Club report 2015

CLUB REPORT Sound business advice for club professionals

2015

Positive perspectives for 2015 Club Mirror’s annual guide with expert advice for the year ahead

CLUB REPORT 2015

Contents

CONTRIBUTORS

4

Welcome to the Club Report 2015

40

Getting it done – the art of productivity

6

BUSINESS Legal – thoughts on the year gone by and predictions for 2015

41

Gaining with training – why it pays to make them stay

The 2015 on-trade report – past, present and future

42

How to chair meetings – and why hold them at all?

43

Insurance – making it count

10

BEER, BARS & BEST PRACTICE Club Mirror Report – Top brands at the club bar

15

Cask ale – business benefits

8

18 20 22

24 26

28 30 32 34

38 39

44

Insurance – don’t be just a number

45

Web and tech trends – to 2015 and beyond!

46

The Club Awards are back – and we want you to enter!

The case for cask lagers Wine consumption – who’s drinking what?

49

CLUB ASSOCIATIONS The year ahead for Club Associations.

50

Alliance of British Clubs

FOOD Catering – getting the food offer right

50

Association of Conservative Clubs

51

British Institute of Innkeeping

Catering conundrums – building kitchens from scratch

51

Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation

Soft drinks report

SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT BT Sport’s pick of 2015’s sporting action 2015 promises to be a sporting fest – Sky Sports reports

52

Club & Institute Union

54

Club Managers Association of Europe

54

Golf Club Managers Association

Sport & Recreation Alliance – call to action

55

National Union of Labour and Socialist Clubs

Gaming – review of 2014 and advice on the year ahead

55

National Union of Liberal Clubs

BUILDING THE BUSINESS Financial planning Planning for success – from signage to sports screenings

The views expressed in this journal are not necessarily those of the publisher.

55

Royal Air Forces Association

56

Sport & Recreation Alliance

56

Sport England

57

A-Z of club associations

Ashley Cairns

George Dawson

Chris Haley

Lawrence Hardcastle

Tim Hulme

Edward Mayman

Mark Newton

Wendy Sharp

Bernard Simpson

Philip Smith

Craig David Steffensen Taylor

Nick Walton

Bob Williams

ON BEHALF OF CLUB MIRROR

Sean Ferris

Caroline Scoular

Leigh Ann Ogilvie

Jonathan Hardy

Nick Sellens

David Foster

Contact the team on 01753 272022 or email info@clubmirror.com

CLUB REPORT

3

INTRODUCTION

Innovation across the nation – positive perspectives for 2015 Clubland is entering 2015 in good spirits, says publisher Sean Ferris. Growing memberships, innovative revenue-raisers and even better buying will all feature in the year ahead.

Sean Ferris

In last year’s Club Report we talked about how clubs were coming up with ever more inventive ways to keep costs down, revenues up and member visits on the increase. And this year these trends have continued to grow – particularly as the wellreported pub closures continue to feed memberships with displaced pub-goers.

Clubs are, or course, uniquely positioned here thanks to their independence and ability to make their own decisions without deferring to a head office (in most instances). And because they are plugged into their communities – some for decades, others for well over a century – they are finely tuned to shifts in membership needs and can adapt accordingly.

Clubs continue to rise to the challenge, from expanding their activity programmes and driving frequency of visits (and therefore spend), to safeguarding that all important bottom line. Most importantly, they continue to maintain the very unique proposition of clubs across the country – to create a safe and convivial environment for members to socialise in. The very nature of membership means everyone entering the hallowed doors is known to the club (and clubs are therefore automatically self-policing).

Our commitment Our commitment as owners and publishers of a number of club magazines – Club Mirror, Club Rugby, Clubhouse Europe, Club Journal as well as this Club Report – is to help all types of clubs to build their business still further, through the provision of timely business information, help and advice. Building on the 2014 springboard, we will be launching more events and an even more interactive programme which aims to pull the club industry still closer together.

So watch out for our latest updates in forthcoming issues; there’ll be lots going on!

Club Mirror Thanks to all of you who took the time to complete our 2014 reader survey. As always, we’ve listened to you and will be unveiling our new look look shortly. And don't forget to check out the Club Mirror website. www.clubmirror.com Clubhouse Europe Clubhouse Europe reaches club managers, board members, committee members and club owners across the UK and Europe, targeting key decision makers within large club operations – ranging from all forms of sports clubs to golf clubs and golf resorts. Predominantly members of the prestigious CMAE (Club Managers Association of Europe; www.cmaeurope.org) the CE of Wentworth is just one of our regular contributors.

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Written BY the industry FOR the industry, this is a 'want to read' as well as a 'must read' for CMAE members. www.clubhouseeurope.com Club Rugby Club Rugby was launched late 2014. Timed to coincide with the build up to the Rugby World Cup 2015, it is a free magazine specifically for rugby clubs, designed to help rugby club managers, committees and officials run ever more efficient and profitable clubs. Building on this platform, we will be announcing rugby club-specific events and an interactive programme of meetings and networking opportunities, all aiming to pull the rugby club industry still closer together. So watch out for our latest updates in forthcoming issues and on the website. www.clubrugby.org.com Club Journal We are proud to have been appointed to publish Club Journal magazine, the mouthpiece of the CIU (the Club & Institute Union). Founded in 1862, and with a membership of around 2,000 clubs, we will be working with this influential body on events, dinners, trade shows and the CIU annual Conference. www.wmciu.org.uk AND THERE’S MORE...

Sports4Bars.com Sports4Bars.com launched as the definitive online guide to all the live sport available to licensed premises in the UK. As the number of channels broadcasting live sport has grown, finding out when and on what channel the big match is on can sometimes be confusing. That’s where Sports4Bars.com comes in, providing a one-stop destination for the up-to-date and accurate broadcast information you need to keep your members happy and excited about live sport – whatever team or sport they follow. www.Sports4Bars.com Club Awards Now in their 23rd year, the Club Awards continue to highlight the breadth and depth of clubland – from sports clubs and social clubs, to working men’s clubs and political clubs. The annual event is a unique showcase for clubland. Last year’s entries provided further proof, if proof were needed, that the club sector is pulling members through its busy doors through innovation, entertainment and determination.

The 2014 event caused quite a stir in clubland, with sports presenter John Inverdale hosting the event, appearances of – and photo-opportunities with – the FA Cup and Aviva Premiership Cup, and video messaging from rugby superstar

INTRODUCTION

Ben Kay, direct from BT Sport’s studios. And of course, we enjoyed a feast of food and drink with a menu devised with the help of Booker and beer and wine courtesy of Carlsberg UK. Club Awards – How to enter Last year’s entrants have already been maximising their Awards success through local media, on websites and internally to members – a reminder of just how special their club is (and why). So if your club is hesitant about entering, then don’t be.

Be sure to enter this year and see your determination and sheer hard work recognised (email info@clubmirror for details.)

Beer Festival Our sixth annual Beer Festival took place in November, expertly run for us again by the team at CAMRA. It saw a host of new brews and old friends in all their cask glory. A big thank you also goes out to our real ale brewers with particular reference to long-term sponsor Marston’s Beer Company and to club supporter Carlsberg UK through whom all other ales were provided.

Trade shows As well as our traditional November event, Ask the Experts – Live, 2014 saw us running a trade show in Halifax. This featured longstanding club suppliers including BOC, Dransfields, Marston’s, Poppleston Allen and Sky Sports, as well as BT Sport and Carlsberg UK, all of whom shared advice and ideas with attending clubs. We also attended the CIU’s successful Blackpool trade show where we met up with clubs and suppliers.

Legislation and associations As you’d expect this remains high on everyone’s agenda, and lobbying is even higher. We continued to attend meetings at

The House of Commons of The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Non-Profit Making Members’ Clubs as guests of the CIU. This Group aims to support clubs and make their collective voice heard in the corridors of power. This work is ongoing and we will continue to work closely with industry bodies pan sector.

Sport and entertainment Sport will always be a driver of club business – whether that’s playing it, watching it or both (as is often the case). The sporting calendar will continue to be rammed year-round (as our friends at BT Sport and Sky Sports clearly reveal in this Club Report; pages 28-31). Against this action-packed backdrop, we will continue to work closely with sports clubs. Our Sports4Bars.com site and our launch of Club Rugby last year (as mentioned above) will continue to play an important part in this, all great additions to our club portfolio.

Entertainment in all its forms remains the backbone of clubs, and successful clubs are putting on a busy programme of events, from traditional activities such as darts, dominoes and quizzes through to big bands, live acts, comedy and open-mic nights. And let's not forget the all-singing-all-dancing gaming machines. (As you’ll have read across the year, the gaming market has been at the forefront of news, Dransfields Chris Haley explains what we can expect in the year ahead.)

Legislation If there’s one thing you can count on, it will be that new legislation will come into force in 2015. We will continue to act on your behalf and follow up on 2014’s activities. For a review of 2014 and to find out what’s in store for 2015, turn to Poppleston Allen’s viewpoint (pages 6 and 7 overleaf).

CONTACT DETAILS Sean Ferris Gainsborough House 59/60 Thames Street Windsor Berks SL4 1TX t. 01753 272022 e. info@clubmirror.com www.clubmirror.com

CLUB REPORT

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LEGAL EAGLE

Thoughts on the year gone by and predictions for 2015 Nick Walton

“I would be very surprised if every club and pub up and down the land is not aware of the risks they take by screening football illegally.”

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Although 2014 had promised so much in terms of regulation, it was thankfully not as severe as had first been thought. But what will 2015 bring? Club Mirror’s Legal Eagle Nick Walton reflects on 2014 and dusts off his crystal ball to examine the year ahead.

As 2014 came to a close after a year which had seen significant remembrance of World War I and the events that took place 100 years ago, I reflected on the life of those who worked in the largest munitions factory in Europe at Gretna in Cumberland.

The Government of the day was so concerned about the effect of drink on the workers in the munitions factory that they nationalised the pubs and off-licences around the area where the factory was situated. They even started brewing their own low alcohol beer. Anyone living in the area who wanted a drink had no choice but to go to a pub where the offer was this nationalised beer or water (off-licences had been banned). At said pub, buying rounds was banned as were whisky chasers. Saturdays were spirit-free to prevent workers spending their pay packet on booze and get legless on Saturday afternoons!

