BII urges pubcos to submit their codes of practice

The BII has urged pub companies to submit their proposed codes of practice for accreditation as soon as possible.

Despite the self-imposed deadline for companies to have submitted their codes of practice being a little over eight weeks away, only two companies have sent in their documents, according to Bernard Brindley, deputy chairman on the BII's benchmarking committee.

So far Bateman's, the Lincolnshire brewer, is the only pub group to have had its code accredited by the BII, and while Punch Taverns' document is close to being given the 'green light', Brindley and his colleagues want companies to speed up their work in getting their codes sent in.

"We know a couple of companies are pretty well advanced in terms of getting their codes over to us, but we've yet to see any others. We're desperate to get them done and the deadline is the end of June," he said.

A number of industry experts have been charged by the BII to assess pub companies' codes of practice as they are submitted, after which they convene to meet operators and highlight any areas of contention.

Chairman of the committee is James Brewster, chief executive of the Licensed Trade Charity.

Phil Dixon, Fleurets chairman Barry Gillham and Christie + Co pubs director Neil Morgan are also on the committee, as well as pubco representatives.

Fair Pint's Karl Harrison is among the representatives for licensees.

All 50-plus member companies of the British Beer & Pub Association must have their codes of practice accredited by the BII as part of reforms demanded by MPs sitting on the Business, Innovations and Skills Parliamentary Select Committee earlier this year.