The training, a mandatory requirement for any new tenant or lessee who signs an agreement with a pub company or brewery that is a British Beer & Pub Association member, came under fire for “not placing enough emphasis on business law and practice”, parts of which were cited as out of date.
BII members called for the e-learning tool to be made far more comprehensive with extra information on finances and the implications of agreements.
'More thorough'
“It should be more thorough and direct people to sources of information where they can genuinely learn what they’re getting themselves into before they do,” one BII member said. Another added the training should contain information on “where to get help because you feel so powerless against the big pubcos”.
The revised e-learning programme, which is due to launch in March, will double in size and cover 12 modules, ranging from business plans, pub premises, and purchasing obligations, to licensing and compliance, rent assessment, reviews, finance and business.
Given the extra content, it will take between four and five hours to complete — up from the current two hours.
Guidance
“Running a pub is an extremely challenging job and it’s vital that those entering the trade do so armed with all the information and guidance they need to succeed,” Sheila Fraser-Whyte, director of education and training at the BII, said. “The updated PEAT programme does just that and helps them pick the right pub and right agreement for them.”