TELEVISED SPORTS There was no football on the television in those days; in fact there was no television. Football addicts went to the match on a Saturday afternoon in collar and tie (and a suit).

How times have changed of course, and last year in 2014 televised football matches continued to pull in the crowds via the approved routes of BT Sport and Sky Sports. Those premises that chose the route of cheaper foreign satellite Illegal sports screenings will continue to hit the on-trade headlines.

receivers for access to live Premiership football were in for an expensive shock. The Premier League in support of their copyright material commenced prosecutions for the use of any receiver for live Premier matches other than those televised by Sky Sports or BT Sport.

What may now be old news was certainly a wakeup call in January and February for those caught using an unauthorised transmission. Not only were there fines for the guilty party and costs to pay, but solicitors acting for the Premier League also commenced a process of assessing compensation to be paid to the Premier League for intellectual property theft. I would be very surprised if every club and pub up and down the land is not aware of the risks they take by screening football illegally. I reported in January 2014 that the challenges based upon European Union Harmonisation would not be considered as the issue was one of copyright infringement. Unfortunately, I see that even in November 2014 there continued to be prosecutions relating to the use of what would now be an illegal transmission on a Saturday afternoon.

REFLECTIONS ON THE WORLD CUP LICENSING HOURS Everyone following football will remember the euphoria when England made the finals of the World Cup. Special arrangements were made through an Order discussed in

LEGAL EAGLE the House of Commons to make the World Cup an “exceptional circumstance” – rather similar to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. This was to enable clubs and pubs not licensed to stay open the extra hours to show the matches in their entirety and to be able to sell alcohol. I have probably said enough already about this; suffice to say one was highly memorable whilst the other best forgotten!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT – ALLERGENS Allergen issues in food and the need for better and more uniform advice crept up on the industry (we first covered this in September’s Club Mirror). I have had a steady stream of calls from clubs who provide food for their members.

If one reaction to an allergen is avoided by improved knowledge and communication about what is in the food we serve it has all been worth it. Don’t forget beer is also classed as food and should have allergen advice available.

SELLING OF ALCOHOL BELOW COST Below-cost selling of alcohol was addressed in 2014 - mainly relevant to the off-sales, in particular any large multiples selling alcohol as a loss-leader to draw people into their stores.

TAP WATER V. POTABLE WATER Various changes to the Mandatory Conditions were announced including the change of availability of “tap water” to “potable water”. Arguably in 2014 there are few instances where water that comes out of the tap in Great Britain should not be “potable”; clearly a lot of time was spent considering such a change!

PERSONAL LICENCE HOLDERS Whilst much time was spent altering the wording of conditions already in force, no one appeared able to grasp the urgency of making changes to the primary legislation (the Licensing Act) to avoid Personal Licence Holders losing their permission to sell alcohol because their licence had expired. Not until late in December did further advice became available – perhaps a sign that the present administration had increasingly got its mind on other matters.

We learned that a new revised form to renew Personal Licences came into effect on 5 January, 2015. As the Club Report goes to press (January 2015), the Government remains in a bit of a corner as, if they intend to change the legislation with respect to Personal Licences, it has to be done by the end of March as the House of Commons will go into recess before the General Election. [Editor’s note: We will keep you updated on this in your regular issue of Club Mirror.]

The importance of this date is that, if the primary legislation is not changed by the end of March it will probably not be changed for the foreseeable future in which case everyone that has a Personal Licence will need to renew their Personal Licence if the expiry date is 2015. This will be with a simpler form; there will be no need to pay the renewal fee, to enclose any further photographs or to have a criminal record check.

We understand from the Home Office that they will provide guidance to the Licensing Authorities so that they may agree to receive copies of the Personal Licence (this means that you will have to find your Personal Licence rather than

Food allergens – a cause for concern.

the driving licence card part of it) and the whole thing can be done by email rather than having to send it by post.

DEREGULATION BILL A whole raft of measures are included in the Deregulation Bill which may or may not become law in 2015 depending upon when the final parts of the Bill are placed before the House of Commons for approval and whether this can be done by the end of March. No doubt we will discuss this again in future articles depending upon whether the measures are agreed or not.

LATE NIGHT ECONOMY If I was to make any predictions about what would happen in 2015, it would be that there will probably be further measures introduced to deal with the blight on communities created by binge drinking and the excesses of the late night economy. Regrettably a few members of society are creating a significant issue for the vast majority, and, to quote Sir Ian Gilmore, Chairman of the Alcohol Health Alliance, “clubs staying open until 5am in the morning selling alcohol were not the problem; the problem is supermarkets, convenience stores, small shops and petrol stations selling cheap drink”.

It appears that there is evidence that the current licensing regime is too unwieldy and changes are probably afoot.

My crystal ball is beginning to fade so I cannot identify what type of changes will be made. However, if your operation demonstrates due diligence and is effective in the way that you handle the late night economy in particular (if you are involved in it) you are far less likely to become the target of enforcement measures which I believe will change and become more effective in 2015.

I wish you all the very best for your clubs throughout 2015.

CONTACT DETAILS Nick Walton Poppleston Allen Nottingham 37 Stoney Street Nottingham NG1 1LS t. 0115 9538 500 e.n.walton@popall.co.uk www.popall.co.uk

CLUB REPORT

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MARKET REPORT

The 2015 on-trade report – past, present and future Mark Newton

Ashley Cairns

The on-trade has seen another mixed year in 2014, reports CGA Strategy in this year’s Club Mirror Market Report. The company’s Mark Newton and Ashley Cairns examine how the on-trade has performed over the last 12 months, and offer an informed view of the way forward in 2015.

In real terms, and relative to market size, the number of licensed on-trade outlets continues to shrink and we have to fight harder than ever to retain viability. The market remained volatile in 2014 and this will be likely to continue during 2015 at a similar rate. CGA’s headline outlet universe closure numbers in the nine months to September 2014 offer the following picture: • Pubs generally closing at around a net 30 a week • Restaurants opening by a net 23 per week • Club (members and proprietary) down by 20 net per week • All licensed premises declining by 27 on average Food The structural shift towards food-led outlets continues at a significant pace and the restaurant sector provides much of the positive growth here.

New formats and cuisines abound, and the success of branded chains and the foodservice industry – with its capability to supply in manageable formats – suggests the future remains bright and highly innovative. The on-trade

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CLUB REPORT

and what is called ‘out of home’ (OOH) are closer now than ever before and crossover of ideas and concepts is becoming ever more common.

This, of course, can have a negative impact on those clubs where food is not a significant part of their offer or contributor to revenue. However, this also highlights opportunities; learning lessons of innovation from OOH might have positive outcomes for the right kind of location.

Long Drinks (LAD) The long drinks sector remained the largest by value during 2014. It is also a sector which is still dominated by some big brands – key within the club market particularly. The biggest 100 brands account for 87% of all on-trade volumes – in our research almost 10,000 brands occupy the remaining 13%.

That is a lot of choice and it identifies the biggest trend the modern on-trade consumer is demanding – speciality products. What drives this category fundamentally is its sheer variety. Flavour can be generated in any number of

MARKET REPORT

ways; brewing can see grains and hops applied in many interesting combinations, and fruits, some you may never have heard of, can be blended in conjunction with a beer, cider or FAB to offer new flavour profiles and stimulate the drinkers interest.

The rise of sparkling wine is also set to make a further mark during 2015. Interest across the category is increasing, but Prosecco remains the likely driver for growth.

Interestingly, much of this appears to be based on the significant rise in draught serve.

Wine and Spirits Taking a look at the wine sector, there have been numerous areas of interest during 2014 which have the potential to continue during the course of the coming year.

Over the last couple of years the battle between Old World and New World has been won by the wines of France, Spain and Italy. While Europe looks set to continue its rise through continuing consumer interest, competitive pricing and quality, there is also no doubt that the New World is staging a major fight back.

Spirits and cocktails Spirits are also looking positive moving into 2015 and there is one particularly important rationale for this – cocktails.

Interest in mixed drinks is becoming more and more of a mainstream trend with offers moving out from traditional locations such as bars, nightclubs and hotels into (notably) dry and wet-led pubs (both seeing a +4% increase in cocktail offer between 2012 and 2014).

This is also helping to drive a change in consumer perceptions where spirits are now considered an option over a far wider range of drinking occasions than in the past, providing a positive knock on effect to sales.

Soft Drinks The variety in soft drinks offered in our licensed premises has broadened – primarily through premium, artisan juice and mixer brands and product innovation.

The mainstream brands still dominate the consumption statistics and will continue to do so. Here, innovative ideas on flavours and dispense are key to continuing success.

Firstly there is the retail “serve yourself” approach favoured by family/branded restaurants and foodservice outlets.

The other is technical innovations with machines where the consumer can indulge in “tailoring” their drink by mixing the brands on offer.

Conclusions What will be the key impacts for the on-trade next year?

The economy will continue to be as uncertain as it has over recent times. The May Election (some time away as we write this) has created an increasingly highly charged political environment which will be maintained up to polling day.

The pressure on parties to make new policy is to be expected and it is likely that the on-trade will feature in the campaigns in one form or other. How much will it feature?

Probably nowhere near as much as the sector deserves, in terms of its overall contribution to the economy, but potential remains high.

“Spirits are also looking positive moving into 2015 and there is one particularly important rationale for this – cocktails.”

CONTACT DETAILS CGA Strategy Limited Watson Square Stockport SK1 3AZ. t. 0161 476 8330 e.info@cgastrategy.co.uk www.cgastretgy.co.uk

CLUB REPORT

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BRANDS REPORT

Club Mirror Brands Report – top brands at the club bar Club Mirror’s annual Brands Report (2014), undertaken by CGA Strategy, analysed club sales of keg ales, cask ales, white spirits and whisk(e)y to identify the Top 10 best performing alcoholic drinks in each category.

Each year Club Mirror and CGA Strategy present the Club Mirror Brands Report, revealing what’s hot and what’s not at the club bar.

