High-street managers

'need proper training'

by Ewan Turney

A pub managers' union has called for all high-street managers to have at least five years' trade experience.

The National Association of Licensed House Managers (NALHM) president, Dave Daley, said that as a result of the rapid pace at which pubs are being sold and swapped, 'the inner workings and the training are getting weaker.

'Assistant managers are getting fast-tracked too quickly without proper training, to the detriment of licensed premises. We are planning to make representations to MPs and councils that all high-street managers should have at least five years' service within the trade.

Mitchells & Butlers customer services director, Simon Ward, disputed Daley's view. 'We are continually refining and im-proving the training available to our managers, he said.

The issue was raised at the group's executive meeting last week, which was dominated by training and licensing reform.

The NALHM is also concerned that managers have not been properly consulted over extended hours and how to deal with them. 'Extended hours are dangerous hours wherever you are, Daley said. 'There is a different skill factor in handling people after 11pm; people change.

The association wants the staffing budget 'significantly increased from the average of 10% of weekly turnover for wet-led pubs and 15% for food-led.

'Most community pubs may open until 1am and town-centre outlets until 4am, which will mean we will need taxis for staff and extra security, but there has been no mention of a budget increase yet, he said. 'We don't want conflict with the pub companies but would like a dialogue because some are worried about extended hours.

The NALHM plans to 'grasp the nettle of licensing reform to bolster membership. 'We want to let managers know we are the only organisation which can protect personal licences for less than £1 a week, Daley said.