Punch Taverns, the UK’s largest pub company, has scooped two industry awards for excellence in its learning and development programme.

The pubco picked up the prizes for ‘Best Licensee Induction Programme’ and ‘Best Development Programme’ in the non managed estates categories at the annual National Innkeeping Training Awards (NITAs).

Francis Patton, customer services director at Punch, said: “Having picked up two awards last year, we’re delighted to have been recognised once again in what is the only scheme of its kind for the licensed trade.

“We believe our learning and development programme is second to none, not only for our employees but our licensees also, and is helping us nurture the very best talent.”

The Best Licensee Induction Programme was presented to Punch for its ten day licensee induction programme, the Modern Licensed Retailer (MLR). The course covers everything from cellar management to food hygiene, licensing and employment law, health and safety plus marketing.

It is the third time MLR has been recognised in the award scheme, having been highly commended in previous years.

Punch received the Best Development Programme award for its coaching scheme, a two year initiative for all managers, line managers, heads of department and the executive team. Run in three phases, the programme aims to identify training needs, coach on the skills required to meet those needs and finally put them into practice.

In addition, one of the company’s learning and development managers, Sarah Cavanagh, was highly commended in the Professional Trainer of the Year category.

The NITAs are organised annually by professional trade body the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII).  Awards were presented during a prestigious ceremony at the Tower of London’s New Armouries.

BII chief executive John McNamara said: “Since their launch in 1991, the NITAs have aimed to reward training excellence within the licensed retail sector.  In all cases, awards go to the entry which exemplifies training excellence and effective use of resources to achieve measurable results.”

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