Internationally-acclaimed, independent Holbeck-based brewery Northern Monk has shared its Annual Impact Report for FY25. Marking another significant year for the brewery, the impact report sees Northern Monk celebrate continued growth alongside upholding their ambitious and industry-leading environmental pledges.
Momentum has continued to build as the brewery has bucked the industry trend by outperforming the grocery market whilst also adding four new venues to their bar portfolio over the last 18 months: Northern MonkRefectory York, The Hanging Bat in Edinburgh, Northern Monk at Darley Street Market in Bradford; andTrinity Tap situated in the Trinity Leeds shopping centre. This success is reflected in the 2025 Annual Impact Report which celebrates Northern Monk being voted as the 2nd best company to work for in the UK Food & Drink sector last year.
The Impact Report also recognises Northern Monk’s commitment to climate action with a new Climate Action Plan in place that aims for a 90% reduction of the baseline in its direct emissions by 2030. The introduction of low-emission technologies such as new heat pumps installed across multiple locations, emissions-focused process changes and the switch to renewable energy tariffs will help the brewery reach their goal.
Already making a difference, the 2025 Impact Report shows that Northern Monk has reduced its year-on-year direct emissions by 12% and, significantly, reduced the pints of water used to pints of beer packed ratio for the second year running since the initial 2023 water audit. A notable achievement considering the independent brewery’s growth over the last two years, having produced 4.4 megalitres of beer in 2025 compared to 2023’s 3.8 megalitres, Northern Monk’s commitment to Clean-In-Place efficiency, continual process optimisations and proactive leak fixing has brought the water used to beer produced ratio down, with plans to lower it even further year on year. 2025 also saw Northern Monk become B Corp certified, in recognition of the brewery’s commitment to high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency.
97.6% of waste was repurposed or recycled, but the company is looking to the future for ways to close the loop on waste production entirely. Working with suppliers on takeback, circular and recycling schemes for waste such as large plastic containers, pallets and malt sacks as well as organic material like spent grains and hops, plans are already in place to reduce the brewery’s use of plastic key kegs by 30% for 2027.
Elsewhere, the Impact Report shows that Northern Monk:
-
Welcomed 60 new hires and 31 internal moves/promotions
-
Was voted the 31st best company to work for in Yorkshire and The Humber in 2025
-
Was voted the 50th best mid-sized UK company to work for in 2025
-
Polled employees with 91% strongly agreeing that they love working for Northern Monk
Looking to the present year, Northern Monk welcomed new CEO, Damian Guha, in May. Bringing extensive knowledge and experience of FMCG with him, Damian’s appointment enables Northern Monk’s Founder, Russell Bisset, to focus on the creative and conceptual areas of the business that ensure Northern Monk remains an authentic, purpose-driven challenger brand through growth, whilst Damian leads the business commercially and operationally, helping to shape the next chapter of Northern Monk and structuring the business for success.
Damian will drive forward carbon reductions and operational efficiencies through his experience of large scale manufacturing, with Russell focusing on the social mission, value and impact of this work.
2026 is also a landmark year for Northern Monk’s charitable work. Faith in Futures has evolved into the Northern Monk Foundation inspired by a single, clear purpose: improving access to the outdoors for everyone. Neither a rebrand nor a new start; the change is a conscious, deliberate decision to maximise the impact of everything the brewery has built so far. Since 2020, Northern Monk has donated over £150,000 to community causes, supporting more than 20 charities and grassroots organisations.
Through the Northern Monk Foundation, the brewery brings its brand, mission and impact work together under one unified banner to ensure that their charitable and community activity is a core part of everything they do. With ambitions to donate a total of £250,000 to community causes by the end of 2028, Northern Monk will continue to partner with charitable organisations to fund trips, equipment and opportunities in order to help service users experience the proven benefits of time spent outdoors.
With part of these funds, the company was able to support Restoring Hardknott Forest in subsidising the costs for local schoolchildren from Millon School to visit the Lake District site. Over six visits, the students spent time planting trees and wildflowers, learning about local wildlife, and took a trip to a local farm in time for lambing season and the children reported the value of engaging directly with nature and learning outside the classroom.
In 2026, Northern Monk also continued its official partnerships with The AJ Bell Great North Run, Total Warrior and the iconic Three Peaks Race.
Russell Bisset, Founder of Northern Monk, said:
“2025 was a landmark year for Northern Monk. I’m incredibly proud of what the team has achieved, and of the results documented in the impact report.
“We’ve celebrated opening four new venues across the north of the UK over the last 18 months and produced more beer than ever before, whilst continuing to reduce our direct emissions year-on-year and make real progress on water efficiency as a craft brewery.
“However, beer is as much about people as it is about brewing. 2025 saw us grow our community by 60 new members of staff across the company, and become a certified B Corp, giving us an even greater responsibility to keep improving.
“With ambitious plans to reduce our emissions further already underway, and having welcomed Damian Guha into the fold as CEO earlier this year, we’re looking to the future with a powerful sense of purpose. We’re excited for this next chapter and the impact we can make together, whilst staying true to our commitment to looking after our people, our communities and our planet.”
This post is based on a press release issued by Northern Monk
Photo: Northern Monk’s brewery on Sydenham Road in Holbeck
While you’re here, can we ask a favour?
South Leeds Life is published by a not-for-profit social enterprise. We keep our costs as low as possible but we’ve been hit by increases in the print costs for our monthly newspaper which have doubled in the last two years.
Could you help support local community news by making a one off donation, or even better taking out a supporters subscription?
Donate here, or sign up for a subscription at bit.ly/SLLsubscribe
