal approval for their microbrewery that grew from a university kitchen to selling 50,000 pints a week.
Two graduates have received royal approval for their microbrewery that grew from a uni kitchen
George Grant, 26, and Paul Delamere, 27, started brewing beer for fun five years ago while studying at the University of Manchester.
After their friends took a liking to their £2 home brew they got a £10,000 loan and set up as ShinDigger Brewing Co in 2013.
They now sell their American-style craft beers from Manchester to Hong Kong and turned over £500,000 last year.
George and Paul won Young Entrepreneurs of the Year at this year's Duke of York Young Entrepreneur Awards where Prince Andrew said he was "very impressed" by their branding and the idea was "really novel".
The two graduates started brewing beer while studying at University of Manchester
The Start Up Loans Company, who invested in ShinDigger after the banks turned them down, was also there to sing its praises.
Chief executive Tim Sawyer CBE said: "In recent years we've seen a real boom in the 'challenger' industry, and Paul and George have shown it's possible to transition an unusual, fun-filled hobby into a profitable, international business."