Is this a good way in to the industry?

We have come across a recruitment company that operate retail partnerships. For a fee, they provide you with training for the NLC and the BII induction course, and 7 days residential training in a training pub. Then they help you to find a pub you would like to run and set you up in a retail partnership with a pub operator whereby the operator pays all the expenses of the pub, and you earn around 15% of the takings. You also get a percentage of the machine income, and if you provide food, the profits are all your own. You have no bills to pay except residential council tax, the pub operator pays all other bills. You can try this for six months, and if you like it, then move on to a leasehold or tenancy, which they will help you negotiate, or you can remain as a retail partner forever if you prefer. You remain a client of the recruitment people for as long as you want to, and they will continue to help and advise you if required for other tenancies/leases etc. They also receive a fee from the pubco for finding them someone to run their pub. It seems a good deal to me, as there don't seem to be any losers - the pubco makes money, the recruiter makes money, and you get to try out the pub you fancy without a huge investment upfront or being locked into an agreement you can't get out of. Have I overlooked the pitfalls, or is there any other advice anyone can offer me?

Thanks,

Rita Carroll Marguerita Carroll