BCU brews up new pub diploma for M&B

BIRMINGHAM City University has joined forces with pubco Mitchells & Butler to create a unique qualification for its staff.

The first of its kind in the country, the brand new postgraduate diploma in multi-unit leadership has been developed especially for the pubs group, which operates more than 2,000 sites across the UK.

The aim of the qualification is to give regional managers extra skills to help make their pubs more successful.

M&B approached a number of universities about developing a postgraduate programme but decided Birmingham City university was the best one for the job.

The course will improve skills such as the ability to lead several pubs, to coach managers and staff to have a greater appreciation of problems and issues that relate to running venues from a distance.

It is made up of four modules, each of which takes three days and involves a case study. Graduates can follow up the qualification with extra study to gain a Masters degree.

Chris Edger, human resources director for M&B said: “The sociology, psychology and economics of multi-unit leadership are not well understood here, though there are courses in the USA.

“The Birmingham City University-developed course also acts as a retention device – a portable qualification, making the trade more professional.”
“It will improve the quality of our area managers and improve our recruitment,” he added.

The first 25 students began their studies last autumn and will graduate in February 2011 – another 25 start the next course this month.

Peter Nelson, Associate Dean at the university’s Birmingham City Business School, said: “It’s great to send someone on an MBA, but you rely on them translating what they’ve learned back into the business for you. Whereas with this programme we’re coming at it from the other side. We’re doing the translation at the beginning, and giving M&B the finished product.

“We decided we wanted to be a leading practice-based business school – getting our hands dirty and going out into industry.”

This isn’t the first such programme that BCU has become involved with. Last year the university launched a qualification for managers who work for builders’ merchants Jewson.

It is now looking at other opportunities to expand the number of bespoke qualifications it can develop with industry.

Pictured working on the new BCU course are M&B employees Martin Nelson, left, area manager for country dining and Gary Loader, area manager for Crown Carveries.

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