What do I need?
- Pre - Entry Awareness Training (PEAT)
- Poppleston Allen - New Service
Personal Licence
The first thing you will need is a Personal Licence. If you wish to obtain a Personal Licence you will need to apply to your local Licensing Authority or Licensing Board (Scotland), where you live. Applicants will be asked for a number of things to support their application: one of these is proof that you hold a government approved licensing qualification such as the BIIAB Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders or BIIAB Scottish Certificate for Personal Licence Holders (Scotland). Applicants will also need a Personal Licence criminal record check (CRB)(Please see below for information), two passport photos and the appropriate fee.
- APLH/ SCPLH
It is the law in the UK that anyone authorising the sale of alcohol to the public must hold a personal licence, and in order to qualify for a personal licence, an applicant must hold a relevant licensing qualification, such as the BIIAB APLH (England/ Wales) or SCPLH (Scotland).
BIIAB Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders – Click here to view APLH Leaflet
BIIAB Level 2 Scottish Certificate for Personal Licence Holders - Click here to view SCPLH Leaflet
CLICK HERE or call 01276 417815 to find BIIAB training centres offering the course in your area.
- CRB Check
To obtain a personal licence criminal record check, please visit www.disclosurescotland.co.uk.
Please note: You must apply for your licence within 28 days of getting your CRB check otherwise it will be invalid.
Pre-Entry Awareness Training (PEAT)
BII’s Pre-Entry Awareness Training (PEAT) is an e-learning programme that identifies the main issues which need to be considered and investigated before signing a pub tenancy or lease agreement in England or Wales. The programme covers topics such as the tied pub model, the different types of agreements available, rental calculations, the legal consequences of breach of agreement and much much more. Most pub companies will require prospective tenants and lessees to undertake BII’s PEAT. For further information below.
Poppleston Allen - New Service
If you are a Foundation Member, once you have take your Personal Licence qualification you will be eligible to upgrade your membership and become an Associate Member. You would then have access to a new service that is being offered by one of our existing benefit providers. Poppleston Allen has recently introduced free downloadable licence application forms (Personal and Premises Licences), temporary Events Notices (TEN's), variations to licences and Disclosure of Convictions Declarations.
Another of their new applications is a search facility to find your Local Authority to apply for the licence.
If you wish to upgrade to Associate Membership or find out more about the huge range of exciting benefits this level of membership offers, please click here to request a call back.
Funding for Training
Funding for Training as an added benefit of BII Memebrship coming soon! For more information contact the Membership Services Department on membership@bii.org or call 01276 684449 .
Useful Qualifications
In addition to the APLH/ SCPLH you may want to look at the other qualifications we have to offer as these may be a great help to you:
- England / Wales
- ADPS - BIIAB Level 2 Award for Designated Premises Supervisors
- ALHO - BIIAB Level 2 Award in Licensed Hospitality Operations
- ARAR - BIIAB Level 1 Award in Responsible Alcohol Retailing
- AAA - BIIAB Level 1 Award in Alcohol Awareness
- AEC - BIIAB Level 1 Award in Essentials of Catering
- ACTP - BIIAB Level 2 Award in Cooking Theory and Practice
- PBP - BIIAB Level 3 Profitable Business Portfolio
- Scotland
- ALHO - BIIAB Level 2 Award in Licensed Hospitality Operations
- SCLPS - Scottish Certificate for Licensed Premises Staff
- SCAA - Scottish Award in Alcohol Awareness
- AEC - Level 1 Award in Essentials of Catering
- ACTP - Level 2 Award in Cooking Theory and Practice
- PBP - Level 3 Profitable Business Portfolio
Food Hygiene
If you are looking to offer food in your outlet you will need to find out about food hygiene regulations and qualifications. For information on what you need please visit www.food.gov.uk or www.hse.gov.uk.
Work Experience
If you have not worked behind a bar before it would be more than advisable to get yourself some work experience before you go ahead. This will ensure you are aware of what to expect.
Music Licences
If you want to play music you will need to look into a music licence.
There are two separate copyrights in a sound recording and a licence is required for each one:
- The copyright in the lyrics and composition are owned by the author and music publisher and this is administered by PRS for Music http://www.prsformusic.com
- The copyright in the performance and music recording are owned by the performers and record company and administered by PPL http://www.ppluk.com
Click here to download the form for more detail about music licences
Cost of Taking on an Outlet
- How much will it cost?
The amount of money you will need very much depends on whether you have decided to take on a tenancy, lease or freehold pub. Tenancies and Leases can be obtained for around £15,000 whereas Freeholds can cost up to £2 million. You would probably make your choice according to the capital you have available.
CLICK HERE to view BBPA's Running a pub guide to costs for tenants and lessees.
- Where to find the money
Firstly you will need to assess how much money you have available to you, consisting of savings and capital gained from selling assets. Once you have this figure you will be able to work out how much you need to borrow from a lender. It is advisable to seek assistance from a professional financial adviser to help you chose the best course of action.
- Types of borrowing
- Overdrafts
- Loans
- Commercial Mortgages
- Brewery Loans
- Using brewery discounts to add confidence to lenders
- Using equity in your home or other property
- Using your property as collateral
- Brewery and Pub Company support
Business Plan
In order to borrow money lenders will insist on seeing a business plan to show how you intend on making the business a success. A business plan is mainly used to show lenders how you intend on repaying the debt. A business plan is also useful to keep you on track with your intentions.
The plan must detail how you aim to make the business a success, when this will happen, who will be responsible for making things happen and finally where the finances come in.
A business plan should include the following 5 things:
- Short description of the business opportunity
- Marketing and sales strategy
- Your management team and personnel
- Your operations
- Financial forecasts
For detailed information on writing a business plan we suggest you visit Business Link http://www.businesslink.gov.uk
BII Membership
BII is the professional body for the licensed retail sector. Who better to ask for advice when thinking about entering the industry?
BII aim to provide a ‘one stop shop’ for essential advice and ‘must know’ tips about the industry. We also offer a ‘signposting’ service directing you to other websites and useful information.
BII want to do everything they can to ensure you are as well prepared as possible when entering this exciting, but at the same time challenging industry.
Join BII as a member and find out exactly how we can support you.
