GUIDE TO MOVING IN YOUR COUNTDOWN TO CHANGE DAY

Transcription

1 GUIDE TO MOVING IN YOUR COUNTDOWN TO CHANGE DAY What needs to happen before you get the keys to your pub VERSION 1.0 September 2010

2 Contents Contents 1 Introduction Becoming a Greene King Licensee 2 2 The application process Choosing the right pub How to apply for a pub 3 3 Countdown to moving in How long will it take? As soon as you have received approval at final interview stage At least 4 weeks before you take over the pub At least 3 weeks before you take over the pub At least 2 weeks before you take over the pub At least 1 week before you take over the pub What needs to be in place ready for Change Day 6 4 Change Day and beyond The Change Day Your first 6 weeks Your first year 7 5 Pub Partners support People to help you A whole world online The tools you need Support for your business 10 6 Frequently asked questions Your questions answered 11 Using this document Throughout these pages we have highlighted the difference between a Tenancy and Lease where relevant. We use the word Licensee to refer to both a Tenant and a Lessee. TENANCY Information for Tenancy Agreements. LEASE Information for Lease Agreements. PLEASE NOTE The Greene King Pub Partners Code of Practice for Tied Agreements and your Agreement will provide you with the full details of your responsibilities as a Licensee with us. You should refer to these always and use this document as a guide only. Introduction 1.1: Becoming a Greene King Licensee We look for Licensees that will behave as entrepreneurs, driving their business. Our selection process matches the right people to the right pub creating a success for you and for us too. Whether you are running a Greene King pub on a Lease or Tenanted basis, you will have an outstanding opportunity to grow and develop a business with enormous potential, backed by the support and training you would expect from one of the UK s leading pub operators. This guide is specifically designed to take you through the process of becoming a Pub Partners Licensee, from selecting a pub, through to the day when you open the doors of your business for the first time. 2 GREENE KING PUB PARTNERS Guide to moving into your pub

3 2: The application process 2.1: Choosing the right pub If you have received this guide, you will have already found a pub you like. Our pubs are generally advertised using letting details that outline the opportunity and history of an individual business. The letting details provide you with an overview of the pub, the internal and external trading spaces, the accommodation and an outline of the business. There is a Shadow Profit and Loss Report prepared for each pub advertised. We provide an assessment of the Fair Maintainable Turnover (level of trade) that can be achieved by a reasonably efficient operator. This looks at turnover on drink, food and gaming machines, the costs relating to the business and therefore a rental assessment based on these figures. Some costs will be assumptions we will tell you when we have used them and why. We will tell you the likely investment you will need to make for the fixtures and fittings, the deposit plus legal and administration fees. You will receive a history of the pub including the number of Licensees in the last five years, products purchased through us over the past three years and details of other pubs in the area. As well as this guide, you will receive our Code of Practice for Tied Agreements which your Business Development Manager will go through with you. This provides greater detail on our Agreements and the way we will work together. You will also receive our current Guide to Charges so that you know in advance how much we charge for our services. We are committed to ensuring that we place the right person in the right pub. To help us, we have developed specialist licensee/pub-matching software. Equally you must ensure that you make the right choice. Once you have chosen your pub, make an appointment to visit on more than one occasion and visit as a customer as well as a potential operator. 2.2: How to apply for a pub Complete our Application Form available online at Prepare and complete your Business Plan a Business Plan template is available on our website. Agree on your Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) you must ensure your DPS holds a Personal Licence. To obtain a Personal Licence, attendance on the National Certificate for Personal Licence Holders (NCPLH) is required. For more information about the NCPLH contact our Training Department on Organise your source of funding and provide proof proof of funding can be: a recent bank statement with available funds a letter from your Solicitor or Bank stating availability of funds. Attend interviews your Business Plan will be discussed in detail with one of our Business Development Managers at your first interview, to ensure your plans are realistic and appropriate. Your proof and source of funding must be demonstrated in the interview. Attend a final interview with an Operations Director. Notification of your success if you are the right person for the pub, you ll be notified of your success. You will be sent an Offer Letter and a copy of your future Agreement with Greene King Pub