BII Chief Executive Annual Lunch Speech

Over the last few months I have received a very warm welcome to this fantastic industry. I have met many people, nearly all with strong views, and seen from the inside the passion for what we all do, including for its professional body, the BII.

I have also been struck by the sophistication of the industry, the marketing, segmentation, the management and, …particularly, the ingenuity, entrepreneurial flair and sheer hard work of individual licensees, many of whom would compare favourably with small businesses in any sector. In a word, professionalism.

But, as many have noted, there remains a bit of an image problem for us. What are the brand values? A worthy, old fashioned industry which has had its day – doubtless part of the culture, but, like bone china, not something we use much and is gradually closing down? A few think we are anti health, peddling death, and like another 400 year old industry (tobacco), need to be managed out. Even fewer, but still some, see us as the source of the anti-social behaviour that is the public’s second biggest worry. Where does that leave us? We are seen by some as a sunset industry that ministers won’t look up from their expense claims to help or defend.

Colleagues, we are not a sunset industry. You all being here is a simple underline to that. Look around you. Lunch numbers are the same as last year. We will be around in 400 years – though looking different I’m sure.  What makes me so confident? Well actually by any objective benchmarks there are a lot of positives. 

You are convinced of the value of training, you understand customer service and marketing, you understand cash flow, and (most of you) understand debt. You have, and support, a professional body, you work hard.  I used to live in Brixton and I’ve seen many drug dealer types; you don’t look like drug dealers to me – you’re not well enough dressed for a start….!  You don’t peddle death. I went to the Famous Woolpack (in Weston Super Mare, not Emmerdale) to pour pints of Butcombe but poured hardly any. Instead I took food and soft drink orders, and sold some muddy looking cider/mixer combinations. Thanks Rose and Steve.

Some other strengths? You sell community - a commodity, like oil that is perceived to be in short supply. You promote good mental health, another important and under explored dimension to the health discussion. Medics have got lots of evidence for the problems but a lot less for how some of the proposed solutions will help. Let’s stick to the evidence please. But also….., let’s celebrate, do more of, and get more value from a key industry USP. When I was at the Woolpack the most important thing I saw was young people being trained in how to do their job and talk to customers. How to do business. 

Colleagues, you take a big risk in young people. Not many others do. This industry employs proportionately more young and unskilled people than virtually all others. You train them, pay for qualifications for them, shout at them when they are late and support them when they have problems. Along the way you are showing them how to be entrepreneurs. Keith Knowles of Interpub said he was fed up being rogered by the Daily Mail – he and Franca employ, train and support young people regardless of their backgrounds. Very few industries do that. Well done. 

Actually, the public’s biggest worry is jobs (health is well down the list), and the Government’s biggest worry is the economy. Both of these depend on small businesses and business start ups, and, especially, the training of young and unskilled people. Let’s show them what we are, and can do in this important area. Let’s gather the evidence, and then make the country listen.

BII must and is doing more to support members during the recession. Helplines, roadshows, a new website, focus groups and informal support from our hardworking regional council members are all helping, and membership numbers are holding up, proving that professionalism really does make the difference in difficult times. BII will also continue to support the excellent initiatives that show that we don’t need mandatory conditions. Pubwatch, Best Bar None, the BII Schools Alcohol Awareness Project, Pub Is The Hub to name just a few. They provide the all important evidence that government intervention, speaking of course as a former official, isn’t always the best answer and we can do better ourselves.

Of course the BERR select committee report comes out tomorrow and I have noticed there is a lively current debate about how the industry does business. Lively debate is a healthy thing, and a feature of a mature industry. But it’s probably better done around tables than just in the media or through parliament. After all, you wouldn’t normally ask someone who has just taxed you, ignored your complaints, and gagged you with (red) tape, to then help you settle an argument.

BII will do more to help on all aspects of training. We are working with you to help get more government funding for qualifications such as the Profitable Business Portfolio (or PBP as it’s well known), which is a fantastic programme. This will complement some of what the bigger companies such as Wetherspoons are doing on apprenticeships. There is more for us all to do here, but the signs are good - more people are now using BIIAB qualifications than for the last two and a half years. As the evidence mounts, economic development will become increasingly associated with training - and pubs with wider business support. Regional development agencies are already supporting Pub Is The Hub and the Train To Gain initiative is already benefiting our industry. This is just the start.

So colleagues, overall, we have many reasons to be positive. Thanks to all of you for supporting your professional body, thanks for your warm welcome to me, and thanks for coming today and showing that what we all do is very much alive and kicking – and really matters. BII will support you and do even more to bring all parts of the industry together for our common purpose.

Contact

Joanna Buston
Email: joannab@bii.org
Telephone: 01276 417863