BII looks to China in membership drive

Pubs in China are being targeted by the BII as part of a bid to recruit new members and run training courses in the Far East.

The Publican​ understands a team from the trade body, including chief executive Neil Robertson, have visited China for meetings - aiming to launch training programmes and raise standards in the country's burgeoning pub market.

Any deal would be potentially lucrative and help the BII keep down the cost of membership fees in the UK, according to a BII source.

Details of the link-up are set to be unveiled to BII members during the group's annual lunch, at the Grosvenor House in London on Tuesday (May 11). Corporate BII members will also get a sneak preview at a separate pre-event reception the night before.

Robertson was reluctant to provide further details about the scheme ahead of the events, but said it would be on the agenda.

He told The Publican​: "I can confirm it is one of the things we will be mentioning at our lunch and AGM.

"We want people to come along and hear about this and the other things the BII are doing and there are still a few tickets available."

The move into China is understood to be among a range of new plans the BII has been working on to diversify and raise money to pay for the support it offers licensee members.

With tourism opening up in China, the pub and bar market has started to take off in recent years - and the BII is keen to capitalise on the desire for professional training courses.

Last month Robertson attended The Publican Awards​ with guests Dr Ma Liang and venture capitalist Michael Martin of Anvil Partners.

Ma Liang is part of the Chinese version of hit TV show Dragon's Den. He also sits on China's National Governing Committee for Entrepreneurship Training, which has spent $40bn providing skills training and loans to rural citizens.

Martin, who also has links in the Far East, has a career in the financial services sector spanning five decades.

According to Anvil's own website, it was involved in negotiating a financing package for Massive Pub Company to the tune of £14m.

Massive went into administration in 2008 and many of the sites are now run by Innventive Pubs & Restaurants.