Partners. You must seek independent professional advice about your Agreement before you attend the Pre-Agreement meeting (see below). Attend mandatory training you must complete the British Institute of Innkeeping Pre-entry Awareness Training (PEAT) online, as well as our courses: Go for Growth, Cellar Management and Finance. These courses are held regularly in various venues across the country. The cost of these can be deducted from your Training Fund which you pay when you enter your pub but you will need to pay for training in advance and offset the costs later when your Fund has been set up. For Agreements of 3 or more years, we will refund the cost of mandatory training, provided that you complete the full term of your Tenancy Agreement or for a Leased pub, at the point of assignment, if your tenure has been 3 years or more. Attend the Pre-Agreement Meeting to ensure that you have a clear understanding of all aspects of the Agreement, our Code of Practice and all other terms of trading with us. You will be required to sign your Agreement at this meeting. It will be binding on the Day of Change. GREENE KING PUB PARTNERS Guide to moving into your pub 3

4 3: Countdown to moving in 3.1: How long will it take? The length of time between now and the day you move into the pub will vary according to individual circumstances, but it is likely to be 4-10 weeks. This will be an extremely busy period. We will work closely with you to provide the support, advice and guidance you ll require. You should also get professional advice about your Agreement. 3.2: As soon as you have received approval at final interview stage To ensure everything runs smoothly, you ll need to appoint a number of other people to act on your behalf: A Licensed Property Broker who will provide a range of professional services essential to ensuring the smooth running of changes in Tenancies / Leases. An Accountant who will advise you on the financial aspects of your future business. We have a list of recommended Accountants who will guide you through your first year and provide good advice specific to the pub trade. A Stocktaker who will act for you on the day you take over your pub and throughout the period you spend operating your pub business. A Solicitor as there will be a number of legal documents and contracts for you to sign. TENANCY If you choose not to appoint a Solicitor, your Property Broker may be able to act on your behalf and advise you accordingly. LEASE You must appoint a solicitor as Lease Agreements can be complex and it is important that you take legal representation. 3.3: At least 4 weeks before you take over the pub You will need to meet with the outgoing Licensee. This is an essential requirement for an efficient transfer of the business. You will need to obtain details of: Current trading levels Current suppliers Advance bookings reservations and deposits, plus names, addresses, phone numbers and amounts collected/charged. Website and intellectual property rights the website domain name, addresses and membership of any bookings/reservations websites should be provided as these are likely to be included in the business transfer or sale. Vending and other machines, TVs, games and other equipment lease terms and conditions etc. Local maintenance contracts. Licensing Information including PubWatch details, local resident issues and due diligence logs. Employees details TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment) Regulations These came into force in April 2006 and place responsibility on both the transferor (present employer: the outgoing Licensee) and the transferee (you). If the information is available for this meeting, you should go through it with the outgoing Licensee. If it is not available you MUST have it in writing at least a fortnight before a transfer of a business takes place. Remind the outgoing Licensee they must provide: - name, address and date of birth of all employees - details of when employment commenced - job title and duties - rate of pay - pay intervals (hourly, weekly, monthly etc) - breakdown of hours of work - any outstanding holiday entitlement - details of holiday entitlement and when holiday year commences - any break in employment - all employees' terms and conditions - details of any pension scheme in operation - sickness scheme - details of any staff on long term sick/maternity leave - details of service with previous employers which count - any grievance and disciplinary action that has taken place over the past two years - any court or tribunal cases from the last two years or any possible outstanding case that you consider could be brought. - any collective agreement that will have effect after the transfer (this might be in place when a managed house transfers to Leased). - it is also important to provide details of any staff training achievements. If the required information is not made available two weeks before the change over, you could take the outgoing Licensee to a tribunal (the award is a minimum of 500 per employee). A transferor or transferee will be held jointly responsible for the failure to consult with employees representatives, Trade Union officials or, if not available, then all staff. A decision by an appeal tribunal ruled that the maximum award should be thirteen weeks pay for failure to consult with employees in a transfer. 4 GREENE KING PUB PARTNERS Guide to moving into your pub

