First graduates in licensed retail celebrate success

Thirteen J D Wetherspoon pub managers have become the first to complete on-the-job degrees.

Following a specially designed top-up course they will graduate this autumn with a BA (Hons) in Licensed Retail Management through Nottingham Trent University.

They were chosen to go the extra mile from among 39 people who completed the company's Advanced Diploma last year and over the past 12 months have left the bar to attend residential courses delivered by experts in the field.

All passed the exams, which covered issues such as entrepreneurship, business strategies and social responsibility. One, Chris Dennis, has already been promoted to regional property manager as a result.

The 13 are:

Dave Beswick, the Postal Order, Blackburn

Mark Judd, the Whitehouse, Luton

Kim Newstead, the Swan Inn, Weymouth

Dawn Judd, the Whitehouse, Luton

Nic Harper, Wetherspoon's, Victoria Station

Chris Dennis, formerly Lloyds, Gatwick

Tony Burns, the Falcon, High Wycombe

Steve Newstead, the Swan Inn, Weymouth

Craig Pitcher, Dockle Farmhouse, Swindon

Matt Creighton, Bishops Mill, Durham

Jason Kelly, the Billiard Hall, West Bromwich

Jenny Farr, Wetherspoon's, T2 Heathrow

Alec Beattie, Archibald Simpson, Aberdeen