New move to raise BDM standards

Pubco business development managers (BDMs) could soon study for degrees in hospitality management if a pioneering scheme operated by Birmingham City University is adopted nationwide.

The possibility of BDMs becoming a Master Of Science was revealed by Peter Thomas, former franchise director of Mitchells & Butlers at a British Beer & Pub Association Key Issues Forum in Manchester.

Thomas, who is helping to run the university course, said the aim was to give BDMs a nationally-recognised qualification for the first time.

The scheme is seen, in part, as a response to criticism of BDMs made in successive Government industry select committee reports into the leased and tenanted pub sector.

"I firmly believe that the vast majority of BDMs are decent guys who have worked in the industry for many years and they do their best.

"Standards may vary from company to company but the problem is there is no recognised qualification to provide a measuring yardstick of their skills," Thomas told Forum delegates.

"If we can adopt a nationally-recognised qualification it will give BDMs across our industry a major boost with aim of ensuring they arrive on a pub site with a far better understanding of the core skills needed to carry out the job," he added.

The new course in Post Graduate Multi Unit Hospitality Management is open to personnel across a wide-ranging number of trades and industries.

Thomas said a number of M&B BDMs had enrolled on the inaugural course with early results very encouraging.

"When we (BDMs) meet tenants and lessees we need to make it clear we are qualified and competent.

"If our industry does not get through 2009 and 2010 in better shape we run the risk of blowing it." he warned.

Course students have the option of working through a number of core competence levels of qualification in a "pyramid of learning" structure.

But Thomas conceded it would be an "enormous thing" to go back to the Government and say all our people were now fully qualified.

He said it was hoped the Government would provide funding for a major roll-out of hospitality management courses if the Birmingham scheme proved a success.