An employee at a multi-award-winning East Lothian bar and restaurant has become the first to pass the Scottish Certificate for Personal Licence Holder (SCPLH) through the SLTA’s recently launched training facility.
Caroline Laing, who works at SLTA treasurer Graham Blaikie’s Mercat Grill in Musselburgh, described the process as “simple and straightforward” – and a cost-effective and efficient training solution for her employer.
“I found it really easy to navigate and think it’s very clear, well laid out and a good design,” she said. “It provides a lot of really good information and I’d recommend it to others. I’ve got my certificate, Graham is happy and I am now keen to do some more online training to progress my skillset.”
An SQA-accredited personal licence holder handbook is also provided to accompany learning and may be used during the study period, prior to sitting the exam within a Pearson Vue test centre. “I found the handbook particularly useful,” says Caroline.
Caroline’s role is a varied one. “I do a bit of everything,” she explains. “I’ve been hear for nearly two years now and my job involves bartending, waitressing, ordering, cashing up – whatever needs to be done I’m happy to do it because I really enjoy working here.
“I also help out with social media and promote events, such as gin and food nights – we do a lot to provide our customers with a bit of variety and also encourage new customers to visit us.
“It’s important to develop your skills and I’m interested in some of the other courses I can do via the SLTA, including Health & Safety and Food Safety. These are areas I’m interested in and being trained will help both me and Graham.
“He is very keen on staff training and benefited from it himself in his early career – it’s great that he wants to see his own staff develop not just for the benefit of his own business but for the wider licensed trade.”
The SLTA’s online training facility has been launched in partnership with Edinburgh-based Flow Hospitality Training.