5 3: Countdown to moving in You will also need to: Agree your Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) ensure your DPS holds a Personal Licence. Set up business bank account you will need to arrange a suitable account with your bank. It is only possible to apply for a credit card machine when you have a business account. Set up card payment facilities register with Streamline (our PDQ supplier) as early as possible and get preferential rates through the Pelican Buying Group for this. It will take at least four weeks and is a priority for the day you open as without it your customers cannot pay with debit or credit cards. Recruit any necessary staff any vacancies should be advertised so that the recruitment process can begin and ensure staff are available on the Change Day. Be aware of any TUPE obligations you may have before you recruit new staff. Also make sure you brief the staff that are already employed to ensure they are engaged with your plans for the business. Arrange training - contact the Training team at Greene King Pub Partners to arrange any training needed, some elements are mandatory (see section 2.2). Your Change Day will be unable to take place unless you have attended Mandatory Training. Set up sessions with our Specialist Tenant Trainers providing individual on-the-job training, coaching and mentoring to give you the skills you need to run a successful pub. This is a must if you have never run a pub before and you can find more about this in the Training Guide and online at Set up insurance contents, stock, Public and Employer s Liability insurance will need to be set up. Your insurance must cover: - damage to your fixtures and fittings, contents, stock and wines/spirits/beers etc - loss of your Licence - loss of your income - Employer s Liability (minimum 10 million) - Public and Products Liability (minimum 5 million) - new for old replacement - loss due to neglect or lack of maintenance - utilities (electricity, gas, water, telecommunications) during any closure - all associated business expenses during any closure. It should also include: - money and goods in transit - personal and domestic contents. Refer to our Guide to Insurance to make sure you insure yourself fully. As a Greene King Licensee, the Pelican Buying Group will offer you preferential rates on insurance. Notify all services/utilities and agree transfer water, electricity, gas and telephone suppliers will need to be notified that you are the new Licensee going into the business. It is the outgoing Licensee s responsibility to ensure they end the contract in their name and pay the balance on outstanding bills. You should not agree any utility services on the phone as this is a binding agreement. Greene King can provide a recommended utility broker on your Change Day to help you set up utility contracts at favourable rates to you. Register for Rates, Business Rates and Council Tax notify your Local Authority. Get online you will need to have a computer with Internet access to enable you to place your weekly beer order online and see your invoices and statements on our online facility. There is a guide called Get Your Head Around Our Online Services that will help you use the extensive online support that is available to you. Complete a Credit Consent Form we will send you this so that we are able to carry out a credit check on you. We cannot complete the recruitment process without this. 3.4: At least 3 weeks before you take over the pub Meet your Business Development Manager to arrange a Pre-Agreement Meeting. This will take place once we have your Agreement prepared and will be around 3 weeks before your Change Day. At this meeting your Business Development Manager will go through your Agreement and our Code of Practice so you fully understand your responsibilities and ours, your trading terms, price list etc. We will also provide you with a Lease plan which will show the boundaries of the land to be included in your Agreement. You should allow at least three hours for this meeting in your diary. This is a very important meeting as it will provide you with all the information you need to sign your Agreement with us. Following your Pre-Agreement Meeting, you should seek professional advice from experts in the Licensed trade to ensure you are happy with your Agreement we will require confirmation that you have done this prior to your Change Day. Set up Direct Debit mandates you will need these so that you are able pay your rent and invoices for the products you purchase from us. We will require your bank details to assist us in setting up your account. Register for food (if applicable) if you will be selling food, you should consult your Broker about the registration process. You will also need to sit the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health Level 2 Award in Catering examination to be able to prepare and serve food at your pub. If you do not hold this qualification, please see our Training Guide for more information and how to book. Book a removal van ensure you prepare early for the move. Plan a marketing campaign consider flyers, a press release, mailers and banners to coincide with your arrival. You can access these on Meet the local police establishing an early, good relationship with local police is highly recommended. GREENE KING PUB PARTNERS Guide to moving into your pub 5

