BII Launches Barperson's National Certificate

26-Sep-2001

Bar staff get qualified

The most important training development in the pub industry has arrived with a new qualification for bar staff launched today. Licensees across England and Wales will soon be making their bar staff sit examinations to test their knowledge with the launch of the British Institute of Innkeeping’s (BII) Barperson’s National Certificate. The qualification will test the barperson’s knowledge of licensing law and their social responsibility when selling intoxicating liquor.

The qualification has been designed to be easily accessible and comprises a workbook and assessment. When the member of bar staff has completed the workbook and feels confident, they then sit a telephone assessment and, if successful, will receive a certificate as proof they have passed the nationally recognised qualification.

BII director of qualifications Cathie Smith said: “This is the most important development in licensed retailing qualifications since the creation of the National Licensee’s Certificate in 1994.

“Recent changes in the law have put the onus of responsibility on the shoulders of bar staff, particular in the case of selling alcohol to persons under 18 years of age. This qualification has been developed to address issues such as this and ensure that bar staff are fully aware of the law and how to operate within it. It will also see bar staff step up on the first rung of a career path backed by qualifications.”

The telephone assessment process used in the qualification is revolutionary in the licensed retail sector and has been provided by the motivation and learning agency Grass Roots. It makes the qualification easy to access and available to all licensed retail premises. It has also helped keep the cost of the qualification down to just £20.

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Grass Roots chairman, David Evans, said: “We have been using this approach to the assessment and verification of people's ability at work for many years, and it is proven to be highly efficient, effective and accessible to all types of employee.

“We are delighted to be working with the BII to apply this methodology in a way which will benefit many thousands of individual bar staff by giving them official recognition of their knowledge. It will also be a major benefit to customers and the wider community because of the impact it will have on standards - inside and outside licensed premises.”

Licensees wishing to put their bar staff through the BNC should contact the BII on 01276 684449, or by e-mailing barperson@bii.org. ends]

Note to Editors: The British Institute of Innkeeping is the professional body for the licensed trade. It has around 15,500 members and last year awarded nearly 60,000 qualifications. Its mission is to promote high standards of professionalism throughout the licensed retail sector and to provide information, skills and qualifications to help members run successful businesses.




ref GW/BII/PR0296
Email pr@bii.org
Contact For more information, please contact: Erica Snedker, Communications Executive, tel 01276 417805, e-mail erica@bii.org or Georgina Wald, Public Relations Manager, tel 01276 417838 / 07831 299801, e-mail george@bii.org.