What Courses Can Help Me Become A Successful Pub Operator
Running a pub is a bit like creating the perfect drink. Start with a pint of enthusiasm, add a generous measure of training and top it off with a squeeze of ongoing support. Give it a good stir and serve with a dash of confidence and you’re well on your way to creating a customer favourite that keeps people coming back for more.
As you would expect with any industry, running a pub comes with a fair bit to learn. From getting to grips with the numbers and successfully managing a team to creating a memorable customer experience. The good news is that you don’t have to figure it all out on your own. At Greene King Pub Partners we’re all about setting you up for success from the very start and with over 225 years of heritage in brewing and pubs, we’d say we were pretty well placed to set you on your way.
I’ve Found My Perfect Pub, What Training Do I Need?
Once you have found your perfect pub, we want to ensure your launch into pub life is as smooth as a perfectly pulled pint. That’s where our Pub Power welcome programme and Essential Training come in. Think of it as your pub operator toolkit, designed to help you settle into your new venture quickly, confidently and happily.
To start your journey with us, we provide three training elements: The Essential Training, Online Learning and The Pub Power Welcome Programme, including continuous help within your first 100 days.
What Is Essential Training?
Before you enter into an agreement with us, you will be required to undertake the following training. These aren’t just boxes to tick, they are designed to ensure you understand your role and responsibilities.
Pre-Entry Awareness training: this training gives you everything you need to know about taking on a pub tenancy or lease agreement, sets out your obligations and ensures you understand ours. It’s also a legal requirement under the Pubs Code Regulations.
You can access and pay for this via the British Institute of Innkeeping here.
APLH (for pubs in England and Wales) and SCPLH (for pubs in Scotland): APLH stands for Award for Personal Licence Holders and is a nationally recognised qualification in the UK and a must have if you want to apply for a personal licence to sell alcohol. The course covers essential knowledge around licensing law and responsibilities, preventing underage sales and promoting social responsibility, alongside other key areas. Holding an APLH means you can authorise alcohol sales and demonstrate your compliance with licensing laws. The equivalent in Scotland is the Scottish Certificate for Personal Licence Holders and is also a mandatory qualification if you want to apply for a personal licence to sell alcohol in Scotland. For both versions of the qualification there is a multiple-choice exam you must pass to gain the qualification.
Safe Start:
This is our own e-learning module that guides you through safety checks and outlines responsibilities for you and us before you take over your dream pub.
Short Term Agreement Digital Welcome:
If you are coming aboard with a short-term agreement, we’ll invite you to join our digital welcome on Teams.
Pub Power Welcome:
Our three-day Pub Power Welcome programme is designed to get you fully prepared and confident before you take the reins of your pub.
A Three-Day Course Sounds Like A Lot. What Does It Cover?
Think of the Pub Power Welcome as a crash course in everything Greene King and pub running. We will provide you with accommodation and dinner on the first night, so you can focus on soaking up the knowledge without worrying about logistics. Over the three days you’ll learn all about Greene King and our history, discover our beers and business strategy, get to work on your business plan with guidance from our experts and gain vital skills in digital marketing, customer segmentation, market trends, operations and business finance. By the end of the three days, you’ll have a solid foundation to run your pub and feel confident about making your business thrive. You will also be signed up to a year’s free e-learning for you and your team via Attensi
What Training Can I Access Online?
Upon completing the Pub Power Welcome, you and your team can take full advantage of a range of interactive, practical online modules, designed to enhance your skills. Topics you can access include, Health and Safety Levels 1 and 2, Food Safety Levels 2 and 3, Food Allergens, First Aid Awareness, Fire Safety Awareness, Picking Up Manual Handling, COSHH: Working With Hazardous Substances and Licensing and many other business building modules to fully equip your team to deliver the best guest experience.
Can I Continue To Learn?
Absolutely! We recognise that running a pub isn’t a ‘set it and forget it’ kind of business, which is why we host free webinars and workshops. These are bite-sized lessons you can fit around your busy day. You can see what’s coming up in our online Training Calendar. There is also a selection of self-serve content available to access at your convenience via PubPartners.net through the PubTube tab.
Will There Be Ongoing Support?
Most definitely. Once you have settled in, one of our Learning and Development partners will visit during your first 100 days to discuss any further training needs you have. The pub industry is constantly evolving so we want to ensure you always have someone to guide you, whether it’s fine-tuning staff skills or exploring new ways to boost your business.
Will There Be Help When I Need It?
We understand it feels like a big step, but we’ve designed every stage of the process with one goal in mind: helping you succeed. From pre-entry training, through to your Pub Power Welcome to ongoing e-learning and your first 100 days in your new pub, we’re here to guide, support and cheer you on.
Want To Discuss Next Steps?
Get in touch today by calling 01284 843200 or email pubpartnersrecruitment@greeneking.co.uk