6 3: Countdown to moving in 3.5: At least 2 weeks before you take over the pub Return legal paperwork all legal paperwork must be back with our Agreements Team. Please act instantly on receipt of legal documentation or your Change Day may be delayed. Your signed Agreement is not binding until the Change Day. Send cleared funds to your Broker funds must be in place to ensure a smooth entry into your pub. We require these funds to be cleared 7-10 days before the Change Day. Obtain a Gaming Permit our Machines Manager will organise this for you. You can download clear advice on gaming machines, the rules and how to increase your sales on Prepare & print menus access to wine and food menus will be available via as part of your Licensee Support Package. You can either print your own using the menu templates or pay via your credit card for professionally printed food menus. Professionally printed wine menus are free of charge. Order food stocks ensure you have necessary food supplies available for the Change Day. You should ensure that you have negotiated the best prices for food stocks with either local suppliers or via Pelican Buying Group which offers preferential prices to Greene King Licensees. You will be given details of this in your Welcome pack or can access their details on 3.6: At least 1 week before you take over the pub Ensure till floats are available for Opening Day a pub is a cash business so you will need change to operate from day one. Order stock you will be given a Customer Account Number (usually 48 hours before Change Day) and a number to call our Customer Sales team who will place your order and let you know if any items are not available and suggest alternatives. Your order must be placed with Customer Sales at least two days before your Change Day. You will then be given an order day from Customer Sales to make your order on thereafter and a delivery day which will be three days after you have placed your order. Your order will be delivered on the same day every week. After six weeks of being in the pub you will be required to order your products online via This facility is available 24 hours a day, seven days per week. The guide: Get Your Head Around Our Online Services will help you do this easily. Organise Price Lists you must display a Price List of the products you sell at the bar counter. You can print your own price list using the template on 3.6: What needs to be in place ready for Change Day Display Legal Notices ensure all required signs and notices such as Exit signs, No Smoking signs, health and safety regulations, your Premises Licence and Personal Licence are ready. Your Business Development Manager will go through with you what you need to display. Meet staff & set up training, where required please refer to the employee information earlier in this guide. It is very important that you comply with TUPE regulations for your staff. It s also a good idea to assess their skills so that you can organise internal and external training for them once you take over. Your staff are able to attend Greene King Pub Partners training programmes and we would encourage you to allow them to take part. You can pay for this using your Training Fund which will be taken from you as part of your charges to us. This is detailed in a Guide to Charges. 6 GREENE KING PUB PARTNERS Guide to moving into your pub

7 4: The Change Day and beyond 4.1: The Change Day This is an important day, and there will be several essential tasks for you to carry out. Solicitor consultation Pub Partners will keep you informed on the progress of the legal documentation regarding your Agreement. You ll need to keep you Solicitor up to date. Settlement fees all settlement fees due will need to be paid by Change Day. These are the fees that you need to pay to various parties in order to take a pub with us. This will be done through your Broker. Details of the settlement fees are shown in our Code of Practice and Guide to Charges. Inventory check it is essential that you and your Broker check your Inventory thoroughly on Change Day. If there are any queries, these should be raised with your Broker. Any damaged or unwanted Inventory items will be removed on the Change Day by the outgoing Licensee. Stock check your Stocktaker will check and value the wet and dry stock remaining and ensure everything is in date and in a saleable condition. Any out-of-date stock or empty containers should be removed by the outgoing Licensee. Equipment all equipment should be checked to ensure it is in full working order. Any problems should be dealt with immediately through your Broker. Utility meter readings you ll need to check and record all utility meter readings with the outgoing Licensee and notify the utility companies of those readings. Legal Notices your pub will have various Legal Notices to display, such as Licensing details and Health and Safety regulations etc. Your Business Development Manager will walk through the pub with you to check that all Statutory