Strategic move for BII to reflect new licensing era
17-Jan-2005
Strategic move for BII to reflect new licensing era
The BII, the professional body for the licensed retail sector, has widened its scope to offer membership and professional support to all retailers of alcohol, at a launch held today at Vinopolis, London.
Membership of the BII is now open to licensed retailers and key suppliers within the pub, hotel, restaurant, off-licence, convenience store and all sectors of the industry where alcohol is sold for consumption on or off the premises. Membership applications will, as now, be subject to a strict approval process.
The fundamental shift in strategy has been decided by the BII Council; the body of elected licensed retailers and other industry professionals, which governs the BII.
The BII Council views this long planned move as a necessary response to the new licensing regime. The premises licence has now been separated from the licensee and the new personal licence introduced.
John McNamara CMBII, BII chief executive said: "Not only must operators hold the same personal licence, they will need to demonstrate similar skills and working practices as there is a great national emphasis on meeting high standards of social responsibility. Our move to support all alcohol retailers is a necessary stage of evolution for us and for Britain’s booming licensed retail industry.
"The BII started out in 1981 to support professionalism and business success within the strictly defined pub trade. In the intervening years a wider spectrum of operators within the on-trade have come to us to help them raise their professional standards - but now we formally aim to support best practice and successful business within the whole market. It is a very exciting new era. Everyone will benefit from the BII being able to influence standards of personal skills and career paths, business competence and social responsibility across the industry. As the leading professional body of its type in the sector, the BII is uniquely placed for this."
Mr McNamara adds: “We have the experience, the profile, the people, the national network and an expanding range of superb qualifications to raise levels of skill and knowledge and therefore support the highest standards of professionalism, career advancement and social responsibility within the wider industry. Higher standards are expected to result in a better public image for certain sectors of the market, which will encourage greater consumer activity and also increase its attraction to a new employment market".
New BII logo
To reflect the BII’s new future within the wider licensed industry, the appeal of the BII is supported by a new logo, which retains the instantly recognisable BII shield and corporate colours.
“The BII branding has enormous recognition across the industry, with members the police, local authorities, colleges and Government,” said Mr McNamara. “The acronym and strapline 'BII - Raising Standards in Licensed Retail', will now embrace the responsible face of licensed retailers across all the various outlets that make up the industry".
| ref | New BII |
| pr@bii.org | |
| Contact | Christine Dedman 01276 417 805 |
