Tim Hulme, who took over as CEO of the BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) in January, has called upon the industry to embrace the professional body’s new direction and highlighted the ‘great strides’ he and his team are making in changing and developing the culture of the organisation.
Radical step-change
Speaking at the BII annual lunch at Grosvenor House in London, Hulme said he had spent his first four months in the role reviewing every facet of the institute, as well as building relationships with strategic partners and seeking the views of the industry on what the future of the BII should be. He promised a radical step-change in leadership, governance and performance.
He said: “I personally ask the leaders among you to embrace what the BII is shaping as a professional body. In return I give you my personal commitment that I will lead the BII in playing its part in promoting this industry and what it stands for.”
Raising standards across the industry
Hulme will strive to ‘transform the BII’, creating an inclusive and developmental organisation that focuses on raising standards across the industry, with his stewardship focusing heavily on the next generation of learners, licensees and managers.
Hulme pointed to the impact of training, education and skills upon the profitability and productivity on a workforce, and said it was clear the hospitality industry needed to create a structured and credible career pathway enabling workers to obtain professional qualifications.
Benchmark for BII membership
He also spoke of plans to create a benchmark for BII membership by ensuring entry and annual renewal standards were rigorous, so that a BII plaque above the door should signal a ‘mark of quality, a superior service and a guarantee of a great experience’.
Driven by members’ needs
Hulme said business decisions would be driven by members’ needs, and that they could expect an appropriate return on investment for their membership contributions. He referred to the 70,000 qualifications the organisation already awards each year, and the 3,000 calls they received in 2012 by their various helplines which offer licensees quality information, advice and guidance.
Concluding his speech, Hulme said:
“Importantly, the BII’s new strategic objectives will embrace inclusion. Our focus should be about removing barriers for the most vulnerable including the NEETS, those with learning difficulties and disabilities, and ex-military. We should not underestimate the impact opportunities like this can have on an individual’s self-worth and our efforts could be the catalyst for positive support for the Government on other issues we campaign on.”
About the BII:
BII is a registered charity and the professional body for the licensed retail sector and has around 11,000 members, and 54 corporate patrons, members and supporters. BII’s mission is to promote high standards of professionalism throughout the licensed retail sector; to encourage new entrants into the industry, and to help them develop their long-term careers.
Wholly owned by BII, BIIAB is the leading awarding body for the licensed retail sector. BIIAB is accredited by Ofqual and the Scottish Qualifications Authority. Over 1.5 million BIIAB qualifications have been processed so far.