Notices are correctly displayed. Outgoing Licensee make sure you obtain a forwarding address and phone number for the outgoing Licensee so that you can contact them with any queries. Licensing and Property Packs these packs are specific to your pub and contain important information relating to your business and the property. Your Business Development Manager will take you through them so you are familiar with their contents. They will be very useful to you as you continue in your business. Keys to the Pub we will give you the keys to your new pub. Ensure your trading times are correct at the front door. 4.2: Your first 6 weeks These weeks are critical as you will still be learning about your new business. You will be contacted by your Business Development Manager or a member of the Pub Partners Team. Their calls or visits will provide you with much-needed support and advice to ensure you get off to a flying start with your pub. It s extremely important that you get yourself online as early as possible so that you can start to make the most of the exclusive online deals that are available, as well as placing your weekly beer order online. 4.3: Your first year Throughout your first year you ll continue to receive help and advice from our Business Support Team. Business Review Meetings you will attend these with your Business Development Manager at regular intervals in your pub. Review Meetings are essential to the success of your business. At each meeting you ll analyse how your business is developing, and agree a set of action points to be achieved prior to the next meeting. The frequency of these meetings will vary depending on your experience. Training Courses there are other training courses available via our Training Team that we would encourage you and your staff to attend. For more information log on to or telephone: You can also speak to the Training Team to discuss how your training fund can be used for any external courses needed. Customer Experience Research we use an independent company to provide you with feedback that will give you the opportunity to see your business from the customers point of view. Visits take place every quarter, which will be a health check for your business. You ll receive a message on when a new report is available and these can be downloaded from the Your Business section of the site. Annual Business Review (ABR) if you have a Tenancy or Lease Agreement, around the anniversary of your Change Day, your Business Development Manager will conduct an Annual Business Review with you. The ABR will ensure that you and your business are working to your plan as we intended at the Change Day and will allow us to update you on our expectations for your pub. We will also conduct compliance checks at this meeting. (The ABR does not apply to Foundation Agreements). GREENE KING PUB PARTNERS Guide to moving into your pub 7

8 5: Pub Partners Support 5.1: People to help you Running a pub is all about getting along with people whether they re your customers or your suppliers and it s crucial that you build great relationships. We understand that your success is vital for our working relationship too, so we invest time and effort to ensure that you have the best people supporting you. We ll agree the number of times in the year that you ll meet with your Business Development Manager. Rather than stick to a rigid routine, we tailor our support visits depending on your experience and expertise. Business Development Manager Your Business Development Manager is your personal business consultant, advising you on everything from pub investment plans to the latest initiatives and ideas. Business Development Managers have the ability to draw on the knowledge of other experts at Greene King when discussing your needs and are your main point of contact with us. We invest a lot of time and effort in training and monitoring the performance of each Business Development Manager. This includes: A minimum of 4 weeks induction where they are trained on our internal processes, technology and reporting systems. 6 days training on all aspects of our Code of Practice to ensure that they are fully-equipped to provide the best service possible for Licensees. Participation in our development programme Leading the Way in conjunction with leading UK universities, qualifying to a minimum of Diploma level in Hospitality Business Management we encourage them to achieve Advanced Diploma level and our aspiration is that they gain a degree. We also train and mentor individual Business Development Managers to apply for the ALMR (Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers) Operations Manager of the Year awards. We continue to review their training as part of their performance. If there are any gaps in their knowledge, we provide further training, if required. We monitor their performance by conducting reviews every 3 months. Part of their key performance objectives are based on: The retention of their Licensees The profitability of their Licensees Their Licensees feedback. Operations Managers and Operations Directors Operations Directors are responsible for the overall operation of the region that your pub is in. Working for them are Operations Managers who may be your Business Development