Keg ale The keg ale market remains driven by the lead national brands and thereafter the predominant regionally brewed brand across the club sector. All top 10 brands in 2014 were also on 2013’s list.

The category offers consistent established beers and thus innovation is not (unsurprisingly) that evident. John Smith’s and Worthington’s remain predominant with regional beers presence evident in their homelands especially.

The category continues to decline nationally and while the much heralded new Craft Style keg beers do offer future opportunity, it is likely to be some time before their volumes reach the level of these traditional GB ale brands.

CONTACT DETAILS Club Mirror Gainsborough House 59/60 Thames Street Windsor Berks SL4 1TX t. 01753 272022 e. info@clubmirror.com www.clubmirror.com

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CLUB REPORT

Cask ale Cask ale remains the leading ale category performer in the GB on trade with continuing growth of the regional brews and micro-brewery developments expanding the market.

Nevertheless, the core brands dominate in such a way that the list remains the same as the previous year (as with keg ale). The best known national brewer brands such as Doom Bar and Greene King IPA are predominant. Other national brewer brands – such as John Smith’s and Worthington’s – retain their populist position. Continuing interest in craft beers and local provenance should see smaller brands enter the mix more, as much to support local businesses as provide additional choice to the customer over the bar. As a collective entity they are actually the biggest volume overall.

White spirits White spirits remain a key category for the club sector, with classic and popular options maintaining their high-profile

at the club bar, including Vodka, Gin, White Rum and Tequila.

The majority of the best known brands as listed in the 2013 Club Mirror Brands Report held onto their position within the 2014 Top 10 list.

As you’d expect, the big brands such as Bacardi, Gordon’s, Smirnoff and Jose Cuervo are all still the key performers, but are receiving healthy competition in the form of ‘value options’ in each sub category, Chekov and Glens being cases in point.

Interestingly, the main new entry in the list is Russian Standard which sees increasing popularity in the face of some of the more traditional mainstream vodkas that widely dominate in this sector.

In the wider market higher end premium products are still driving growth, along with increasing interest in cocktails.

Whisk(e)y Whisk(e)y covers all whisky types including blended Scotch, Bourbon and Irish brands. Again the key popular brands across all sub categories – including Bell’s, Jameson and Jack Daniel’s – are represented along with other traditionally popular blended Scotch and value brands.

Black Bottle whisky entered the 2014 list on the back of its successful re-launch in 2013.

Malt whiskies are still a key area for growth but cannot currently compete against mainstream blended brands from a volume perspective.

The results are presented in alphabetical order by category. The methodology used is based upon analysis of CGA’s Brand Index. This is the on-trade’s brand performance tracking service. Overall volume, value and distribution performance were the key benchmarks used to define those brands within the Top 10 of each individual category.

BRANDS REPORT

TOP TEN CLUB KEG ALES BANKS’S

ABV: 3.5 % Marston’s Beer Company

BELHAVEN BEST

The brewer notes that this beer is ‘beautifully balanced and very moreish’ with a rich malty biscuit flavour counter-balanced by a subtle burnt note and a hint of bitterness and a slight fruity taste. It was one Mr Thomas Banks who first established Banks & Co as a firm of maltsters in 1840. It wasn’t until 1874, however, that he first began brewing with his son Henry and two other employees.

BODDINGTONS

ABV: 4.6% AB InBev

Belhaven Best originated at the Belhaven Brewery in Scotland, which has a history of brewing dating back to 1719. The famous trademark, Belhaven Bill – a large, heavy fisherman wearing seaboots with Dunbar Harbour behind him - first made an appearance in the 1950s and it became synonymous with the beers and the location. Belhaven Best was launched in 1991. The brewery was bought by current owner Greene King in 2005.

BREW XI

Boddingtons has been enjoyed by beer drinkers in England for more than 200 years, and is well known for its creamy head and smooth body. In the 1990s the beer was promoted as The Cream of Manchester in a popular advertising campaign, making the drink one of the city’s most famous products after Manchester United and Coronation Street. Melanie Sykes launched her television presenter career following her appearance in the adverts from 1996 to 1999.

JOHN SMITH’S

ABV: 3.5% Heineken UK

ABV: 3.7% Molson Coors

MANSFIELD BITTER

ABV: 3.4% Daniel Thwaites PLC Thwaites Smooth was launched in 1996. Celebrity Ken Morley helped to launch the brand, which had the tongue-in-cheek strapline of ‘The Northern Smoothie’. The drink remains a favourite in northern clubs. Daniel Thwaites has secured the purchase of a site to house a new brewery and head office. It is currently hoping to secure planning consent and to start a build programme early in 2015.

ABV: 3.9% Marston’s Beer Company This amber-coloured beer is described as being an easy-drinking yet full-bodied bitter that delivers a very consistent satisfying pint. It is brewed to a recipe that has stayed the same for generations, using high quality natural ingredients and Marston’s unique brewing yeast. The brewing of this brand did start off in Mansfield itself but was later moved to Wolverhampton when Wolverhampton & Dudley took over, before eventually moving into the Marston’s stable.

TETLEY’S

ABV: 3.6% Carlsberg UK Tetley’s has been brewed since 1822. It is a nitrogenated 3.6% ale served at 8˚C. The Tetley’s portfolio has expanded to include products such as Tetley's Smoothflow, Tetley’s Gold cask, and a popular range of seasonal ales including Tetley’s Christmas Cracker. The iconic Tetley’s Huntsman logo first appeared in 1920 and although it was dropped in 2000 (due to anti-hunt feelings in the UK), it was revived in 2010.

Stones was first brewed in 1948 at the Cannon Brewery in Sheffield. Stones Best Bitter was developed as a refreshing golden ale to quench the thirst of local steelworkers and it is still made to the same recipe as that first ever pint. Stones was promoted through a series of television adverts during the 1980s starring Michael Angelis and Tony Barton. It is a top ten brand in the on-trade in its Yorkshire heartland.

THWAITES SMOOTH

ABV: 3.6% Molson Coors Brew XI, (pronounced Brew Eleven), is a sweet, malty beer with a hoppy bitter aftertaste, brewed with a complex triple yeast strain. It is a top ten brand in the on-trade in its Central heartland and it was once advertised with the slogan ‘for the men of the Midlands’.

The Tadcaster ale is named after the town’s most famous son, John Smith, who first began brewing the beer in 1847 to meet the demands of local mill and factory workers. Renowned for its ‘No Nonsense’ strapline and approach to life, John Smith’s has become synonymous with horse racing over the years, having been the supporter of over 90 race days throughout the year at almost 30 jump and flat racecourses across the UK.

STONES BITTER

ABV: 3.2% Greene King

WORTHINGTON’S

ABV: 3.6% Molson Coors The beer started in bottled form but was relaunched as a keg brand in the 1960s under the name Worthington E, followed by Worthington Best Bitter from the 1980s and Worthington Creamflow from the 1990s. Creamflow is full of body, warmth and sweetness, according to the brewer. It is described as being easy on the tongue, and featuring a subtle hop bitterness delivering full flavour without high bitterness.

CLUB REPORT

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BRANDS REPORT

TOP TEN CLUB CASK ALES BANKS’S ORIGINAL/MILD

ABV: 3.5 % Marston’s Beer Company

COURAGE BEST

This is the beer that made Banks’s famous and it is well-known and loved by fans in the West Midlands. It is one of the world’s best-selling Mild beers and it is renowned in the Black Country as an ‘empty glass beer’; once you have finished one, you will want another. In 2010 the name changed from Banks’s Original to Mild.

More than one million pints are reportedly sold every week.

FULLER’S LONDON PRIDE

ABV: 4.1% Fuller, Smith & Turner PLC

Best is brewed with natural mineral water from the brewery’s own well, which was sunk by its founder more than 100 years ago. According to the brewer, the beer’s consistent high quality helps the ale drop bright more quickly than other standard ales, meaning Courage Best can deliver higher yields, less wastage and is easier to manage. The iconic ‘Take Courage’ slogan, has been used for over 50 years.

GREENE KING IPA

An intrinsic part of London, London Pride has been brewed at the Thamses-side Griffin Brewery since 1845. The beer is the company’s flagship mahogany-coloured bitter. Hops included in the brew are Target, Challenger and Northdown varieties, creating a smooth but complex beer with a distinctive malty base. In 2014 the company has opened a pub called London’s Pride at Heathrow airport.

JOHN SMITH’S

ABV: 3.8% Heineken UK

ABV: 3.8% Marston’s Beer Company

MARSTON’S PEDIGREE

ABV: 3.7% Carlsberg UK The first Tetley’s ale was brewed in 1822 and Tetley’s Cask is still brewed in traditional Yorkshire square fermenting vessels. At its height in the 1960s, the Tetley brewery employed more than 1,000 workers and by the 1970s half of Leeds’ pubs were owned by Tetley. In the 1980s Tetley’s was Britain’s largest cask ale brewery.

From 2011 production of Tetley’s Cask moved to Wolverhampton.

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ABV: From 4.5% Marston’s Beer Company This beer is described as being great to enjoy on its own or with hearty British food. It is made using spring water from the Marston’s Brewery in Burton upon Trent, blended with Fuggles and Goldings hops and Pedigree’s unique strain of yeast. Good Beer Guide Editor Roger Protz says of the beer: “You get lovely spicy hops, juicy malt and a very light hint of apple fruit – it’s an incredible beer.”

DOOM BAR

ABV: 4.0% Molson Coors Doom Bar was launched in 1994 by Sharp’s Brewery, becoming so successful that Molson Coors bought the brewery in 2011. The bitter is named after an infamous sandbank at the mouth of the Camel Estuary in North Cornwall. The aroma of the beer combines a balance of hop with sweet malt and delicate roasting notes. It has a taste of dried fruit with lightly roasted malty notes and a subtle bitterness.

This was the first beer to come out of Ringwood Brewery, now part of Marston’s stable of beers, and is a favourite beer in its home region of the New Forest. The beer was awarded Bronze Medal at the infamous Munich Beer Festival in 2005.

