Admiral Taverns creates new role to drive licensee recruitment

Admiral Taverns has begun a push to unearth new licensee talent by appointing one of its experienced business development managers as a recruitment consultant.

Stuart Watt, has 40 years’ experience to bring to the new ‘chief talent scout’ position.

Watt will also serve as a business consultant for people who are new to Admiral or entirely new to the licensed trade, as well as talking to proven operators and small independent brewers.

The new position will see Watt report to Suzanne Smith, head of licensee recruitment and training.

Smith said: “This is obviously an exciting step for us. We think it is unique and will hopefully give us an edge in creating a leading approach to licensee recruitment.

“We have asked Stuart to use his experience and contacts in making sure that we get the right person in the right pub, on the right deal, and to support and mentor new licensees where appropriate. We have also asked him to act as a sounding board to people who are completely new to the trade and are thinking of taking a pub with us, or who may be in the early stages of the process of taking a pub.

“Part of our approach to recruitment is to build longer-term relationships with prospective Admiral licensees so that we’re not just filling current vacancies but talking to people who are interested in working with us in the future – essentially building a talent bank.”

Watt, who most recently oversaw an area in and around Blackburn, Preston and Wigan, will work to recruit the best licensees to Admiral’s community pubs as well as looking at opportunities for multiple pub operators, and microbrewers interested in extending into pubs.

Watt said: “I am delighted to be taking this role, which is a fantastic new challenge for me and an exciting move for the business. While there’s still quite a bit of hesitancy [in taking on a pub] in the market, there are lots of good deals out there for people who want to run pubs.

“That said, the old days of here’s your rent and here’s the keys are dead – we’re seeing a real move back to a tenancy-style of relationship between licensee and pub company, with lots of interaction, support and discussion – that’s certainly the Admiral approach.

“Licensees work tremendously long hours and can sometimes feel isolated so fresh perspective is important. It’s the same when people are thinking about taking a certain pub or have just landed in a pub – a second opinion or someone who can dispense proper advice, is crucial.”