INTERVIEW
community Raising a glass
to the
The idea of organisations balancing commercial growth with a sense of social responsibility continues to gain traction. Stephen Gould, Managing Director at family-run Everards Brewery, spoke with Business Network Editor Nathan Fearn about how the 170-year-old company is doing just that.
Good leadership invariably leads to a positive culture within a business. Cultivating such a culture can often transcend business benefits and lead to an enrichment of the communities businesses serve. It’s a world that Stephen Gould is well accustomed to as Managing Director of a brewery which has had roots in Leicester for 170 years and owns 174 pubs across 13 counties. “Leadership is about working with people to set
direction, vision and purpose so it’s an area of business that has always been an interest of mine,” explains Stephen. “Leadership should lives throughout all good
organisations and it isn’t just about the directors - I am a big believer that leaders are crucial at all levels and that’s certainly a view we embrace at Everards.” Having spent nine years at Bass and five within senior
levels at Punch Taverns, Stephen maintained his strong connections to the industry with a move to Everards in 2003. But what is it about the sector that has led him to
dedicate his career to date to it? For Stephen, three common themes have always appealed. “The first is hospitality,” he explains. “Through working with our business owners in our 174
pubs we are effectively presenting a hospitable offering every week and creating something that is enduring and ultimately very uplifting.
“It’s also about relationships and building these at every
level; be that with customers, partners or collaborators – it’s an industry that has a multitude of relationships and that is equally attractive. The third strand is that we’re inextricably linked with community and communities.” And the community angle is an area Everards is clearly
heavily invested in as an organisation with a strong sense of history and attachment to Leicestershire – it was founded in 1849 by William Everard and remains in the family to this day. “We try to blend tradition and heritage with progress
and innovation – delivering that is at times more of an art than a science,” he suggests. “When I joined Everards I looked at what had gone
before. The company has always had the ability in my eye to blend tradition with ambition. There’s a deep respect for the heritage, the family and the stories that have gone before and this is important, but never to the point where we rest on our laurels.” So what strategy does Everards employ to ensure it
recognises and celebrates its past, while striving relentlessly for prosperity in the future? “It’s about ensuring that as individuals and as teams we
are continually talking about innovation, growth and points of difference,” he suggests. “We’ll never be the biggest, nor do we want to be, but having a distinct presence in the East Midlands demands
Artist’s impression of Everards Meadows 54 business network July/August 2019
Everards owns 174 tenanted pubs
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92
