Pub Skills Summit: Speaker line-up confirmed for exciting new event

Alongside them, keynote speaker, skills minister Nick Boles (left), will give his perspective on the skills challenge facing the hospitality sector, how employers can play their part and outline government policy around apprenticeships and skills development.

• Read: People matters - winning the war for talent​​​

Considerable attention has been given to the recruitment challenges in the sector — and work continues to disprove the myth that pub jobs are no more than part-time, pocket-money options. But evidence suggests that paying more attention to staff retention and developing career pathways will help tackle the widespread recruitment problems and boost productivity.

The summit aims to provide new ideas and tools to tackle recruitment, retention and skills challenges in the sector. It will showcase award-winning people development strategies from the sector’s top employers and provide insight into the latest expert thinking on recruitment and retention.

Attend the new Pub Skills Summit

Join us at the summit
Tues 5 July
Sheraton Park Lane, London
www.skillsummit.co.uk​
More details contact Jo Horton Tel 01293 610403

Delegates will hear from some of the sector’s best employers, recognised for their award-winning approaches:​

• Natasha Waterfield, HR manager at New World Trading Company​, winner of Best Pub Employer (2-50 sites) at the Publican Awards, will discuss the company’s rigorous approach to staff development and its innovative new 'Tribes' initiative designed to increase employee engagement.
• Oakman Inns’​ head of HR Jill Scatchard will explain the ethos behind the pubco’s career pathway programme Oakmanology, which places the individual’s interest and passion at the heart of their learning
• Dawn Browne, group development manager at Publican Awards Best Pub Employer (51+ sites) winner Fuller’s​, will outline the company’s focus on becoming an employer of choice and the benefits gained from its emphasis on peer-to-peer learning.
• Michael Soderquest, training manager at Star Pubs & Bars​, on what best practice looks like in the leased and tenanted sector and its ongoing investment in improving the retailing skills of lessees and their teams across its estate.
• Global talent expert Barry Flack, formerly of ‘cheap chic’ retailer Primark​, will examine how the service industry is adapting to skills shortages, the changing world of work and staying ahead of the competition.
• CPL Online​ managing director David Dasher will provide insight on the power of Big Data in transforming training, succession planning and understanding workforce behaviours.
• Strategies for tackling the challenge of changing industry perceptions​; retention problems and views on pubs as a career choice. Panel debate with senior leaders from the trade and the education sector.

The Pub Skills Summit is supported by CPL Training Group and Diageo.

The event is aimed at independent and multi-site operators, and HR and training professionals within leased and tenanted and managed pubcos.