03.03.03
Licensed businesses get further business boost

One of the very first Objective One projects that brought together public and private sector partners has proved such a success that it is continuing for a further year. Creating Cornish Prosperity, supported by the region's biggest independent brewer, St Austell Brewery, has operated for two years helping make pubs, clubs and other licensed premises across Cornwall more profitable and professional, as well as encouraging local purchasing.

The project, worth nearly £1.15 million, is being delivered together with St Austell College, who administer training places on the Learning & Skills Council's Modern Apprentice Scheme, and the brewery's own training courses, accredited by the British Institute of Innkeeping.

Bob Lamberton of the St Austell Brewery Training Department, based at the William Cookworthy Training Centre, has been running the project and is delighted with its extension. He said: "Over the past two years we have provided over 2000 funded places on courses" he explains "and now we're targeting over a thousand more places by March 2004.”

"The project has gone from strength to strength over the past two years. We've had significant uptake from licensed premises wanting to put their staff through accredited courses and we're proud of the fact that we have taken funded training right across Cornwall, including the Isles of Scilly.”

Project co-ordinator, Tanya Hall emphasises that encouraging greater use of local produce is an important element of the project. She explained: "There is a strong Cornish theme incorporated into our food based courses and there is evidence that this is having an effect on local purchasing and therefore bringing benefits to local producers and suppliers. It all helps to add to Cornwall's distinctiveness as a great place to live and visit.”

Commenting on the benefit that the extension will bring to local companies working in Cornwall's thriving hospitality industry, Carleen Kelemen, Objective One programme director said: "It is terrific news that the Creating Cornish Prosperity project will be running for a further year. Objective One is committed to investment in training and vocational education in order to provide businesses with the skilled workforce needed to increase professionalism and profitability.

"With over 2,000 training places already provided since its start, this project has taken major steps towards helping Cornish companies in the licensed hospitality trade to develop their businesses. It is firmly rooted in the businesses understanding the needs of their customers.

"We hope that many more businesses will also be able to benefit from this valuable project over the next year.”

Having already launched a number of successfully attended courses over the last two years, such as the Barperson's National Certificate, Entertainment Licensees Certificate and a special qualification for Door Supervisors, the team at the William Cookworthy Training Centre can offer the full spectrum of professional courses, from the Barpersons National Certificate for barstaff through to British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) Diplomas for managers and owners. These are supported by a range of other qualifications that are crucial to the success of licensed premises, such as Basic Food Hygiene and First Aid. Also on offer are wine tasting and a variety of bespoke courses.

The team at the William Cookworthy Training Centre also helped to run the recent and well-attended South West Region BII Food for Profit event, where delegates from licensed premises across Cornwall and Devon had the opportunity to take part in 'taster' sessions for some of the new courses and meet local suppliers

Editor's notes:

St Austell Brewery Company Limited
63 Trevarthian Road, St Austell, PL25 4BY
Telephone: 01726 74444
Fax: 01726 68965

Creating Cornish Prosperity obtained a grant of £500,000 from the European Social Fund in 2001 through the Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Match funding of nearly £167,000 came from St Austell Brewery.

St Austell College is part of Cornwall College.

jason@dclark.co.uk

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