The BII has issued a call for licensed trade professionals to apply to join its “approved list” of advisors to licensees and pub owners.
The BII, through its accreditation service BIIBAS, is compiling a list of “approved” pub trade surveyors, lawyers and accountants.
The scheme will let licensees search for specialist advice on a variety of subjects and all advisors will be required to disclose “any significant landlord relationship”. The scheme will offer licensees a free 30 minute “pre-engagement consultation” where they can discuss their needs.
The BII today called for professionals with at least five years experience in the industry to apply.
BII chief executive Neil Robertson said: “It’s essential that licensees get professional advice. This scheme will offer accessible and reliable advice from lawyers, accountants and surveyors with a proven record in the licensed sector.”
Jeremy Allen of Poppleston Allen, who chairs the professionals’ board, said: “The failure to obtain appropriate advice from experienced professional advisers can be very costly.
"Our approved list will, we hope, remedy this. The initial free interview should also encourage its use.”
The scheme has been developed by a board of industry wide professionals, including Robertson, Fleurets chairman Barry Gillham, Bob Whittle of the Association of Valuers of Licensed Property, Orange Sun Bars chief executive Paul Wigham, BII licensee of the year Loren Pope, barrister Jeremy Phillips, and Paul Coveney, senior clerk at Francis Taylor Building.
Accountants Sallie Ryan (of NRS Accountants) and David Jones (of David Jones Accountants) are also on the board.
Anyone interested in applying can submit a formal notice of interest via http://biibas.bii.org
