BII to hold summit after four lose jobs

The BII is holding a "strategy day" at the end of September to discuss its future direction after four senior members of staff lost their jobs.

The BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) is holding a "strategy day" at the end of September to discuss its future direction after four senior members of staff lost their jobs.

The group is also looking to recruit a new business development director.

Chief executive Neil Robertson said the event would be a "brand audit" for the organisation, looking at "the role of the BII and what we should look like".

It follows a period of change for the BII, with the launch of initiatives such as the Pubs Independent Rent Review Scheme (PIRRS) and more focus on its pubco code benchmarking and accreditation scheme, BIIBAS, after the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee and the Government said all pubcos must get their codes re-accredited.

The search for different income streams, including the plan to run training courses in China, is likely to be up for discussion at the strategy day.

Last week the BII announced that Steve Howe, director of membership, and Sue Medhurst, its director of marketing and communications, had left the group by "mutual consent".

Jonathan Stemp, director of ICT at the BII, has also departed but "will continue to work for the BII on a consultancy basis on specific IT projects".

Janet Hood, former head of BII Scotland, was made redundant at the start of August and is to launch Janet Hood Consulting on 1 September.

Hood said she would be offering her services as a licensing specialist to Scottish law firms.

She also plans to develop services for the industry, such as mystery shopping and a business development consultancy.

Hood said she had "no ill feeling" towards the BII and would remain an accredited specialist with the group.

Robertson said: "The changes will help the company reduce costs and give us a fresh focus in some crucial areas, particularly in the benefits and support we want to offer our members.

"I would like to thank those who have left the BII for the valuable contribution they have made and to wish them all the best for the future."