Ringwood is described as a well-rounded beer with a delicious malt flavour balanced by a tangy citrus hoppiness. Brewed with floor-malted barley, Goldings, Progress, Fuggles and Challenger hops.

TETLEY’S

ABV: 3.6% Greene King The hoppy aroma and flavour of this beer is created using two varieties of English hop – Challenger and First Gold. The brewer adds the hops to the copper by hand, as the company has always done, and by blending in pale, crystal and black malts he balances the hops with the richness of the malts. It is said to be a good accompaniment to spicy foods and curries.

John Smith’s Cask Ale is moderate-bodied with light fruit and caramel flavours. The main features of the cask ale are its much-loved Yorkshire Bitter characteristics of high bitter notes and a sweet, clean aftertaste. In addition to horse-racing, the brand also became synonymous over the years with a succession of ‘No Nonsense’ award-winning advertising featuring archetypal Yorkshire beer drinker ‘Arkwright’, followed by campaigns starring comedians Jack Dee and Peter Kay.

RINGWOOD BEST BITTER

ABV: 4.0% Wells & Young’s

WORTHINGTON’S

ABV: 3.6% Molson Coors William Worthington began brewing beer in Burton on Trent in 1744 and the beer, which started as a bottled product, was then launched in keg format. The original cask-conditioned product is available to the on-trade market.

Advertising in the mid-1990s included a series of television advertisements featuring comedian Harry Enfield. The brand is involved in sponsorship of rugby union and rugby league.

BRANDS REPORT

TOP TEN CLUB WHITE SPIRITS BACARDI SUPERIOR

ABV: 37.5% Bacardi Brown-Forman Brands

CHEKOV IMPERIAL VODKA

Originating in 1862, Bacardi Superior rum is a light-bodied rum which is aged in oak barrels.

The rum is clear in colour and smooth in taste as well as being dry, giving hints of vanilla and tropical fruits, according to the producer. The rum started off in Cuba and now, seven generations later, Bacardi still remains a familyowned business. The rum won its first award in 1876, and the company says it is now the ‘most awarded rum in the World’.

GLEN’S VODKA

ABV: 37.5% Glen’s Catrine Distillers

Chekov is a popular UK vodka available exclusively from Booker. It was awarded a bronze medal the International Spirits Challenge.

Chekov, which is a triple-distilled and charcoalfiltered pure grain vodka, is positioned at an ‘extremely affordable’ price point, according to Booker, making it ‘a fantastic alternative to the brands’. A range of bottle sizes are available to the on-trade.

GORDON’S GIN

Glen’s Vodka is one of the most popular vodka brands in the UK, behind Smirnoff. It was originally called Grants Vodka when it was launched in the early 1970s but the name was changed to Glen’s in 2003 to differentiate it from Grant’s whisky. The Scottish-made vodka is produced from sugar beet and is popular as a lower-priced vodka option in both the on and off-trades across the UK.

IMPERIA

ABV: 40% Roust Group

ABV: 37.5% C&C Group

JOSE CUERVO TEQUILA

ABV: 37.5% Diageo GB Smirnoff was first produced in Moscow in 1860 and there are now Smirnoff distilleries in more than 18 countries. The brand is sold in 130 markets and 10 bottles are sold every second.

According to the company, every single drop of Smirnoff takes at least eight hours to filter through charcoal in a 10-stage process. As well as the original version, Diageo has also seen success with a range of flavoured variants, of which Espresso Smirnoff is the latest addition.

ABV: 4.0% Proximo Spirits UK Jose Cuervo is probably the most-recognised tequila in the world, and according to distributor Proximo Spirits, it is also the oldest and most awarded. The brand began in 1758 and the company has remained family-owned for more than 250 years; today it is run by the 10th generation of the Cuervo family. Variants, which include Especial, Tradicional, Platino and Reserva de la Familia, are each aged to produce deeper tastes.

RUSSIAN STANDARD VODKA

ABV: 40% Roust Group

Russian Standard Vodka holds a 40% share of the Russian premium vodka market and is exported to over 80 countries around the world. Its state-of-the-art distillery in St. Petersburg, Russia, is said to be one of the world’s most technologically advanced spirit production facilities. With the launch of Russian Standard’s spirit production facility in Buinsk, Russia, in 2012, the company created a unique, vertically integrated production process that allows complete control over all stages of production – from wheat to vodka.

The Ukranian vodka Odessa is distributed by the Odessa Vodka Company in Dublin, Ireland, and it is recognised as being good value for money. It is available in a variety of sizes for the UK on-trade market, including one litre, 1.75 litre and 750ml variants. While there is a continued demand for premium white spirits in the UK’s on-trade, this is counterbalanced by more value options, which is partly why brands such as Odessa have secured their place amongst the top 10 white spirits.

SMIRNOFF RED

ABV: 37.5% Diageo GB Alexander Gordon opened his distillery in 1769 in London, and shortly afterwards he created Gordon’s London Dry Gin. It was the first gin to be drunk with tonic and it has been produced in a green bottle since 1903, when there was a shortfall in clear glass. The recipe is closely guarded: apparently only 12 people in the world know the full distillation process. Diageo launched a new collection of flavoured gins, including Gordon’s Crisp Cucumber.

Imperia was first created in 1894 in the Russian city of St Petersburg. Created as a result of an Imperial decree, it is created ‘from the finest winter wheat, the softest glacial waters, and for extraordinary smoothness and clarity, filtered through quartz crystals from the Ural Mountains’. The quartz crystal filters compress the vodka molecules into smaller molecules, increasing the level of smoothness. In addition, charcoal filters remove other congeners (organic molecules thought to be implicated in hangovers).

ODESSA

ABV: 37.5% Booker

ZAMOYSKI

ABV: 37.5% Moscow Distill Cristall This Russian Vodka has been produced for many years by Moscow Distillery Cristall. The distillery was originally founded in 1901 and it now offers a variety of vodkas and other spirits for domestic and international consumption. The distillery started its life as the Moscow State Wine Warehouse No.1 and it wasn’t renamed until 1987, when the word Cristall was added. The company is described as being the largest manufacturer of liqueur-vodka in Russia, and tours of the historic distillery are popular.

CLUB REPORT

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BRANDS REPORT

TOP TEN CLUB WHISKIES BELL’S

ABV: 40% Diageo GB

BLACK BOTTLE

Black Bottle is a blended Scotch Whisky first launched introduced in 1879 by Aberdeen tea blenders Charles, David and Gordon Graham. In 1881 the brothers decided to focus solely on their Whisky business, and left Aberdeen, a hub for tea imports, for the bright lights of Regent Street, London. When World War I began, imports of the black glass from Germany came to a halt and green glass had to be used instead. The name remained the same and latterly the black bottle were re-introduced.

In 1825 a new shop opened in Perth, Scotland and began trading in tea and whisky - later it would be the first place to sell Bell’s. The whisky is matured in European sherry casks, which add colour and flavour. Bell’s uses up to 35 different malt and grain whiskies in the blend; each is matured between five and 12 years. Bell’s Original is described as being rich and fruity with a hint of smoke to the nose, balanced with an underlying freshness.

FAMOUS GROUSE

ABV: 40% Maxxium UK

JACK DANIEL’S

ABV: 40% Booker

JAMESON

ABV: 40% Diageo GB

TEACHER’S

ABV: 40% Burn Stewart Distillers More than 170mn bottles of this Scotch whisky are sold every year in more than 200 countries. The original company was founded by John Walker in 1820 and over the next 30 years it became an international whisky business. The artist Tom Browne drew ‘The Striding Figure’ in 1908. The traditional Black Label variant is described as having smoky, vanilla and fresh fruit flavours.

The brand also comes in Green, Gold, Red and Blue Label variants.

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CLUB REPORT

ABV: 45% Maxxium UK It is said that William Teacher would not give his name to his blend until he found perfection and he decided that Teacher’s Highland Cream was that whisky. It was created in 1863. At 45% it has one of the highest single malt contents of any blend and uses fully peated Ardmore whisky as its fingerprint malt. It is described as being a smooth whisky with rich smoky undertones and is rich amber in colour. Two super premium expressions were launched in 2012: Teacher’s Single Malt and Teacher’s 25 Year-Old.

More than 170mn bottles of this Scotch whisky are sold every year in more than 200 countries. The original company was founded by John Walker in 1820 and over the next 30 years it became an international whisky business. The artist Tom Browne drew ‘The Striding Figure’ in 1908. The traditional Black Label variant is described as having smoky, vanilla and fresh fruit flavours.

The brand also comes in Green, Gold, Red and Blue Label variants.

SCOTTISH LEADER

ABV: 40% Pernod Ricard Jameson is a single distilled Irish whiskey which was launched in 1780. It is made using malted barley combined with unmalted barley and other grains and 4.3 million cases are sold worldwide. “Triple distilled whiskey like ours isn’t just born smooth and balanced,” says OnTrade Channel Director for Spirits, Ian Peart. “It takes our carefully crafted process used over hundreds of years to get it right.”

The Jacobite Whisky is made from a carefully selected blend of 100% Scotch whiskies. It is then distilled, aged in oak casks and bottled in Scotland to produce ‘a subtle and smooth flavour’, according to Booker. The brand was awarded a Bronze medal in the International Spirits Challenge and it is offered in a full range of bottle sizes, ranging from 5cl to 1.5l for the UK’s on-trade. Available exclusively from Booker.

JOHNNIE WALKER BLACK LABEL

ABV: 40% Bacardi Brown-Forman Brands Jack Daniel’s is a brand of sour mash Tennessee whiskey, which has become known for its square bottles and black label. The founder’s name was actually Jasper Newton, but he was known as Jack from an early age. It is likely the distillery was founded in 1875 although records are unclear. Jack Daniel’s is filtered through sugar maple charcoal in large wooden vats prior to ageing, which is an extra step not used in making most Bourbon whiskey which, says the company, makes the product different from Bourbon.

This whisky is named after Scotland’s national game bird, the Red Grouse. The drink is produced by marrying fine malt whiskies with grain whiskies for ‘an unusually long period’ in fully seasoned oak casks.

