Women sweep the board at ALMR awards
In a double scoop for girl power, women claimed both prizes at the coveted Operations Managers Awards, run by the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR).
The event, which rewards the very best field managers in both the managed and tenanted sector, saw Tina Cogan and Julie Wright take top honours.
Ms Cogan, a business development manager with Enterprise Inns and a former licensee, said: "I am so proud to have won such a prestigious award. I hadn't met the other finalists but I had heard of them through reputation so to come through what was a very stringent process is very exciting."
The celebrated awards scheme is now firmly etched in the minds of pub groups - the competition saw a record level of entries from companies including Greene King, Mitchells & Butlers, Punch and Pubmaster.
A rigorous judging process saw entrants complete a detailed and taxing question form on a range of issues including management, leadership, training and the intricacies of modern pub retailing.
Paper judging then saw these entries whittled down to a shortlist of five finalists in each category and it was here that the intense scrutiny really began.
Candidates were accompanied on a day out in trade by one of two industry experts - Tom Morkill, a former Bass executive or Adam Hogg, former boss of Conquest Inns.
This was followed by a day in London where finalists faced three interview panels, comprising two industry experts each. ALMR chief executive Nick Bish said: "This is a very tough competition. The standard of the entrants is getting higher and we are seeing some very talented people coming through. This year was no exception but the judges felt that both Tina Cogan and Julie Wright had the defining extra talent."
It is the first time women have beaten the men in both categories. Julie Wright, area manager of the year from Laurel, said: "I am used to beating men! Seriously, I am really pleased for the company's point of view because there is a big commitment to people at Laurel so external recognition is great. Personally, it is fantastic to have what you are doing endorsed in this way."
Paul Hirst, regional operations director at Laurel, told judges that losing Julie from his team would be 'like Arsene Wenger losing Thierry Henry' from the Arsenal team.
Ms Cogan, who looks after 57 pubs, added: "Obviously I would like to move forward in the industry and progress my current position so this is brilliant."
ALMR raises the bar
The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) is to up the ante in its annual search for the best operations managers in the pub industry.
The awards, in its seventh year, will send a clutch of the very best away to one of Britain's top business schools.
Backed by Belgian brewer Interbrew, the trade body will put finalists through their paces under the close scrutiny of some of the UK's most respected corporate coaches, at Ashridge management college.
The exercise will also create a fertile environment for finalists to exchange ideas and best practice.
ALMR chief executive Nick Bish said: "We are currently working with Ashridge to create a bespoke course for the 20 best operations managers in the industry."
This will be in addition to all the usual rigours, which subjects candidates to an intensive day in trade with an award judge and then three separate interviews with a range of industry experts.
