JobsAndCareersWithSarahWillingham2016 - 162

FOCUS :

HOSPITALITY

CHEERS!
W

orking in one of the
UK's 55,000 pubs
isn't just about
pulling pints and
topping up wine
glasses, although
that can be part of
the job. You could also find yourself
cooking or serving quality food and
sorting out guest rooms, as well as
chatting to customers and ensuring
your bar is 'the' place to be. It's hard
work and shifts can be long, physically
demanding and anti-social.
The pub trade relies on people who
want part-time, flexible and casual jobs
such as students or parents - and there
are usually plenty of roles available,
mostly at minimum wage rates. With
some experience, you can learn on the
job to become an assistant manager or
manager, and this will be reflected in
an increased pay packet.

Getting started
It's easy to get started as a casual bar
person and work your way up while
learning on the job. If you want to get to
manager level quicker, perhaps try a role
within a large pub chain - most are
on the lookout for fresh new managerial
talent and will have graduate training
schemes or other ways to fast-track those
with management potential. Although
these vary depending on the company,
most give a structured course of practical
training, formal and informal courses
1 6 2 /// J O B S & C A R E E R S

and, most importantly, hands-on
learning. You can find out more about
these opportunities by getting in touch
with the individual companies.
The British Institute of Innkeeping
(www.bii.org) offers formal
qualifications, covering a wide range of
topics including beer and cellar quality,
licences and training in areas such as
door supervision and drug awareness.

Spotlight on: Pub manager
There's no getting away from the fact that
running a pub or bar is hard work. You'll
need a licence to serve alcohol and food
safety accreditation if your pub offers food.
As landlord, you'll be a jack of all trades,
especially if your pub is small, with only a
handful of staff. If this is the case, you'll be
responsible for marketing, maintenance,
stocktaking and accounts, serving
customers, and taking charge of your staff
- and their training. On top of this, you
have to be excellent with people, a good
leader and calm under pressure.
Another option is to run your own
pub with a larger brewery. That way,
you get the freedom to do things your
way with the added support you need.

How much can I earn?
The average pub manager salary in the
UK is £25,000, but can top £50,000,
depending on the premises, its location
and turnover. You could also
get bonuses, and, possibly,
free accommodation.

Words: Shelly Foster. Images: Getty Images, Shutterstock. Wage information provided by National Careers Service unless otherwise stated.

IF YOU HAVE PEOPLE SKILLS AND
STAMINA IN SPADES, YOU MAY SUIT A
CAREER IN THE PUB OR BAR SECTOR

There's no getting
away from it -
running a bar
is hard work

http://www.bii.org

JobsAndCareersWithSarahWillingham2016

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