Manager s line manager. These are highly-qualified business consultants and are able to assist you when you need additional business advice. Licensing team Greene King was the first pub company to create a dedicated Licensing team. The team is here to help you and is qualified to answer any licensing questions you may have. They handle all applications for Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) Variations, variations of hours, plans etc and will negotiate on your behalf. They deal with all aspects of licensing except applying for Personal Licences and Temporary Event Notices (TENs) but they can give you advice on these. Costs for any changes to your Licence will be recharged to you plus a reasonable administration fee these are significantly lower than you would pay to a Licensing Solicitor. Property Helpdesk Our Property Helpdesk will help you with any property maintenance enquiries and emergencies. They will liaise on your behalf with contractors to ensure maintenance and repairs are completed on time and to a high standard. They provide cover for this service 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Property Surveyors Greene King Property Surveyors are experts in providing you with advice about and management of the structure of your pub. If you are investing in your pub, they will ensure the work is completed to all the relevant standards and requirements. Estates Managers Greene King s property experts. Here to help you with property-related issues such as rating appeals and boundary disputes. The advice provided by an Estates Manager is free of charge. Machines Manager Our Machines Manager will ensure that you have the most appropriate and most profitable machines in your pub and will advise you how you can increase your profits from machines and ensure that you stay within the law. Credit Account team You will have a Credit Account Manager who has access to all your account details and can help you with any invoice queries. They are able to help you manage your account and review payment terms if you experience any difficulties. Credit Terms are agreed with you on an individual basis at the beginning of your Agreement. We may offer up to 2 weeks credit if you pay your bills by Direct Debit. Cellar Service team You have access to a Cellar Service team who are available to repair, maintain and install your beer dispense equipment. Your Licensed Property Broker will confirm which elements of cellar equipment are owned by Greene King and which you ll need to purchase. Dray team Our Dray team will deliver your beer order, weekly on a set day. They will ensure your products are in perfect condition. If you would like, they are also able to stillage your draught products when they reach you. Specialist Tenant Trainers Greene King was the first pub company to provide Specialist Tenant Trainers to give you on-the-job training before you go into a pub, from a real Licensee running their own pub business. You are able to work at their pub, gaining real experience. Your Specialist Tenant Trainer will also become your mentor during your first year. There is a small fee for this scheme it is usually included as part of your initial Training Fund. If we believe that you would benefit from training before you go into your pub, we will require you to spend a minimum of 2 days with a Specialist on-the-job trainer in a working pub to get you started. Public relations support We will provide you with advice should you require it in respect of any press issue or opportunity at your pub. Commercial team The Commercial team develops and communicates the essential information you need to ensure that you operate your pub effectively and within the law. Every month they negotiate with our suppliers to give you additional deals and discounts on products as well as promotional support materials and branded support merchandise. Mystery visits We have an external company who conduct mystery visits to check your trading standards and legal compliance. These results are very important because they give you a customer s view of your business and service. Your Business Development Manager will discuss the results with you so you can plan for improvements, eg: training, offer etc. 8 GREENE KING PUB PARTNERS Guide to moving into your pub

9 5: Pub Partners Support 5.2: A whole world online Greene King was the first pub company to develop a web-based business support tool to help you manage and promote your business. Called PubPartners.net, it offers you a wealth of information and a one-stop-shop for everything from booking training courses to placing your weekly beer orders. All Licensees have a Message Box where we can contact you directly. You also have easy access to historic sales information, invoices etc, to help you manage your pub more efficiently. Marketing advice From press release templates to advice on targeting the right customers and managing a public relations campaign. We show you how to set up and use a website and how you can make social media sites work for you (eg: Twitter and Facebook). Use our expert tips and help to make it easy to promote your pub and build your own Marketing Plan. Promotions support Use our unique instant online art studio Go Create to produce