Drink Talking: The Independent Free Trade Alliance

The Independent Free Trade Alliance has been formed to speak up for freetrade licensees. Here, directors Heather Mitchell, Peter Spark and Helen...

The Independent Free Trade Alliance has been formed to speak up for freetrade licensees. Here, directors Heather Mitchell, Peter Spark and Helen Sutherland have their say.

As two publicans from the freetrade and a former senior manager with Vaux Breweries (previously regional director of a national brewer), we have pooled our resources to create the Independent Free Trade Alliance (IFTA). With our vast experience and knowledge of the licensed trade we hope to give a voice to pub owner-operators.

The freetrade needs to recognise that the new licensing regime is a headache which is not going to go away.

The impact on your business is massive, and we are planning to hold a series of seminars with the police and local authorities present to help freehouses prepare.

The overall objective of the IFTA is to form an alliance of freehouses, and to keep the spirit of independent licensees alive in a number of areas:

By negotiating with the brewers. A structure of benefits relating to discounts and retrospective payments will enable freetraders to enhance their business with the brewers.
By providing real assistance in reducing rates bills, so easing the pressure on the licensed business.
By advising, administrating and assisting businesses to gain the new personal and premises licences required by the local authority.
We have a team of researchers assessing and understanding the new legislation so we can administer and process our members' applications.
A new licensee or licence-holder is not required by law to seek advice and assistance from a solicitor. The IFTA can provide this service at a much lower cost.
Advice and assistance on grants for small businesses.
Recommended referrals to solicitors and accountants, with reduced costs.
Financial support and advice from a national bank.
Training and development packages from brewers.

Publicans are all too often on call 24 hours a day. The alarms go off through the night and then, in the early morning, a dray arrives. Then there's the staff who don't turn up.

The cellar cooling system goes down on Easter Bank Holiday weekend, not to mention the awkward customer...the list goes on.

What time has the publican left to think about the other important factors that make this business viable? That is why the Independent Free Trade Alliance was created - to help.