Show pride in your team
Since last October, licensees from across the UK have been telling us how proud of their staff they are. Launched under The Publican's Proud of Pubs campaign, the feature has seen businesses from Somerset to Stirlingshire come forward to point out why their team, or an individual, stands out from the crowd. The series sets out to celebrate some of the unsung heroes of the pub trade... the people who really add the X-factor to the pub they work in and keep customers coming back again and again.Now The Publican is linking up with pub entertainments provider Mediatheme to give pubs a real reward for their dedication with cash to give them a night out to remember.
From now until the end of the year, every entrant to Proud of Your Staff will have the chance to win the following for their team:
- Each month, one pub will be picked out to receive a £250 cash prize to spend on their team
- At the end of the year one team or individual judgedto have inspired the most pride in their pub will receive a star prize to the value of £2,000.
Richard Horne, managing director of Mediatheme, said: "Mediatheme is delighted to be associated with ThePublican's Proud of Your Staff initiative and theProud of Pubs campaign. "We all know how important people are to any successful business, especially in a customer service environment. Attracting and keeping valuable customers is an essential part of any operation, and we are proud to be rewarding those people who go that extra mile in achieving that goal. Good luck to all nominees from the Mediatheme team and we look forward to congratulating the overall winners for 2006."
On these pages we look back at the teams which have been featured in The Publican over the past few months. Do you think your team has more to offer? Let us know and you could win them £250 for a night out. And if any of the pubs which have already been featured would like to enter again for a chance to win the the cash prize, just tell us what your staff have been up to since they appeared in The Publican.
David Hoyle at the Old Yew Tree Inn, in South Wingfield in Derbyshire, set the ball rolling last October when he nominated his team for their support after he was diagnosed with diabetes.
"My staff have been brilliant," the 60-year-old licensee told The Publican. "They have taken on board a lot of the small things that tie up so much of my time."
Allen Kennedy at the Woodman in Woodmansterne, near Banstead, Surrey, said his team had helped him turn the pub around after he had taken it over 12 months previously. "My team has pulled behind me and shown an amazing amount of friendliness and support," he declared.
Oliver Leach, manager of the Wheatsheaf Inn, in Grayswood, Haslemere, Surrey, was picked out for recognition by the pub's licensee Ken Martin. Describing him as a "real asset", Ken said the 23-year-old was "a special person".
Peter Trafford, licensee at the Blacksmith's Arms in Lastingham, North Yorkshire, said his staff deserved recognition for the way they each get behind the pub's theme nights - such as a gourmet night when they each dressed up in costumes to represent different countries.
The team at the Spring Inn in Rochdale (above) were praised by licensee Carol Holden for the way they rallied around while she was recovering from a serious illness. "When I came back I actually felt a bit unneeded!" she said. The staff helped the pub take the Family Pub of the Year prize at The Publican Awards 2006.
Mark O'Donnell at the Stag Inn, near Tiverton in Devon, said his team should be recognised for keeping the pub going following a fire which destroyed the roof and led to flooding downstairs. "Because so much stuff got damaged my staff brought things such as vacuum cleaners from their homes," said Mark.
Outstanding customer service was the reason why Jordan Kusgoz of the Becke Arms in Cherry Willingham, Lincolnshire, put his team forward for Proud of Your Staff. Describing them as trustworthy, friendly, professional and business-minded, Jordan said: "They open the doors for the customers and pull out their chairs."
The young team at the Spread Eagle in Sawley, Lancashire, was nominated by licensee Nigel Williams. As well as throwing themselves into the can-can during a French evening at the pub, the team - half of whom are aged under 22 - were praised for their attitude to training and learning about the business from top to bottom.
The team at the Kings Arms at Litton, in Somerset, were nominated by the pub's Ann Mary Nicholls for helping improve a business which was not just on its knees, but "prostrate", according to one of the locals who had abandoned it. "I told the team they could and would earn at least £1,000 a month in tips if they got it right," she said. "They laughed, then almost a year after we started they had their first £1,000-a-month tips. Boy, did it motivate them!"
Michael Hall, licensee at the New Inn in Buckinghamshire, picked out his team for recognition after they pulled together to keep the pubrunning smoothly when he suffered a stroke last June. "The staff started work early and finished late, and helped with cleaning and organising the pub. They went way beyond expectations," he said.
The team at the Rose & Crown in Yealmpton, near Plymouth, Devon, were nominated after helping the pub reopen following a major refurbishment. John Stevens,managing director of the Wykeham Group, which owns the pub, said staff helped the development get back on track after six petrol tanks were found under the pub.The team spent hours, sometimes working through the night, to ensure the pub was ready on time.
Alison Taylor, licensee at the Bricklayers Arms in Luton (above), put her team forward after they threw a surprise party to celebrate her 20 years at the pub. "It was amazing," said Alison. "All the staff organised a collection and presented me with a beautiful watch, a weekend away and champagne for my partner Nick Dale. I was overwhelmed."
Staff at the Old China Hand in Clerkenwell, London,persuaded licensee Rowena Smith to open the pub, in an area full of offices, on New Year's Eve. The commitment that her staff showed on the night was brilliant, said Rowena. "They didn't even ask for extra money - but I ended up paying them double," she added.
Scott Cowlap of the Wateredge Inn in Ambleside, Cumbria, said a lot of customers come back to the pub especially for the good service they get from the 25-strong team. "Sometimes we have around 400 people getting off a boat at one time - and that's a lot of people to keep happy," added Scott. "It's a major task, but fortunately my staff are always up to the challenge."
Staff at the Crossways Inn in Folly Gate, near Okehampton, Devon, were praised for the way they deal with the pub's elderly customers. "We have a lot of older people come in and the staff always bend over backwards to help them out and they really appreciate that," said licensee Wendy Williams.
The team at the Crown in Rawmarsh, Rotherham, are never afraid to get dressed up for the pub's many charitable events. Licensee Cath Bown told The Publican: "Whether it's for Children in Need or Comic Relief my staff always make an effort - I couldn't ask for anything more from them!"
Charley South of the Brickmakers in Norwich nominated