The Grouse whisky first began its life in 1896 when it was created by grocer and wine merchant Matthew Gloag. The success of the brand led to the addition of the word ‘Famous’ in 1905. The entire Grouse portfolio was repackaged in 2010 to enhance the stand-out of the grouse bird icon.

JACOBITE

ABV: 40% Burn Stewart Distillers

WHYTE & MACKAY

ABV: 40% Whyte & Mackay The brand was founded on the docks of Glasgow in 1844 by James Whyte and Charles Mackay. The brand’s master blender is Richard Paterson, who has created the whisky for the past 40 years, gaining numerous personal accolades as well as helping to win titles for the company, including the IWSC’s ‘Global Distiller of the Year 2010’.

CASK ALE

Cask ale – the benefit to clubs Selling cask ale provides a genuine point of difference and yet another reason for members to keep coming back to the club, says Marston's Beer Company's Ian Ward.

A quality cask ale offer reflects well on the club; it is often seen as a benchmark for the club’s overall quality.

Cask ale popularity is growing and outperforms all other beer categories and now holds a 58.6% market share of the draught ale market*.

Cask ale drinkers visit outlets more frequently and have a higher spend per head according to research. It makes sense, therefore, to create events and activities to encourage non-cask drinkers to try cask ale for the first time.

Beer festivals are a great way to boost footfall and build a reputation for quality cask ale. How about trying beer platters, a great way of encouraging experimentation and delivering a real tasting experience. Or maybe inspire the kitchen team to create a beer and food matching menu?

RANGE AND BEER STYLES Aim to have a balanced range of familiar ‘tried and trusted’ brands to re-assure new or occasional drinkers, alongside less familiar ‘guest’ brands that provide something a little different to encourage choice and experimentation for more experienced drinkers.

COMMUNICATION AND STAFF RECOMMENDATION Sell the benefits of cask ale using clear and simple language such as ‘real’, ‘fresh’, ‘natural’ and ‘regional’ on chalkboards and promotional materials. Educate your bar staff on different beer styles and use simple tasting descriptions to provide recommendations to members.

CONTACT DETAILS Marston’s Beer Company Marston’s House Brewery Road Wolverhampton WV1 4JT t. 0800 587 0773 (Customer Services) f. 01902 429136 www.marstons.co.uk

TOP TIPS FOR THE PERFECT PINT 1. Ordering – order the correct size of cask and aim to sell it within three days.

2. Storage – check your cellar temperature. Casks must be stored in a temperature controlled cellar between 11-13°C. 3. Stillaging – all casks should be stillaged securely for at least three days before sale.

If some have to be stillaged later, roll them first to allow the finings to work. Cask beers will usually drop bright within 48 hours, some brands may take a little longer.

PUBLICISING YOUR EVENTS • POINT OF SALE – Promote your event with personalised banners, posters and flyers.

4. Pegging & venting – all casks should be vented with soft porous pegs 2-6 hours after delivery. Check casks frequently and change peg if it becomes blocked. When strong fermentation has finished insert a hard, non porous peg. Remove that when serving and replace at the end of the session.

• LOCAL PRESS – Create a press release or photocall about your event and send to local journalists.

5. Tapping – tap all casks 1-2 days before they go on sale. Always use a clean tap.

• CAMRA – Make your local group aware of your event. (Find contact details at www.camra.org.uk)

6. Sampling – sample beers for clarity, aroma and taste after tapping, and before serving each day. Always sample from the cask.

7. Serving – once on sale the beer is exposed to air, which begins to deteriorate the quality of the beer. Ideally, therefore, empty a cask within three days.

8. Tilting – gently tilt the cask when it’s between 1⁄2 and 2⁄3 full, either by raising the back or lowering the front by about three inches, whichever is easier.

9. Cleaning – clean the beer lines and equipment every week, using methods recommended by your cask supplier.

10. Don’t Compromise – follow these tips and you will serve the perfect pint of cask ale.

*The Cask Report, 2014-15

CLUB REPORT

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MARSTON’S PROMOTION

Welcome to Marston’s Beer Company Marston’s Beer Company is famous for its market-leading portfolio of cask and keg ales which are crafted at its five regional breweries.

“Although nationally recognised, Marston’s still delivers a local service with its nationwide team of dedicated Business Development Managers.”

CONTACT DETAILS Marston’s Beer Company Marston’s House Brewery Road Wolverhampton WV1 4JT t. 0800 587 0773 (Customer Services) f. 01902 429136 www.marstons.co.uk

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CLUB REPORT

Marston’s delivers an unrivalled range of 21 permanent and 50 seasonal guest ales throughout the year, offering you a wide variety of beer styles and flavour profiles. Innovation is at its core, you only have to look at the Fastcasktm system, which provides increased operational flexibility – beer can be placed on sale immediately after delivery because this innovative system removes the wait time normally required for the beer to ‘drop bright’ (normally 24-48 hours), containers are also easy to store, and if they are moved the beer won’t be disturbed meaning it can always be on sale (which means less sales lost).

That’s not all, a dedicated team of Beer Quality Technicians operate across the country who are on hand to offer on-site training and advice to ensure you pour the perfect pint every time.

Marston’s is passionate about beer and is committed to new product development. At present, it offers a growing craft ale portfolio to choose from; the Revisionist and Single Hop ranges were both highlighted as breakthroughs when launched, so both are returning this year on its guest ale programme. With a growth of 79% a year* craft ale is definitely the fastest growth area and Marston’s can help guide you on how to capitalise on this market defining trend.

Operating over 2000 outlets nationwide, Marston’s offers a comprehensive support service network, meaning you can benefit from its strong buying power and take advantage bringing of the very best deals on leading brands, services and consumables from a number of third party suppliers, not forgetting its award winning customer service team who are available to help.

Although nationally recognised, Marston’s still delivers a local service with its nationwide team of dedicated Business Development Managers, each committed in supporting your business to help it thrive and grow. Marston’s also provides an online ‘toolbox’ in the form of ‘MyMarston’s’ enabling you to do business 24 hours a day at a time to suit you. *GCA Strategies calculated that craft beer was growing at 79% a year.

MARSTON’S REGIONAL BREWERIES • Marston’s, Burton upon Trent • Banks’s, Wolverhampton • Wychwood, Witney • Jennings, Lake District • Ringwood, Hampshire To arrange a visit by your local Marston’s Business Development Manager, to hold preliminary no obligation business discussions, contact our customer services team on 0800 587 0773.

CRAFT LAGER

Handled with care – the case for craft lager Edward Mayman

MY TOP TIP: GUEST LAGERS “In the same way that clubs will already have guest ales, they should look to introduce guest lagers. It’s something that I’ve seen growing in popularity amongst more boutique bars but there’s no reason why it won’t work in a club bar. It would take some initial investment to get the tap and lines ready but it could be a real money spinner.”

CONTACT DETAILS Edward Mayman t. 01283 840 721 f. 01283 841 929 e.freedom@freedombrewery.com

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CLUB REPORT

The craft brewing trend is causing a stir, with more than 1,000 brewers calling the UK home. However this ‘renALEssance’ isn’t just limited to cask ales, according to Freedom Brewery’s Managing Director, Edward Mayman. Here he explains why he believes introducing a craft lager to the bar as an alternative offering can be a real margin booster alongside more mainstream lager options.

Each club has its own personality, so naturally when it comes to food and drink offerings there is never a one-size fits all approach. So one of the most important decisions a club owner needs to make when considering their wet offering is how it can be suited to their member base so as to avoid menu fatigue.

Diversification of a drinks menu is important. Yet whilst many clubs have a craft ale offering, with plenty of brews on rotation to keep members interested, opportunities to do the same with craft lagers are often ignored.

Consumer demand for provenance and quality in food and drink products is higher than ever and by adding craft lagers to the offering, bottled or on draught, clubs can ensure a premium point of difference.

With the emergence of a more discerning beer drinker, venues are increasingly looking to craft brews. Hand-crafted with care using the finest ingredients, premium lagers can add value for clubs with stand-out from mass-produced lagers at the bar, boosting sales. Certainly, craft lagers should no longer be confined exclusively to boutique venues.

Identifying a premium lager Premium lager can mean a number of things to different people in the industry, defined by characteristics such as ABV or branding. For me, the best way to differentiate between premium and non-premium is the way it’s produced.

If you trace the etymology of the word lager you’ll see that it comes from the German word lagerbier which means “beer brewed for keeping some months before being drunk,” and from the other German word, lager (“Storehouse”) from which the English word larder originates. As you can see, there is a theme here. Lager takes time; something that isn’t always invested in more mainstream brews.

If a lager is made in the right way, with a combination of expertise, care and quality ingredients, it will inevitably be a premium option. And this belief is clearly reflected in the growing popularity of craft brewing.

Clubs should look to source their lager from producers who are very open about what goes into their drinks (or, more notably what doesn’t go into them) and the production process if they are to ensure the procurement of a quality, premium craft lager.

Promotion and education I believe it is important for any brewer to support their customers with training – after all, the barman is our last brand ambassador.

Clubs, then, should look to get their bar staff trained as the more knowledge they have, the better they will be at selling the products. In my opinion, when it comes to lager it is the best way to ensure that it is being served correctly and that the key differentials are communicated to drinkers. Bar staff must be aware of the care and attention that goes into craft brews, otherwise there is a danger that premium lagers will get lost alongside mass-produced brands.

One way to further this training is to run staff promotions. For example, I’ve known successful bars to pass an unopened envelope around so that the last person to have sold a particular drink keeps hold of it. Whoever sells the last drink of the night gets to keep the envelope and its contents (this works best if there is cash inside). The advantage of running a promotion like this is that it gets your bar staff actively pushing certain drinks and their USPs. Eye-catching, branded glassware is another way to add value and reinforce the perception of premium lagers.

There’s so much of the ‘same old’ when it comes to glassware and many consumers are crying out for something different. (At Freedom, for example, we include a QR code on our Freedom tankards which directs drinkers straight to the updated Freedom website for additional information on how our beer is brewed, tasting notes and food matching tips – something which we’ve not seen done on glassware before, but can add to the whole education process, promoting quality and provenance.)

