Everards ups the stakes in bounty scheme

Leicester brewer Everards has increased the bounty on offer to people who find new tenants for its pub estate.

Licensees, employees and members of the public can now put themselves in line for a £3,000 pay-out if they put forward successful candidates.

Janet Sheppard, HR manager for Everards, said: "Previous experience of the pub trade is beneficial but not always necessary as we have a comprehensive training and support programme.

"Any member of the public who knows a friend or relative who they think would make a great pub landlord should first of all get their permission to put their name forward and should then pass the details on to the Everards' recruitment team."

Simon Andrews, licensee of Everards' pub, the Swan, in Braybrooke, Leicestershire, recommended his friend Dave Talbot for the scheme in April 2007 - and Dave was made licensee of the Unicorns Head Inn in Nottinghamshire two months later.

Twenty-three year old Dave explained: "I'd been looking to take on a pub in the area for some time so when Simon suggested he put my name forward for Everards' bounty scheme, I agreed to go and have a look at the pub he had in mind.

"The whole process didn't take long at all. After I'd had a look round, I then had a consultation with Everards where we drew up a business plan and about eight weeks after that, I became licensee."

Everards Brewery, named Tenanted Pub Company of the Year (100+ sites) at the Publican Awards 2007, has a pub estate of 163 houses around the Midlands.

To recommend someone for the bounty scheme, visit www.everards.co.uk/bounty