BII to undergo radical shakeup

The BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) is to carry out a radical restructuring to create a more transparent, democratic organisation that is "fit for purpose" for the next 10 years. But it rejected a more radical plan to end corporate membership and sponsorship that would have cost around £150,000 per annum.

The plan, though, will see the number of BII council members cut from 45 to 16 with membership moving from a regional to county structure to encourage grass-roots participation.

The slimmed-down council will consist of 10 regional chairmen and six outside experts.

Within three years, the key role of chairman and treasurer will be elected from the smaller group of 16. A working party had recommended the "removal of company/corporate involvement" as a way of "cleaning up the BII" and making it a "truly licensee representative organisation".

But it was the sole recommendation not taken forward by the council. There will, however, be a new set of conditions for corporate members to adhere to.

The abolition of corporate sponsorship could have seen the end of schemes such as the link-up between Britvic and the BII to improve the standard of soft drink serve.

"There was a perception that perhaps pubcos have too much say, but that was never correct," said working party chairman Peter Thomas. "It was a useful test to think about the strategy behind corporate membership. The BII is about raising standards across the industry from licensees to pubco business development managers. We realised we needed a variety of people in the organisation."

Former BII membership development consultant Nigel Wakefield added: "Corporate members are fine as long as they don't have too much influence, which I think they have had in recent years. The pubcos need the BII more than the BII needs them."

The nominated experts will serve for three years with the aim of "broadening the skill set" of the council.

Thomas added: "In November the BII will be 30 years old and a lot has changed in the past few years compared to the previous 25 — the BII being involved in pubco codes of practice accreditation, the Pubs Independent Rent Review Scheme, being called in front of the Business Innovation & Skills Committee and diversifying into China. The county structure is more informal and will create a more grass roots-based organisation."

BII chief executive Neil Robertson said there was "no undue corporate influence" on the organisation. "The nature of corporate membership will become more transparent. It is our job not just to make the life of licensees better, but that of the whole licensed trade so there needs to be a place for all in the BII."

Members will be asked to support the new structure at the AGM in May, with the transition process due to complete by the end of 2014.