The pub trade is coming under fire for not putting sufficient resources into recruiting, training and retaining staff.
Speaking at the Publican HR and Training conference, pubco representatives, trainers, recruitment agents and licensees spoke of the urgency on the issue of training, which often suffers from budget cuts should a business be struggling.
During his presentation to delegates, Ed Heaver, consultant and former commercial director at Wizard Inns, said: "The chief executives who are sat in their separate conference are the people who need to be here to listen and discuss training.
"It is important that they are clear on how serious the industry needs to take this."
The break out session from the Publican Conference last Thursday, inspired lively debate on the subject, which many feel has been neglected in the past.
During a panel debate pubco representatives also emphasised the work that has already been done and what is yet to come.
All agreed that training was essential for business and ultimately contributed to the bottom line as well as helping keep staff happy and retaining them.
John McNamara, chief executive at the British Institute of Innkeeping chaired the meeting and said: "I have two members of the family working for big pubcos and the reason they have stayed with the company is because the focus is on them. There are people out there doing it but we need to look at ways the frontline individual licensee can take this on board. It is absolutely vital that we look at big investment in these areas."
Graham Rowson, licensee at the Plungington Tavern in Preston, Lancashire, attended the conference and added: "We do a lot of training so its bread into our staff but I don't feel others are doing enough. There needs to be more of a compulsory line on this to make sure that in years to come the industry is stronger."
Ian Harris, director of the Wine & Spirits Education Trust, also used the platform to present new evidence proving that the training the organisation has done has made a huge difference to takings.