TLC Programme Helps Outlets Gear Up for New Licensing Era

A PLH will be mandatory from September 2nd 2009, for anybody in Scotland who authorises the sale of alcohol to the public in both the on and off-trade.

Mike Lees, Managing Director of Tennent Caledonian Breweries, said: “We are helping retailers gain a new qualification which will soon be mandatory but may be difficult to fund at the moment when market conditions are very challenging.

“The PLH era is still some way off but it is important that retailers obtain this qualification as quickly as possible to ensure they are well prepared for this important licensing regulation change.

“We thought it appropriate to make a qualification course available to retailers that are involved in the TLC Programme. The next block of training is all about the people behind the brand - from the brewery to the point-of-connection in the pub.

“It emphasises that all individuals working on Tennent’s Lager are crucial to the quality of the drinking experience and that it is a collective investment which delivers success - so it is appropriate that we are also making this additional investment in the people that make the brand perfect at the point-of-serve.

“This also demonstrates our commitment to supporting our customers as they face new licensing regulations.”  

The TLC Programme is divided into three blocks of training activity that are delivered through the company’s sales team. The content was refreshed in April, although the structure remained unchanged as this had proved popular with retailers since the initiative was first launched in 2005.

Some 860 on-trade outlets completed the first section of training this year, which had the theme “Your Good Business is Our Good Business” and can now go forward to the second stage which is about to start and will run for six weeks.

It highlights the personal responsibility for product quality at each stage of the Tennent’s Lager production process - all the way from the brewery to the licensed outlet. Participants have to undergo three training exercises with their team covering cellar care, glass care and the “perfect pour”.

Lees says: “This will have benefits for our retail customers and the brand through ensuring that Tennent’s Lager is front-of-mind with participants and through highlighting why quality standards are so important to us. It will also ensure that bar staff feel valued for the good work they play in supporting the long-term success of the brand.” 

People who complete the next stage of the programme (and a feedback form) will qualify for the free PLH course, which has a value of £130, as part of a TLC training day run by a Tennent’s Lager trainer and certified by the Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA).

The training will run from October onwards across 25 dates with half taking place at the Tennent's Brewery, Glasgow, and the remainder at locations across Scotland. Respondents will be asked to call a hotline to book their course, which is available on a first come first served basis, from a selection of dates and locations.