A Lewisham brewery run by people with learning disabilities has been given part of a £1m funding pot. 

Ignition brewery, set up by Lewisham Mencap, will receive £19,440 from NatWest’s Skills & Opportunities Fund.

One of seven projects chosen from more than 1,000 applicants, Ignition is a start-up micro-brewery which will employ 10 people with learning disabilities over three years.

Founder Nick O’Shea explained: "We are totally focussed on getting our product right. We want a great beer that people love to buy because the enterprise has to be financially sustainable in the long run.  
 
"The Skills and Opportunities Fund will enable us to hire a Brewer who can take us to full, in-house production and make sure that we produce beer that can match the competition.  
 
"There is a market to be won and we want to show that people with learning disabilities can be a vibrant part of the beer industry."
 
For more information visit skillsandopportunitiesfund.natwest.com