Greene King spends £200,000 on meeting
Greene King has spent £200,000 on a conference to introduce former Old English Inns (OEI) managers to their new bosses.
The all-day event in Birmingham this month gave around 130 OEI managers the chance to learn more about their new company, including branded operations and Pub Partners - the tenancy division.
Neil Gillis, managing director of Greene King's Pub Company division, said: "Most of them were amazed that we had gone to so much trouble to tell them about the company and I think we have been generally well received."
Greene King took over the flagging estate of 136 pubs last month and will be investing heavily to make the outlets viable. A number of disposals are planned, although figures could not be confirmed.
The pubs will keep the Old English branding, although head office will be moving from its Hertfordshire base to Greene King's home in Bury St Edmonds, Suffolk. Mr Gillis said although relocation discussions were taking place with OEI staff, some redundancies were inevitable.
Greene King's management is now visiting each pub site to discuss the options with individual managers. Some pubs will be converted to tenancies and managers will have the option of applying for these.
"Our aim is to hang on to all the managers and some will be offered other positions within the Greene King estate," Mr Gillis said.
The acquisition adds some 2,000 letting rooms to Greene King's existing 1,200.
"Old English gives us a stronger branded position in the market," he added.
Related news:
Greene King takes control of Old English Inns (27 September 2001)
