St Austell Brewery reduces turnover-related costs by 3.2% with Thrive
Learners using Thrive
Challenges addressed with Thrive
Integrations used
Increase in mobile engagement in 2025
More than a platform, a community in motion
Nestled in the heart of Cornwall, St Austell Brewery has been crafting exceptional beers since 1851, but its impact goes far beyond brewing. In response to evolving challenges across the region and the wider hospitality sector, the Brewery recently redefined its purpose and unveiled a new brand promise: "Brewing Great Experiences for Generations to Come."
This new purpose needed to be supported by an equally impactful learning strategy, reaching 160+ pubs and a diverse workforce across the South West. Frontline training had to be accessible wherever colleagues worked, while employee engagement and culture-building needed a home beyond the brewery walls.
Crafting connection and capability with Thrive
From the outset, Thrive's implementation was described as seamless. With 95% of St Austell Brewery's pub staff being deskless, the mobile app was a no-brainer, and Thrive worked with the brewery to launch biometric recognition specifically for them, removing further barriers to learning. Structured pathways mapped clear career journeys from bar staff to management, while compliance training was automated with deadline tracking and reminders.
The platform became much more than a learning hub. It was used to create a dynamic online community where people could easily access content, connect with peers, and communicate across teams.
Brewing success through self-directed learning
One of the biggest wins comes in the form of St Austell's Crafting Careers pathways, built with and in Thrive, based on real learning theory that aimed to address staff turnover using a mobile-first approach. The pathways can be accessed in seconds, and the L&D team can access actionable data to guide future decisions.
In just a few months, the initiative is already paying off: guest sentiment scores saw a 2.3% increase in average star rating sentiment, year-to-date employee turnover from January to June decreased year-on-year by 3.2%, and turnover-related costs have declined. Analytics gave managers visibility of completion and progression across every venue, while social learning features helped build a more connected community across the estate.
"Thrive has completely changed the way we do learning and development here. It’s made everything so much more engaging, way more accessible, and so much more effective with everything we roll out."
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