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&amp;quot;Thommo&amp;quot;:1k4dt32j wrote: If you not already working in the industry your doomed to fail. It'll never work'..... <!-- s:evil: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_evil.gif" alt="" title="Evil or Very Mad" /><!-- s:evil: -->[/quote:1k4dt32j]

Say that to Dungarvan, Trouble, Eight Degrees, the FW etc. If there is a demand and you can deliver a product too fill a demand then why not?

&amp;quot;Ale Man&amp;quot;:1k4dt32j wrote: was Sugar born with a Amstrad up his hole.......err.. no[/quote:1k4dt32j]

I'm sure there are plenty of people who would love to see that!!

I read the book by the Brooklyn Lager guys and they just started up a brewing business from nothing. Also, I am pretty sure I read the Metalman brewery here was just set up by a husband and wife who had regular jobs beforehand? I'm sure there are hundreds of stories like that. I have to say, the world would be a pretty boring place if no one could start a business in anything other than in the field they are currently working in. I may as well give up now

&amp;quot;Thommo&amp;quot;:1smji7b0 wrote: Hate to pour cold water on this one, but from time to time when I torture myself with notions of one day opening my own brewery I think of Alan Sugar's comments about going into business,' If you not already working in the industry your doomed to fail. It'll never work'..... <!-- s:evil: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_evil.gif" alt="" title="Evil or Very Mad" /><!-- s:evil: -->[/quote:1smji7b0]

Maybe Sugar has never met Richard Branson the well know apprentice airline worker who founded an airline ( after a few other mega-successes not relating to airlines ).

Completely agree with most things said.
(although wasnt the FW already a pub? and the guys in Dungarvan experienced in engineering/business admin and used their redundo cheques to aid /lessen the risk?),
That said, I just cant help but feel that all of us harbour a desire some day to own our own breweries and its this notion that funds/drives the Home Brew Industry right across the globe when in reality its not going to happen for 99% of us. And it's courses like the ones mentioned that make money from us selling this dream. <!-- s:wink: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s:wink: -->

It just reminds me of when plenty of people were being laid off from construction sites and all of a sudden BER courses were being branded around the place as the next big career move where you had the potential to earn big if you did this week long course! How many got stung doing that??
And with the same dynamic, websites advertising your gaff to rent out come the Ryder Cup a few years back! Selling the notion again that you could earn big if you paid them to advertise your property, feeding on the hopes of others.And the only money made there, were the websites that advertised for yaa!! I did the taste for success course and yes you do know more Friday evening about brewing than you did Monday morning, but unless you have some practical brewing experience with commercial systems, monies in place to start up your business, entreprise board expertise at hand the courses mentioned are not for most.And again the only people who ultimately make money here are the course providers!!
Sorry for the rant but thats the bottom line.....

I don't think anyone believes a 3 or 4 day course is going to qualify them to start a brewery. I would just like to improve my knowledge, as do most people, and am happy to pay for it. No one is being taken advantage of. There are courses in different things available everywhere in the world, providing service where there is a demand. It's not a big conspiracy or anyone selling false dreams, just simple business.

There are plenty of good examples of people making a success from brewing and plenty who have not, just like any other business. Obviously not every home brewer is going to own a brewery, but if you or Alan Sugar say it can't be done, there are plenty of examples out there that prove different.

Im just trying to bring more awareness to it all and that people know what they're letting themselves in for. You can gain almost as much knowledge to improve your home brewing skills by buying a good book with trial and error in your shed.I wasnt trying to imply there is a conspiracy angle either. The tasteforsuccess people are a not for profit group so enough said there. And yes I agree, courses like this service a demand and yes thats business but maybe I just have a Bee in my bonnet created by meeting too many people who did BER Cert courses/ Environment Awareness Degrees etc... thinking it would set them on the road to future greatness. If your only doing it to gain greater knowledge to enhance your homebrew skills there are cheaper ways but I just dont think thats why most people are doing this.
To set up your own brewery you need plenty of your own money and a little of someone elses, no dependants helps too. Your local entreprise board should know you on a first name basis etc...If your already in a stable job why wouldya? And if your out of work how couldya?

Sorry if I come across like a Dad who has just told his 5yr old son there's no such thing as Santa but throwing good money at a week long course is madness! I should know because I did!! And this posting is to try and give people a bit of reality and save them some money in the process...
Apologies if Ive just shattered peoples dreams..