James Cogan, of Best of British Beer, has been announced as a finalist for Employee of the Year at the Staffordshire Chambers Business Awards.
James Cogan. Photograph: Best of British Beer
When the business’s general manager resigned at short notice in early 2025, James was a warehouse team leader with no management experience. But he stepped in immediately to oversee a record-breaking £300,000 order for Moonpig, co-ordinating 120 pallets across a two-week window, and delivering without a single error.
James has since become Moonpig’s account manager, growing the relationship from around £700,000 to £1.4 million in 12 months. Best of British Beer now holds key supplier status across all Moonpig beer gifting.
In his own time, he has trained as a certified beer sommelier, has twice driven to breweries at dawn to meet packing deadlines, and is now central to the company’s three-year strategy, enabling the founding directors to step back to a four-day week.
“James is the kind of employee every business hopes for, but rarely finds,” said Stuart Elford, chief executive of Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce. “When the moment came, with no experience, no preparation, and no safety net, he stepped up and delivered a record-breaking order without a single mistake.
“He has not stopped since. Growing a key account from £700,000 to £1.4 million, training as a beer sommelier in his own time, driving to breweries at dawn when needed. He is a thoroughly deserving finalist.”
The winners of the awards will be announced on 9th July.