Another business booster Repeat custom is a natural factor of running a club but this does mean that it’s even more vital to prevent members from getting menu fatigue.

Running themed nights can be a great way to drive footfall, and food and drink sales during quieter periods.

There’s still a big consumer learning curve on the different styles and flavours of crafted beers that are becoming more readily available but some of our most successful accounts are focussing on this opportunity, which is essentially what the wine industry did years ago.

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*Price illustration is based on cover being provided for the following: Employee Liability at £10 million, Public Liability at £2 million, Business Interruption at £125,000 for an indemnity period of 12 months, Loss of licence at £100,000, Book Debts at £25,000, Contents at £14,500, Theft by employees at £5,000, Portable property at £5,000, Computers at £3,000, Money up to £3,000, Stock covered at £3,000, Goods in transit at £3,000, Wines/Spirits/tobacco/cigarettes at £2,000 and Contents of the gaming machines at £1,000. The indication provided is also based on the building being of standard construction, in an area that isn’t subject to referral due to flood or subsidence and is subject to previous claims history and includes Insurance Premium Tax and all fees.

Aon UK Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. | Aon UK Limited Registered Office, 8 Devonshire Square, London EC2M 4PL | Registered No. 210725 www.clubmirror.com 12FP.ENT.246.CS clubmirror

WINE

UK wine recession set to end this year The downturn in UK wine drinking which has seen a 10.5% per capita drop since 2008, will end this year, forecasts Vinexpo, the world’s largest professional wine and spirits exhibition.

“We can say confidently that 2015 will show that the UK wine recession is over. While the UK market shed 9.6m cases between 2008 and 2013, it is now past its low point.

The UK wine trade is building value and many leading marketers report progress at the premium end,” says Guillaume Deglise, CEO of Vinexpo..

Adult wine consumption will start to edge up over the next five years, according to Vinexpo’s research. It will be a slow recovery, however, reaching 22.5 litres per head by 2018 when consumption is forecast to hit a total of 1.54 billion bottles (128.71m cases). UK wine drinking hit a six-year low in 2014* falling by 146 million bottles (122.2m cases) compared with the high point of 2008 (25 litres per person;134.8m cases).

Contrarily, the total retail value of UK wine sales edged up over the same period due to an increase in sales of preThe outstanding success since 2008 is the rise of sparkling wine

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CLUB REPORT

mium-priced wines. The value of total UK wine sales rose from USD14 billion in 2008 to reach USD16.1 billion last year. It is forecast to reach USD16.47 billion this year.

Fizzing future The outstanding success since 2008 is the rise of sparkling wine. Its popularity with UK drinkers shows no sign of slowing. In the 10 years from 2008 to 2018 UK drinkers are forecast to increase consumption per person from 1.6 litres to 2.2 litres a year.

The volume of sparkling wine drunk in the UK rose from 8.68 million cases in 2008 to 11.23 by last year and is forecast to reach 11.56 million cases this year.

Driving the category are imports of Prosecco. In 2013 alone the Italian sparkling wine saw growth of 43% in UK imports. Over the five years from 2008 to 2013 imports

WINE

doubled from 1.38 million nine-litre cases to 3.57 million cases.

Of the top five exporters of sparkling wine to the UK, Italy, Spain and the much-smaller USA, showed growth last year, while Champagne and Australian exports fell.

In the pink While white is the UK’s favourite wine colour, the popularity of rosé wine has held up relatively well since 2008. Consumption in 2015 is expected to reach 175 million bottles (14.59m cases) and to arrive at 183 million bottles (15.24m cases) by 2018.

The volume of white wine consumed in the UK is forecast to pick up from a low of 662.6 million bottles (55.21m cases)last year to 676.7 million bottles (56.39m cases) this year.

By 2018 this is expected to rise to 698.7 million bottles (58.22m cases).

Red wine will recover from a low of 636.2 million bottles (53.01m cases) last year, to reach 645.2 million bottles (53.76m cases) in 2015.

None of the three will hit their peaks of 2008 when white volume was 720.2 million bottles (60m cases), rosé 186.7 million bottles (15.56m cases) and red 710.3 million bottles (59.19m cases), says VINEXPO.

* The study contains actual volumes from 2008-2013. Data from 2014 to 2018 is forecasted.

VINEXPO STUDY Vinexpo commissioned a study from market intelligence provider IWSR (International Wine and Spirit Research) to analyse global consumption, production and international trade in wines and spirits. This includes a five-year forecast (up to 2018 for this new study). The survey covers 28 producing countries and 114 consumer markets. This is the 13th Vinexpo study.

This year’s Vinexpo will take place in Bordeaux, 14-18 June.

CONTACT DETAILS Vinexpo HQ, 2 Cours du XXX Juillet 33074 Bordeaux Cedex t. + 33 5 56 56 00 22 www.vinexpo.com UK Contact – Eugene Bacot t. 07802 345030 e. eugene@voice-pr.co.uk

CLUB REPORT

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SOFT DRINKS

Make some noise for soft drinks It’s clear that the soft drinks category is an incredibly important one to clubs all over the UK, not least in the summer months, as the 2014 Britvic Soft Drinks Review demonstrates.

Still shaped by the aftermath of the recession, the economic climate remained an underlying factor, influencing consumer behaviour and overall purchasing decisions. As a result consumers remained focused on spend, seeking value-for-money propositions and continuing to be cautious with their cash.

In terms of food and drink, there were two clear sides to the story. Whilst the majority of consumers remained cash conscious and careful with their spending, brands remained important and there was a new willingness to spend on higher price point items, giving rise to the trend for premiumisation.

Whilst consumers continued to view going out as a treat and demanded value from their visits to leisure outlets, they were also more willing to purchase brands which guaranteed a quality proposition for these occasions.

As a result leisure outlets sought to offer new niche brands, a range of flavours and sophisticated service to set their venues apart and cater for the treat spend.

Soft drinks – a £10 billion market Soft drinks once again proved itself to be one of the most resilient categories. This was largely thanks to new product development in accordance with emerging consumer trends and one of the best summers the nation has experienced in decades, all underpinned by promotions offering significant value to the consumer.

Soft drinks fared considerably better than other categories, with value sales climbing by a steady 2% to reach £10.3bn. As an additional result of the nation basking in the heat wave, soft drinks also had the highest volume increase of all FMCG categories with sales rising by 10%.

and supporting the casual dining trend.

Late night venues saw slight decline, whilst wet led venues remained static in terms of both value and volume.

Draught sales accounted for more than half of soft drink sales in the channel, with value sales of more than £1.7bn.

Carbonates remained the most popular type of soft drink, with a 77% share and increased their value sales by 2% to more than £2.2bn.

Suppliers Despite strong value and volume growth from Coca-Cola Enterprises, Britvic remained the number one supplier, with value sales of more than £1.3bn compared to £1.1bn for Coca-Cola Enterprises.

Trends The nation continued to experiment with flavours and tastes. Like other categories, soft drinks benefitted from this trend, recruiting new consumers with an explosion of new flavoured varieties.

CONTACT DETAILS Britvic Soft Drinks Ltd Britvic Head Office Breakspear Park Breakspear Way Hemel Hempstead HP2 4TZ t.01442 284400 e.info@britvic.co.uk www.britvic.co.uk

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CLUB REPORT

Leisure Soft drinks once again bucked the decline seen in the early years of the recession. However, even with the sunshine of summer the category remained static. With value sales reaching more than £2.8bn, the category remained integral to pubs, clubs and restaurants, retaining its position as the third largest category after beer and spirits. Volume sales did, however, dip slightly.

Food-led outlets also dominated the total market, with sales growing by 4% value and reaching more than £2bn

BRITVIC SOFT DRINKS REVIEW The Britvic Soft Drinks Review provides an in-depth look at how the UK soft drinks market performed in the previous year, incorporating data and insights from Mintel, IGD and Allegra were also used.

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CATERING

Getting your food offer right Whatever the scale of your food operation, there are plenty of reasons why it should be put firmly on the front burner this year. Booker offers the following advice.

“Keep your menu descriptions simple, but make the dishes sound as mouth watering as possible.”

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CLUB REPORT

There are a number of factors and questions which will help you decide the type of food that best suits your club.

These include the following: • How big is your kitchen?

• What equipment do you have?

• What storage do you have?

• Is take-away an option?

• Do you have any kitchen staff?

• What would your members like? This is the most important factor - find out what choices would they like to see, what do they consider acceptable prices, what serving times would best suit them?

• Keep the menu simple to start, 4-6 starters, 8-10 main

• • •

•

courses and 4-6 desserts (which can, of course, be bought as finished products).

Ensure the menu contains healthy and vegetarian options.

You will also need a mixture of red meat, white meat and fish.

Keep your menu descriptions simple, but make the dishes sound as mouth watering as possible, with words such as prime, succulent, tender and fresh.

Think of your ‘margin mix’. There are some dishes that will make you a high percentage gross margin (such as soup), and others (such as a baked camembert) where that gross margin will be lower, but the cash margins higher.

CATERING

“Use offers to bring customers in on quiet nights; offer your meal SO WHAT ELSE SHOULD YOU BE DOING IN 2015?

Offer ‘meal deals’.

Most of the successful brands are offering food and a drink, or buy a main course, get a discounted side order or dessert.

Also two meals for a set price works well. Use offers to bring customers in on quiet nights; offer your meal deals on a Monday to Thursday.

Where you can offer incentives or vouchers.

Serve some free chips or other simple food on busy nights such as football or darts nights. Customers will appreciate it, will realise that you serve food, find that the food is good and come back to eat another time.

deals on a Monday to Thursday.”

Theme Nights Use national events such as Burns Night and Halloween to drive interest and create a fantastic atmosphere. You can also hold your own events around local events or those that are important to your members and guests.

Fundraising events always prove popular.

Maximise your offer Members are increasingly time precious, so offer a meal deal to take away. And for clubs who do lunches, have a look at local businesses close by. Either get them to join and come in for lunch, or offer a delivery service if possible.

Get your coffee right Customers are becoming more and more discerning over their coffee. It’s relatively simple these days to offer a good coffee solution. There are a number of relatively inexpensive bean to cup machines on the market that can pay for themselves quite quickly if you can start to serve 20 or so cups of coffee a day.

