S&N unveils BDM 'Academy'
Scottish & Newcastle Pub Company has unveiled details of a programme designed to raise the standards business development managers (BDMs) after a year of preparation.
The company has been working on 'The Academy' for the past 12 months and claims the training will "covers all the skills a BDM needs" including interview techniques, beer quality and commercial finance.
It is also designed to focus on working closely with every licensees in the estate to create detailed business plans for every pub by the end of the year.
This will then be followed up with bi-monthly business reviews between BDMs and lessees.
Kim Francis, S&N Pub Company operations director, said: "The Academy is designed to deliver real benefits to lessees both in the knowledge that BDMs can pass on and in its rigorous, thorough method of business planning and reviews.
"We know the key to success for lessees is focusing on a defined customer base and on delivering what they want. The Academy will ensure that in these challenging trading conditions, our BDMs can provide the highest level of business support and consultancy to help our lessees achieve this."
The Academy training will include one-to-one mentoring, self-development, workshops and team meeting modules.
These are reinforced with ongoing on the job coaching, assessment and feedback from S&N Pub Company's operations & sales.
Lessee Neil Crampton, of the Bank House in Pudsey, Leeds, said he has already benefited from his BDM, Tom Richardson, taking part in a trial of The Academy.
After using a new business planning tool together he has decided to take on a second pub.
He said: "Just working through the planning programme gives you a very good template for running your business. It covers everything from all the possible outgoings you need to take into account to your local competition and what they are doing and it throws up ideas for you to consider too."
"Taking on a second pub is a big commitment. S&N Pub Company's business planning tool gave me a lot to think about and helped solidify the way forward for me. It's helpful having it on my computer, I can go back and look at it anytime I want."
