NOT much happens in the licensed trade in Scotland today without the SLTA being invited to comment – and that is recognition of the high esteem in which the Association is now held, according to chief executive Paul Waterson.
Waterson, addressing leading licensed trade entrepreneurs and key corporate licensed trade companies and suppliers in Glasgow to provide an update on the progress of the SLTA’s Time for Change action plan launched nine months ago, said: “The Association has been rejuvenated and our shared goals achieved.”
Following a broad-ranging review of the SLTA, changes implemented under Time for Change include the incorporation of the 1000-strong Scottish Bartenders Network and the launch of three new scholarships for SLTA members in association with HIT Scotland and The Ben.
Another key development for growing the membership is the new personal licence holder (PLH) registration scheme which entitles all personal licence holders in Scotland to complimentary professional registration with the SLTA and the benefits that go with it.
Waterson paid tribute to the trade organisation’s industry partners and suppliers, including KPMG. Alistair McAlinden CA, director leading KPMG LLP’s Restructuring practice in Edinburgh and KPMG LLP’s Hospitality and Leisure team in Scotland, hosted the event on September 6.
“Alistair and his colleague Sandy Walker have been very supportive of the SLTA during our change agenda and have helped us in a number of ways, most important being our business insight surveys which help us gauge the state of the industry. But I would like to thank all of our partners – many of whom are here today – for your ongoing support.”
Waterson also welcomed a new industry partner, international property consultants Gerald Eve, who have agreed to join the SLTA. Martin Clarkson, a partner in the company and a licensed trade rates specialist, will offer advice and guidance on the technical side of business rates in advance of the 2017 revaluations.
As part of the most far-reaching changes in its history, the SLTA is working with its patron Peter Lederer – with his unrivalled knowledge and contacts across the food, drink and hospitality sector – to help further advance its progress as it strives to become truly representative of the licensed trade in Scotland.
“Everything is changing and we need to adapt,” Lederer said. “That’s why I have been working to set up a new advisory board from a much wider network of individuals to stimulate new and different discussions – and our first meeting is in October.”
The SLTA External Advisory Board members are now confirmed as under the chairmanship of Peter Lederer:
- Marc Crothall, chief executive, Scottish Tourism Alliance
- Kenny MacAskill, former Scottish Government for Justice
- Jane Richardson, strategic communications adviser, public relations and communications, Entrepreneurial Scotland
- Riddell Graham, director of partnerships, VisitScotland
- Mark Baird, chairman, Scottish Beer & Pub Association
- Lawrence Durden, tourism industry manager, industry and enterprise networks, Skills Development Scotland.
- Jim Grierson, former sales director, on-trade at Maxxium
“This is the core group and we will do everything we can to help Paul and his team,” said Lederer. “It is my intention to co-opt individuals to the advisory board when we need experts in specific areas. Our industry is hugely important to Scotland and no industry can just sit back and expect things to carry out – we must be proactive and look at how we are going to change and do things differently.”
The meeting also saw the launch of two major initiatives: the SLTA’s £150,000 outdoor advertising digital media campaign, specifically designed to get people back into the nation’s pubs and bars and support the industry; and a new online training initiative designed to increase professional and safety standards, reduce costs for licensees and make training and qualification more accessible than ever before.
“We’ve come on in leaps and bounds and this is a very exciting time for the SLTA,” said Waterson. “It’s all about simplifying life for our members and making all the legislative requirements less onerous and more cost-effective for operators and businesses. And it’s about providing information in a much more digestible and user-friendly way.
“Our website, for example, has been revamped and while site development continues it is more user-friendly with a consistent browsing experience across all devices,” he pointed out. “Our new newsletter is also being well received and is going out to just over 5000 – our two-year target being achieved in just 10 months.
“Our social media presence is also growing all the time via Twitter and Facebook and is a really important way of connecting with the people in the trade we want to reach, especially the younger generation.”