professional promotions support that s personalised to your pub. You can design your own banners, posters and flyers using our templates and launch your pub business with our invitations, customer feedback cards, bounceback promotions and newsletters. Business help Useful advice and help for everything you need to know about running a pub. From legal advice to Health & Safety and property information, it s there for you in an easy-to-understand format. Food support Access to our food support online to create a menu from a dishes bank and develop and price your own menus. You can also use our templates to professionally print menus to help sell your food to customers. Cellar support Information about Greene King s core brands as well as our Seasonal Ale selections along with advice on cellar craft so that you can serve a perfect pint every time! Wine support Providing you with a choice of pre-selected wine lists, or the ability to choose and create your own. You can have your list professionally printed or print it for yourself. This section teaches you about how to sell, stock and serve wine. Online shopping You can order your beer and stocks from us online as well as off-the-shelf promotions and branded merchandise. You are able to access your invoice information and account details too. Home Go Create Your Business Food Drink Your Shopping Your Toolbox Navigation tab Section headings Use it for Home Welcome Message box Events calendar Notice board Go Create Posters, leaflets and more An instant art studio online, with Print your own Professionally Printed and Print Menus Your Own solutions for posters, promotions, banners etc. Your Business Food Drink Your Shopping Marketing Get online Public relations Entertainment, games, machines Training Health & Safety Property The law Business reports Food made easy Create a menu Food hygiene Suppliers Product portfolio Your cellar Price list printing Beer festival My Wine Online ordering Pelican Marketing store Branded items Monthly offers Toolbox Administration section Downloadable software and easy-to-use forms. News Centre Use this section to contact Greene King and other Licensees. The Home Pages often have direct links to new promotions and special offers. Business support for pubs. There s a lot of information in this section that can be used to help you build your business and improve your knowledge of marketing and the law. You can also access your invoices and statements from here. Food plays a big part in today s pub business. Use this section to get the food offer right and to prepare and price a profitable menu. Store and serve perfect drinks every time. Find out more about the key Greene King beer brands. Licensees can also manage and print their wine lists free of charge. Everything from branded and non-branded merchandise to instant promotions that are easy to run. With access to our discount buying partners Pelican and regular special offers, this is an important section for improving business in a pub. Latest industry news You ll receive a username and password when you move into your pub. We also have a guidebook available that shows you what s in each section of the site and how to get the most from it. GREENE KING PUB PARTNERS Guide to moving into your pub 9

10 5: Pub Partners Support 5.3: The tools you need We pride ourselves on providing first class support for your business, so we ve developed specialist tools that can help you to make more of your business, earn more money and save when you are buying day-to-day items from suppliers. Award winning training programmes We believe training is one of the most important things you should do before you enter a pub and during the period of your Agreement with us. An extensive range of courses is available on all aspects of running a pub business many to nationally recognised qualifications. You must attend the Go For Growth induction, Finance and Cellar Management courses before you enter your pub. This ensures that you are fully-prepared before taking on a business with us. If you have a Tenancy or Lease Agreement, you must set aside a Training Fund. To underline our commitment to you, if you have an Agreement of 3 or more years with us, we will refund the cost of your pre-entry training, provided that you complete the full term of your Agreement. We are committed to providing ongoing training support for you and your staff and will discuss your training needs at your Annual Business Review and throughout the term of your Agreement. Ongoing training costs are usually charged to your Trade Account. Pelican Buying Group Pelican is an independent company providing our Licensees with preferential prices for everything you need to run your pub business. You are able to access discounted prices on food, furniture, cleaning materials, banking (including the best rate on credit card machines in the industry), insurance, exterior planting, outdoor furniture and utilities. Using the scheme also allows you to earn cash back on everything you purchase. Award winning beers and guest ales As brewers we are very proud of our award winning ales. Alongside our famous brands such as Greene King IPA, Abbot Ale and Old Speckled Hen, it is our policy to offer an extensive range of seasonal ales