QUALIFICATIONS

Qualifications required to obtain a personal licence

To make a successful application for a personal licence you must hold an accredited licensing qualification. The aim of the qualification is to ensure that licence holders are aware of licensing law and the wider social responsibilities of selling alcohol to the public.

The personal licence syllabus must cover:

• personal licences;
• licensing authorities;
• alcohol;
• unauthorised licensable activities;
• police powers;
• duties of the personal licence holder;

• premises’ licences;
• operating schedules;
• permitted temporary activities;
• disorderly conduct;
• protection of children;
• rights of entry;
• prohibitions.

This is normally a one-day course including a short exam. Tuition is provided by means of a training booklet and sessions are led by a qualified trainer.

The Secretary of State has approved the following Personal Licence Qualification courses:

• The BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) Level 2 National Certificate for Personal Licence Holders.
• The GOAL (Global Online Assessment for Learning) Level 2 National Certificate for Personal Licence Holders.
• The GQAL (Graded Qualifications Alliance) Level 2 National Certificate for Personal Licence Holders.

Information on course providers can be found in the Appendix.

Licensed trade qualifications

There is a number of other qualifications available to those interested in a career in the licensed trade. These include HNC and HND courses in Licensed House Management, and degree courses in Licensed Retail. Such courses are not widely available and you will need to check with your local college or university if you are interested in pursuing any of these.

The British Institute of Innkeeping offers a comprehensive range of courses for new and experienced licensees and bar staff. As well as their National Certificate for Personal Licence Holders, they run courses on topics such as cellar management, drug awareness, pub entertainment and conflict management.

Other qualifications

If you do have qualifications in subjects such as business studies, accountancy or marketing, they will be put to good use when running your pub. Knowledge of these subjects can give you an added advantage when it comes to operating the business. Running a pub draws on all your experience and skills and these, plus your business ability, are crucial factors in how successful your pub will be. Gaining knowledge and skills in these specific areas should be a priority.

Brewery and pub company requirements

The majority of pubs are leased and tenanted through breweries and pub companies. Application must be made to them through the Recruitment Department and Business Development Manager/Area Manager dealing with your submission.

With the exception of the requirement for you to hold a recognised licensing qualification, breweries and pub companies will not insist on you having any other qualifications in order to be considered for a lease or tenancy with them. Factors such as your experience, personality, financial situation and a convincing business plan tend to be key areas they would be more interested in. That is not to say that qualifications would be ignored. Relevant qualifications will certainly strengthen your case, and together with your other skills, should be featured on any application.

Buying a freehold pub

If you are proposing to buy a freehold pub, you need to have someone who holds a recognised licensing qualification running the pub. Otherwise there are no legal requirements to hold any other qualifications. However, should you need to raise money to acquire your property, additional relevant qualifications can help inspire a lender’s confidence in you.