Pub Skills Summit to tackle industry's retention, recruitment and skills challenges

20-Jun-2016 - Last updated on 26-Apr-2021 at 17:04 GMT

The Pub Skills Summit will equip delegates with the resources to help them tackle the sector's skills challenges

An event designed to help the pub sector tackle the challenges associated with recruitment, retention and skills is being held in London next month.

The Pub Skills Summit, organised by BigHospitality's sister publication The Publican's Morning Advertiser (PMA), is aimed at operators of all levels, from independent to multi-site operators, as well as HR and training teams within leased and tenanted and managed pubcos.

"Pubs and bars offer a wealth of opportunities for young people to learn and experience a wide range of careers. For many, they provide their first taste of working life yet skills shortages remain a top concern and the perception persists that pub jobs are no more than a stop gap rather than viable long-term career options," said PMA deputy editor Mike Berry.

"There is a ‘talent time bomb’ ticking in the sector with a real imperative to recruit and upskill the tens of thousands of licensed retail staff the sector needs to grow. With the help of selected partners, the summit also aims to equip delegates with new thinking and resources to help them tackle skills challenges in their own businesses."

Agenda

The event at The Sheraton Park Lane on 5 July will include a keynote speech from Nick Boles, Minister of State for Skills, who will offer 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.

Representatives from winning businesses in the recent Publican Awards - New World Trading Company, Oakman Inns & Restaurants, Fullers and Star Pubs & Bars - will also be sharing their approaches to tackling the skills crisis while Fuller's head of food Paul Dickinson will talk specifically about the chef skills crisis in a conversation with the PMA's food and drink writer Daniel Woolfson.

The summit will also include presentations on the latest developments in e-learning and technology, updates on the industry-wide Perceptions campaign, effective routes for training and utilising funding and government support and views from the trade’s next generation of rising stars.

Tickets to the one-day summit are £195 plus VAT for operators and £495 plus VAT for suppliers. To book, visit skillsummit.co.uk or call Joanne Horton on 01293 610403.