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Living the Public Life – A Career at the Bar
Fast-moving, ever-changing with rapid career progression and a wealth of entrepreneurial opportunities.
Lively and exciting roles for lively, business-minded people.
Get Qualified!
You don’t need a qualification to enter the industry but if you want to progress, it is certainly the way to go. But if the thought of study makes you think twice, don’t despair! Loads of support is on hand along the way – from your brewery/pubco and the BII, the professional body for the licensed retail sector.
The Route that Suits You
- School leavers: under supervision, a 16-year old can work behind a bar and take relevant NVQs/SVQs on an Apprenticeship scheme. People 1st (www.people1st.co.uk) will provide details or check out www.apprenticeships.org.uk for England, www.careers-scotland.org.uk for Scotland, www.careerswales.com and www.delni.gov.uk for Northern Ireland.
- College courses: GNVQ Foundation/Intermediate Hospitality & Catering, Advanced VCE Hospitality & Catering, BTEC First & National in Hospitality & Catering or BTEC short courses in Hospitality & Catering. There are also some very specific NVQs/SVQs such as Food & Drink Service Levels 1 and 2, Bar Service Level 2 and Hospitality Supervision Level 3, BIIAB Level 3 Advanced Certificate in Licensed Hospitality or BIIAB Level 3 Diploma in Licensed Hospitality.
BIIAB Level 1 Award in Responsible Alcohol Retailing or the BIIAB Level 2 National Certificate for Personal Licence Holders.
- University courses: graduates in Hospitality Management or Business Studies, particularly those with some hands-on experience of the nitty-gritty of bar work, are in great demand with the breweries and pubcos. Graduate trainee programmes will fast track those looking for retail pub/bar manager roles; alternatively there are management schemes to take the head office route.
- Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) qualifications: Level 2 Intermediate Certificate in Wines, Spirits & other Alcoholic Beverages and the Level 3 Advanced Certificate in Wines and Spirits.
- BIIAB courses: wholly owned by the BII, the awarding body for the licensed retail sector.
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