Booker also offer a printed cup service, which means you can offer a take away coffee to your customers, and it’s in a cup with your business name on it!

Market your business Tell people you serve food with a blackboard or other signage outside. Create a Facebook page and Twitter account.

CONTACT DETAILS Booker has 172 stores nationwide and offers free delivery seven days a week.

Clubs can order instore, online or over the phone.

All About Food is available via the company’s website. t. 0845 6012999 www.booker.co.uk

CLUB REPORT

25

KITCHENS

Catering conundrums – how to build a kitchen from scratch Food is cooking up a storm in clubs across the country. And the good news is that even the most basic club kitchens can join in the food fest. But if your aim is to add catering to the club menu for the first time, where do you start?

It’s all in the planning.

“A rule of thumb is to choose equipment at least one third bigger than you think you will need.”

Many clubs are already running successful food operations, but those who have stayed wet-led are now looking to raise more revenue from selling food. And that means buying kitchen equipment. Many clubs intending to push hard into the food market for the first time are likely to choose fast service menus offering familiar foods which rely on a lot of frozen ingredients, quick-cook fresh items and premium sandwiches and salads. Adopting this entry-level approach to food requires a restricted range of kitchen equipment and modest cooking skills which keeps the start-up budget manageable.

Refrigeration No club kitchen can work efficiently or safely without a freezer.

The size or number of freezers depends on the menu mix, but a freezer is a must item of kitchen equipment. Clubs need rapid access to frozen food in busy service times so upright cabinets are more convenient than chest freezers and occupy less floorspace. There need to be enough upright fridge cabinets to cope with storing all the chilled food the kitchen is going to need.

This may be a single cabinet, but likely at least two. There is the good working practice argument for a club to buy commercial refrigeration, but there is a more important one – food safety.

The expensive components in refrigeration are the motor and the condenser, which is how the refrigerant moves around the cooling bars. Manufacturers build motor performance according to the expected use – i.e. the number of times the freezer door or lid is going to be opened.

Fryer A club will find it difficult to run a food operation with a single fryer. There needs to be two, usually one for frying coated products such as fish or sausages and one kept exclusively for chips.

There are good operational reasons for working with two fryers, or a twin tank fryer. It is difficult for a fryer to cook two different items at once - different foods need different cook times and sometimes different cooking temperatures. Coated products and salty products such as sausages break down the structure of oil much more quickly than chips, so a chip-only fryer will have the oil last longer than one being used for spicy food.

At an entry level into club catering, plug-in tabletop fryers avoid the need for hard wiring of three-phase electricity or plumbing in of gas for a gas fryer. For volume production of fried food floor-standing fryers will be needed. Any fryer needs the oil filtering at least once a day to remove food debris.

Microwave oven All club kitchens need at least one microwave oven, most need two or even more to deliver frozen food in the time customers

26

CLUB REPORT

expect between ordering and being served. Domestic microwave ovens are unsuitable for commercial use for a number of reasons, which can include low power, uneven re-heating and the irritating “ping” which can indicate to the customer how the food is being prepared.

Cooking range A six-burner cooking range has to be in every club kitchen. The hobs will boil and shallow fry and the oven underneath will roast meat and bake pies. However, since a club just moving into the food market is not going to have a huge demand for food cooked on a range, it will be adequate to go for a model classed by the manufacturer as light to medium duty.

Dishwasher A club will already have a glasswasher which may also have been used for occasional cups and saucers and sandwich plates, but once food proper appears on the menu a dedicated dishwasher will be needed. The two types of washing machine look similar, but have different wash cycles, pump pressures and use different detergents. The worst thing a glasswasher needs to clean off is lipstick, while a dishwasher has to deal with everything from lasagne to curry.

Grill or griddle?

Steaks are a core menu item for a club menu and there are several options of how to cook them. A griddle works with the heat underneath and as well as steaks is also a good way to cook burgers. One advantage of a griddle is that meat can be easily basted to keep it moist. A grill works by the heat radiating down and with some heat rising up. A benefit is that food can get a barbecue effect through the very intense radiated heat. A grill can also do toasted sandwiches or brown off a cheesy topping. It can be a dry form of cooking with meats which do not contain fat so basting may be necessary. A compromise between the two is a contact grill which has two hinged heated plates which clamp together to cook meats on two sides at once. These are very quick and the result is moist, but their small size compared to a griddle means only one or two items can be cooked at once.

Contact grills can also do toasted sandwiches.

Plan for the future A common mistake clubs just breaking into food make when choosing the size of equipment to buy is basing the choice on current business and not planned business growth. A rule of thumb is to choose equipment at least one third bigger than you think you will need. If the plan is to branch into food as a new revenue stream, that greater capacity will be needed.

CLUBS & ASSOCIATIONS

SOLICITORS TO THE LICENSED TRADE Nottingham 37 Stoney Street • The Lace Market • Nottingham • NG1 1LS • Tel: 0115 953 8500 London 88 Kingsway • London • WC2B 6AA • Tel: 020 7936 5869 email: info@popall.co.uk

www.popall.co.uk

BT SPORT

There’s everything to play for in 2015, says BT Sport With over 24,000 commercial premises now subscribed to its sports channels, BT Sport is confident that its plethora of live sporting fixtures during 2015 will keep members and guests glued to their club seats.

“Providing more than its fair share of entertainment is the FA Cup as the remaining teams dream of running out on the hallowed turf of Wembley in May.”

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CLUB REPORT

In 2015, clubs can expect a feast of live sporting fixtures, including the Barclays Premier League, FA Cup, Scottish Premiership action, top rugby union clashes from the Aviva Premiership and European Rugby Champions Cup, as well as live coverage of many other sports including darts, motorsport, tennis and basketball The jewel in its crown, says the broadcaster, is its 38 exclusively live ties from the Barclays Premier League, including 18 top picks, which showcase the incredible array of talent plying their trade in the English top-flight. The FA Cup, European football, top domestic and European rugby union, darts, tennis, motorsport and NBA basketball also form part of the broad offering.

Football The current Barclays Premier League campaign has been an enthralling one since it kicked off in August with each unfolding round of the competition conjuring up enough breathtaking goals, dramatic incidents and talking points to get any club showing the action buzzing with excitement.

Foremost among the big games already shown this season include the season opener between Manchester United and Swansea City at Old Trafford, a 2-1 victory for the visitors which sent shockwaves through the Premier League and demonstrated to new manager Louis van Gaal the size of the task facing him at Man United. More recently, BT Sport captured Chelsea’s New Year’s Day nightmare as they crashed 5-3 to an inspired Tottenham side at White Hart Lane, a major setback for the Blues in their quest for the title.

As the business end of the season approaches and the tension is ratcheted up several notches, watch out for some big games that are sure to have a bearing on the eventual destina-

tion of the title, as well as the final league standings, including Chelsea v Everton on February 11th and Arsenal v Everton on March 1st.

Also providing more than its fair share of entertainment is the FA Cup as the remaining teams dream of running out on the hallowed turf of Wembley in May to compete for the oldest cup competition in the sport. With the Fifth Round of the fabled competition approaching, the big names will be out in force and eager to progress.

Meanwhile, regular Thursday night action will be taking place in many of Europe’s top sporting cathedrals as the UEFA Europa League reaches the Round of 32 in February. With plenty of British involvement – including Celtic, Everton, Liverpool, Tottenham – the final stages of the competition will be eagerly followed by football fans on these shores.

The action is hotting up north of the border too in the SPFL Premiership and SPFL Championship with Aberdeen, Celtic and Dundee United setting the pace in the top-flight and Hearts battling hard for promotion from the Championship.

And the best of European and World football will also be well represented in 2015 with live coverage throughout the week of several foreign top-flight competitions, including Italy’s Serie A, Germany’s Bundesliga and France’s La Ligue.

Rugby Union With top-class rugby action and exclusively live coverage of the Aviva Premiership, BT Sport has bolstered its oval ball offering this season with live games from the new European Champions Cup and European Challenge Cup, both of which kicked off in October.

The European Champions Cup, in particular, has produced some spectacular battles over the past few months, not least

BT SPORT

“The jewel in its crown, says the broadcaster, is its 38 exclusively live ties from the Barclays Premier League.”

two-time champions Leinster’s breathtaking 14-13 win over Harlequins at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, a match which typified the skill and passion that top-tier European rugby engenders in players and supporters alike.

There is plenty more to come in all three competitions with upcoming fixtures including Bath v Northampton Saints on February 21st and Wasps v Saracens on March 8th in the Aviva Premiership, while the knockout stages of the European Champions Cup get underway at the beginning of April.

Darts, MotoGP, NBA and Tennis January saw live coverage of the 2015 BDO World Professional Darts Championship from Lakeside – another highly entertaining Championship with Scott Mitchell beating Martin Adams 7-6 in the final to claim his first world title.

For fans of an altogether noisier sport, BT Sport will be trackside throughout the upcoming MotoGP season, starting on March 29th with the Grand Prix of Qatar as Spain’s Marc Márquez launches the defence of his world title.

Then, if your club members enjoy the razzamataz of top American sport, watch out for the 200 live games from the NBA, featuring the likes of the LA Lakers, Miami Heat and the New York Knicks.

Fans of tennis will also be well catered for, with regular coverage of the WTA Tour season which got underway in January, featuring many of the world’s top female players.

CONTACT DETAILS BT Centre 81 Newgate Street London EC1A 7AJ t. 0800 678070 www.btsportbusiness.com

CLUB REPORT

29

SKY SPORTS

2015 – a sporting fest is on its way, predicts Sky Sky’s sporting coverage across football, cricket, rugby, golf and horse racing combine to drive footfall and increase dwell times every day of the week, right throughout the year, says the company.

“The football season dishes out its first prize of the season on the first day of March as the Capital One Cup Final is contested from Wembley.”