throughout the year. We also work closely with other UK brewers to offer 2 other guest ales on a bi-monthly basis. We do not permit you to buy guest ales from third party brewers. Private Healthcare Available at preferential rates subject to acceptance. Business Rates Advice We offer a free Business Rates Advisory Service via an external expert. They can help you check whether your Business Rates can be reviewed. If this is the case, they will handle the review at no cost. Dispense monitoring Your pub may have dispense monitoring installed. This will help you to manage your business and save money (see our Guide to Purchasing Obligations). Head Brewer s Club Greene King Pub Partners allows some Licensees to join our Head Brewer s Club. To become a member you will need to be passionate about real ale and serve your beer to a consistently high quality. Membership entitles you to guest and seasonal ales earlier than non-members, your pub featured on the Head Brewer s Club i-phone application and a plaque and certificate of your achievement. Value promotions We have developed value promotions that you may be able to participate in, where you can buy featured products at a cheaper amount and are guaranteed a minimum margin on your sales whilst you take part in the promotion. You also receive point of sale for both inside and outside your pub to help you advertise the discounted prices to customers. Public Housewives We recognise that women running pubs independently are a minority and we offer them special support. We invite all of our independent female operators to become members of our Women Mean Business group. As part of this, you will be invited to take part in our annual conference and receive regular updates on how you can improve your business. We also campaign for more women to join this industry through our Public Housewives recruitment programme offering additional levels of support and networking opportunities. 5.4: Support for your business If your business experiences difficulties through no fault of your own, we ll work with you to help sort out any problems. To do this, we will need to see all your financial and sales information. It is vital that you let us know if there is a problem as soon as you can. We will require a formal written request for help and you ll need to provide us with: Full disclosure of your certified accounts including Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet and VAT returns Stock take results Bank statements Your marketing and e-marketing plans Disclosure of all debts and outstanding warrants on the business. Each case is decided on its individual merits. Your Business Development Manager will discuss with you the information you provide and assess what support is appropriate. Be open and honest about any problems so that we can understand your situation as quickly as possible. We will write confirming the outcome of any request you make for additional support and let you know what we can do to help you. 10 GREENE KING PUB PARTNERS Guide to moving into your pub

11 6: Frequently asked questions 6.1: Your questions answered Q: How long does the process of taking over a pub take? A: This will vary considerably according to individual applicants and the pub four to ten weeks is normal. Q: Why do I need to appoint a Broker, Solicitor, etc can I not do this work myself? A: Taking over a pub means taking over a business and that brings with it a number of legal requirements, covering our Agreement, Employment Law, accounting requirements, Licensing Laws, Health and Safety and a range of other issues. It is essential that you obtain the advice and guidance that only qualified, licensed professionals can offer. Q: What is the role of the Business Development Manager? A: The Business Development Manager will be a permanent source of support, guidance, help and advice whenever you need it. They develop close working relationships with our Licensees, using their knowledge and experience to help you grow your business. Your Business Development Manager can help you identify and develop new ideas and opportunities to maximise your pub s potential, offer advice on aspects of the business such as staff or financial management, or they can just be a friendly ear when you want to talk about how things are going in general. Q: Do I need a Personal Licence? A: Yes, unless you have authorised a person who works at your pub to hold this for you. All Licensed venues must have a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) who holds a Personal Licence. For more information, contact our Licensing Team on Q: How much will taking over a pub cost me? A: Inevitably, taking over the running of a pub will involve a number of costs. These can vary enormously depending on the type, size and location of the pub, the terms of the Agreement and many other factors. You should refer to our Guide to Charges which is available online at or in your Welcome Pack. Our Code of Practice also highlights what type of charges and costs you should expect. GREENE KING PUB PARTNERS Guide to moving into your pub 11

12 HERE TO HELP YOU Publine: Switchboard: Website: Greene King Pub Partners, Abbot House, Westgate Brewery, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 1QT.