Licensees in Norfolk to get free training and qualifications

29-May-2003

The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) is working together with Norwich City College and Norwich-based licensing solicitors Howes Percival to create a free training initiative aimed at the hospitality and licensed retailing industry.

The project, entitled "Developing the Night Time Economy", is funded by the European Social Fund and the East of England Development Agency. It will target all licensed outlets in East Anglia which employ fewer than 250 employees. Pub staff will all have the opportunity to benefit from training and qualifications awarded by BIIAB – the BII’s wholly-owned awarding body for professional licensed retailing.

Throughout 2003, licensees, barstaff and door supervisors who are either self- employed or part of a small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) will take nationally recognised qualifications, including the National Certificate for Entertainment Licensees, Barperson’s National Certificate, National Certificate for Licensees (Drugs Awareness) and the National Certificate for Door Supervisors – Licensed Premises.

It is hoped that the project will help prepare pub staff for the change to the new licensing regime and will also help to make the sector a more professional and safer place for entertainment.

Chairman for the BII’s Anglia Region, Roger Cawdron CMBII, said: " This project offers an ideal opportunity for licensees to train up their staff with nationally recognised qualifications. Staff retention can sometimes be a problem in our industry, but this partnership can help establish the foundations to a professional, socially responsible career."

David McKay at City College Norwich further explained: "The growth of the evening economy in Norfolk has meant that new strategies have to be developed to manage the competing demands and requirements of local businesses and their customers. This multi-agency approach will provide access to training and qualifications that will ensure that Norfolk can maintain a safer entertainment environment. We will also be able to provide a supportive network for learners, encouraging employees to move into further/higher education, so promoting the importance of life long learning."

Brian Hardie ABII, Director of Leisure Training at Howes Percival, said: "This scheme brings together both public and private sector partners to focus on the needs of the industry and ensures that the workforce has the right skills to support local crime and disorder initiatives, which have already started in Norfolk and Suffolk."

The project will increase the knowledge and skills of employees in the licensed hospitality and entertainment sector, and it is hoped this will reduce the number of business failures by SME’s, so increasing business competitiveness and the image of the industry.

Notes to Editors

The BII is the professional body for the licensed trade. It has around 15,500 members and last year BIIAB processed over 80,000 qualifications. Its mission is to promote high standards of professionalism throughout the licensed retail sector; to encourage new entrants into the industry, and to help them develop their long-term careers.

To provide all our members with high quality information, skills and qualifications to help them succeed in their business activities. For more information on BIIAB qualifications, call 01276 684449.

City College Norwich is a BIIAB approved centre for training and has an international reputation for excellence. It has created strong and valuable links with local, national and international industry partners. Its achievements have twice been recognised by the Hotel, Catering and Institutional Management’s National Award for Industry Education Partnerships. Programme content is always highly relevant to current industry practice.

Howes Percival is a substantial legal practice with some 80 lawyers, plus support staff and is a BIIAB approved centre for Norfolk and Suffolk. The firm is geared primarily towards meeting the needs of the business community, it’s expertise embraces: business law and finance, employment law, business transfers, property, licensing and training. The practice is regarded as the leading licensing lawyers in East Anglia for both liquor and entertainment licensing.

Other parties involved in the Night Time Economy project are Norfolk Police, Norwich & Norfolk Magistrates, Norwich LVA, Norwich Artistes, Norwich CAD and Local Government Association.

For further information on the project - David McKay at City College London, Project Co-ordinator can be reached on 01603 773411 or via e-mail at dmckay@ccn.ac.uk.

For more info on the BII and BIIAB qualifications, call Erica Snedker, Communications Executive at the BII on 01276 417805 or by e-mail at erica@bii.org or Mike Wroe, Client Development Director at the BII on 07771 758744.

Ref: ES/BII/PR0688

EMail: erica@bii.org

Contact: Erica Snedker, Communications Executive on 01276 417805 or Caroline Nodder, Corporate Communications Executive on 01276 417838/07855 841216.