BII to strengthen support for new pub tenants

The BII is to strengthen its support for new entrants to the pub trade through an extension of its mentoring scheme.

In its update on pubco progress to the Business, Skills and Innovation Committee (BISC), the BII said it was working hard to provide good advice for new entrants to the trade.

"We have begun to formulate a proposal that will see the BII facilitating a panel of professional advisors for tenants," it said.

"A board of industry wide professionals is being assembled to determine the scope of the scheme and interest from professional advisors to the industry has been forthcoming."

Codes of practice​

The BII told BISC that delays in the RICS guidelines on rent setting had caused some delays in pubcos having their codes of practice accredited.

The organisation, which oversees accreditation, said that 16 BBPA members had now been accredited, with 10 more expected by the end of November.

It said the absence of the RICS guidance had "concerned some" in their code preparation.

It said that feedback on its Pub Independent Rent Review Scheme had been "extremely positive" with 98 serious enquiries which had led to five cases being resolved, one is in the final stages and another five are ongoing.

"BIIBAS will continue to actively engage with the remaining BBPA members with a view to formally accrediting all codes by the end of the year," it said.

"BII will engage with the BBPA and IPC in the development of a tenant's survey to assess the impact of the codes.

"We will continue to pursue all complaints vigorously and impartially and we welcome any further discussion that the Committee may require. We will also of course highlight good practice.

"It is worth noting that the energy that has gone into the above developments has come from right across the industry. BII will draw on the goodwill for change in the coming months as new codes and training are implemented and monitored."

Its new BDM qualification will pilot in November.