Punch goes to BBPA to call for code on rogue recruiting

Punch Taverns is taking its concerns about rogue recruitment companies to the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) and pushing for an industry code of conduct.

Investigations by The Publican found potential recruits to the industry, responding to adverts in the national press, were being offered training and the promise of a pub placement in return for a hefty fee - often to be met with disappointment.

Concerns had been raised about the role of pubcos in allowing these companies to lease properties within their estates and then sublease them to unwitting would-be licensees.

Earlier this year Punch introduced a range of checks to ensure these rogue companies are weeded out before they can take on the lease of any of its pubs. The pubco is now discussing a code of conduct with the BBPA property panel and is adding advice on rogue operators to its retailer charter.

Neil Griffiths, Punch property and strategy director, said: "Because it's the limited companies to watch out for, we have one person now looking at just those limited companies. So far there have been no issues.

"The difficulty is when these companies are already in the pubs. We have tightened up a lot of our reviews. One of the questions we ask is 'what is the relationship between you and your employer?'"

The company says it will be easier under the new Licensing Act to track premises that have a constant change of management.

Punch holds the premises licences of its 8,000-plus pubs and can track designated premises supervisors under this system.

The company will focus on stopping rogue operators before they get into the pubs, but it is hard to track them when companies continue to change names.

Francis Patton, Punch customer relations director, said: "We have to stop them coming into the sector."

Other pub companies are now looking at introducing similar safeguards.