Former Institute of Licensing chairman appointed patron

After accepting the invitation Jon Collins said he will do his utmost to ensure the group’s ‘wealth of knowledge held by its members’ is listened to by policymakers.

During Collins’ time as chairman he grew the institute’s membership significantly, increased training and events, launched the Journal of Licensing, introduced the Jeremy Allen Award and re-established the National Licensing Forum to provide a round table forum for industry, regulators and Government stakeholders.

Collins said he is ‘honoured’ to become patron.

“It puts me in prestigious company and is an offer made by a board for which I have the utmost respect,” he said.

Collins is chief executive of marketing information company CGA, and formerly of BEDA.

He was heavily involved in the formation of legislation surrounding licensing reform, the smoking ban, door supervisors and was on advisory boards for nearly all proposed regulation involving licensed on-trade for the last decade.

Collins is the IoL's second patron alongside Philip Kolvin QC. Kolvin said Collins is part of the ‘superstructure’ at the IoC.

“Imported for his lobbyist’s ability to triangulate between opposing positions, through his calm demeanour, positive outlook and careful words he demonstrated how there is far more for protagonists on the licensing stage to agree about than to argue over,” Kolvin said.

He said Collins lead local government and the industry into an ‘atmosphere of mutual support’ and achieved recognition of the institute as a ‘credible contributor to national policy debates’.

A presentation to Collins will take place during the IoL's Annual Gala Dinner on 19 November.

IoL chairman Daniel Davies added: “Jon has played a pivotal role within the IoL for many years and the previous chairman and I have no doubt that he will continue to support the IoL’s growth and success in this new role.”