30

CLUB REPORT

JANUARY What better way to kick off the New Year than to settle into a feast of the finest football. Banish those January blues by following the Transfer Window and rejoicing in your club’s new signing – and finding a way to console yourself if the star player is sold on Deadline Day. By the time you read this, Manchester City v Arsenal (January 18) will have brought your members back down to Earth. And if they fancied some hard-hitting Transatlantic action, the NFL play-offs will have hit the spot. Big Bash cricket will keep you awake all night, and don’t forget about the rugby union. The European Rugby Champions Cup, featuring the likes of Toulon and Leinster, is there to be enjoyed every weekend (unless you’ve been up all night watching Australia v India in the cricket). Towards the end of January, England go Down Under for a Tri-Series cricket tour. Sky Sports even broadcast the World Ping-Pong Championship which is a thrilling, quick-fire showcase.

FEBRUARY The Cricket World Cup will receive its own Sky Sports channel, providing over 1,000 hours of around-the-clock-coverage. The Super Bowl is on the first of the month as the NFL concludes in typically lavish fashion from Glendale, Arizona. Good luck finding time to fit in Valentine’s Day because England meet Italy in the Six Nations on February 14! That’s not to mention the beginning of the Super League as rugby league joins union on every sports fan’s calendar – last season ended in a blaze of chaos and controversy so the 2015 season is not to be missed.

And if you want a great night out, don your favourite fancy dress for the Premier League Darts every Thursday from around the country. The record-breaking success of the World Championship means a host of new darts fans should be glued to Michael van Gerwen and Phil Taylor’s every throw.

Boxing fans will rejoice in Paul Smith’s world title rematch against Arthur Abraham on February 21 – and don’t forget about the resumption of the Champions League as Chelsea play Paris St-Germain.

MARCH The football season dishes out its first prize of the season on the first day of March as the Capital One Cup Final is contested from Wembley, plus we’ll catch the second leg of the first Champions League knockout phase. Can you wait until March 15 for the Formula One season to begin? Lewis Hamilton thrilled spectators by claiming the world championship last year and his title defence will be compelling viewing, starting in Australia. (Sky Sport F1 HD remains the only place to catch every race, practice and qualifying session from never-beforeseen angles.) And the Cricket World Cup will culminate on March 29, also from Australia. If you fancy a flutter, the Cheltenham Festival takes up three days in the middle of the month.

APRIL The quarter-finals of the Champions League take place as European football’s elite are whittled down. Plus, as we approach the business end of the Premier League season,

SKY SPORTS

Chelsea face Manchester United then Arsenal in successive weeks. It’s also that time of year to tune into Augusta, Georgia as The Masters tees off – one of the most serene golfing locations brings together the finest players for the annual showpiece. And dust off your wallet once more, because it’s Grand National time.

MAY Watch out for the two Champions League semi-finals and the Premier League which will come to its annual conclusion – will the championship be going to Chelsea or Manchester City or will another club make a late surge come May? Football fans will be in their element as hopes and dreams will either be fulfilled or crushed in the Football League play-offs when relegations and promotions are decided. The month concludes with the Magic Weekend (the Super League’s rugby extravaganza).

Cricket fans will be in for some late nights as England tour the Caribbean.

JUNE The Champions League final will pit Europe’s two best football teams against each other – will Real Madrid be present on June 6 to defend their crown when the final hits Berlin?

International rugby Tests will also take centre stage. June may be a cricket fan’s favourite month though, as England hosts tours from New Zealand and Australia – our southern hemisphere rivals will compete in a series of ODIs, Tests and limited-over matches to keep you glued to the action. The US Open golf tournament in Washington will provide a weekend of entertainment, and Royal Ascot race day adds a touch of glamour.

JULY Racing fans’ favourite weekend arrives with Formula One’s annual Silverstone race – can Lewis Hamilton or a British rival delight the home crowds in a flash of colour and a puff of smoke as they cross the finish line? A very different yet equally enthralling race takes place on two wheels as the Tour de France features cycling at its highest level. As England’s cricket encounters with New Zealand and Australia continue, attention will turn to tennis as Wimbledon comes to its nailbiting finale. Whether Andy Murray can replicate his historic win or not, the traditional tournament will feature all-time greats in their prime.

AUGUST The Ashes will begin in July but the high stakes bowling will thunder down in August as the richest prize in cricket is con-

tested. The PGA Open from Wisconsin, America, will feature highly on every sports fan’s list of recommended viewing once you’ve returned from your summer holidays. The golf will be quickly followed by tennis when the US Open begins at the end of the month, after we’ve sat through the tense transfer activity in the football world. But as the cash is splashed the football will begin – Sky Sports will bring you the Premier League and Football League action as another season begins with more matches from the Championship than ever before. Cricket T20 Finals Day from Edgbaston is on August 29.

SEPTEMBER Flushing Meadows will be the place to be as another tennis Grand Slam wraps up – can Marin Cilic retain his US Open?

Continuing the American theme, get your helmets ready for the start of the new NFL season as the race to the Super Bowl begins all over again. It’s also time to settle into the new Premier League football season.

OCTOBER After months of bruising Super League action, the rough and tumble comes to an end with the Grand Final at Old Trafford – last season’s edition was a brutal ballet of the sport’s enduring charm and we’re sure for more of the same. Phil Taylor will be back at the oche, the Grand Prix kicks off in October from the raucous city of Dublin which is guaranteed to host a feel-good party atmosphere as the first dart is thrown. Michael van Gerwen did the business last year and will be hoping the luck of the Irish remains on his side. And the Rugby World Cup is coming to town – the world’s greatest players and their national flags descend upon our country for a spectacular event.

NOVEMBER The ATP World Tour Finals are coming to London as the likes of Murray, Federer and Djokovic meet at the O2 Arena in a wonderful showcase of tennis. Towards the end of the month, the Davis Cup pits nations against each other with Switzerland holding the tennis trophy. Wolverhampton will, once again, hold the Grand Slam of Darts.

DECEMBER If you’re in a Festive mood get yourself to Ally Pally - the World Darts Championship is a fun-filled tournament to round of 2015. Can Gary Anderson retain his title? Enjoy a quick darts break to eat some Christmas dinner but make sure you don’t miss any oche action!

“The PGA Open from Wisconsin, America, will feature highly on every sports fan’s list of recommended viewing once you’ve returned from your summer holidays.”

CONTACT DETAILS Sky Business British Sky Broadcasting Ltd Grant Way Isleworth Middlesex TW7 5QD t. 08442 411490 www.bskyb.com

CLUB REPORT

31

SPORT AND RECREATION ALLIANCE

“Are your facilities inviting to women as well as men? Do women and girls in your local community know that you exist? Are you actively recruiting them?”

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CLUB REPORT

Women in clubs – opportunities, benefits and best ways forward When you look around your club, do you see an even split of men and women? Not just in the bar or out in the sports facilities, but on the management committee or the staff too? Chances are that you don’t – and you are not alone, says James Stibbs, Head of Communications for the Sport & Recreation Alliance.

In sport and sports organisations, the disparity between women and men – from being physically active to running the shop – is becoming a hotter and hotter issue. And for good reason.

For example, at every stage in life men are more physically active than women, doing more sport or recreation. Between the ages of 14 and 40, two million fewer women and girls play sport than men and boys.

And at the very top, the picture is the same too. At the top of sports bodies – on the boards of governing bodies, for example – only around one in four is a woman. That’s a bit odd, given that more than half of the population is female.

But perhaps, I hear you say, so what?

Well, because your club can make a difference to stats like these. And because, if you want to stay at the heart of your community, you should want to make that difference too.

Because the blunt fact is that half of your potential customer base is female. So if half of your members – sports, social or otherwise – aren’t female too, then you are missing a trick. You are missing out on revenue, sustainability, and not least success on the field if you are a sports club.

But it’s not just about your bottom line or your league success. There are wider reasons why you should think about getting more women involved in your club and making a difference.

The first and arguably most important is the duty you and your club have as leader within your community.

As a club you are part of the fabric of your local community – a place where people come together, form friendships, seek support, develop a culture. You have standing. The rules

and culture which you promote have an influence on your community. That makes you and your management team leaders and role models.

So ask yourself, if the cap fits, why isn’t your management committee representative of the community which you serve? Why isn’t there a 50/50 split between men and women?

There’s plenty of evidence which says that companies with more women on their board hugely outperform those without. And it makes sense that the same applies in other types of organisation. If you can set an example at your club, that will have an influence in your community.

We do a lot of work in the governance of sport and find that diversity (not just women, but members of ethnic minorities and disabled people, too) at the top of an organisation helps clubs and governing bodies become much more responsive and effective.

Also ask yourself – again if the cap fits – why your sports teams aren’t equally split or supported by men and women.

There’s nothing about sport which intrinsically discriminates against women – we all share the same number of legs, fingers and eyes. But this disparity in participation has built up over a long time and is difficult to dislodge. Ask yourself if your club is doing enough to welcome female participants?

Has a culture grown around the sports teams being men only? Are your facilities inviting to women as well as men? Do women and girls in your local community know that you exist? Are you actively recruiting them?

This links to the second reason to get more women into your clubs sports teams. Physical activity has a massive bearing on our health – in fact, more than weight does. Thin peo-

SPORT AND RECREATION ALLIANCE

“Your club can be at the heart of getting more women involved in sport as part of a movement like this.” ple who do no exercise can be more unhealthy than overweight people who do. In fact, according to a major bit of research published last month, lack of exercise kills twice as many people as obesity.

Few of us are great at being active as much as we should (five times 30 minutes a week is what the doctor prescribes, by the way) but women are worse than men.

You may have seen the #thisgirlcan campaign which was launched by the Government in January. It is part of a massive, multi-million pound marketing effort to get more women more active. Its message is that it doesn’t matter how you look when you exercise, or how good you are. All that matters is that you are doing something which you enjoy and that is good for you.

The campaign is being advertised on prime time TV slots, in magazines, in cinemas. It’s generated hours and metres of media coverage on shows and in papers and magazines. And it’s set to make a big impact on the number of women getting involved in everything from Zumba classes to hockey clubs.

And your club can be at the heart of getting more women involved in sport as part of a movement like this. No one owns the campaign and no one is seeking to take the credit for #thisgirlcan. It’s up to organisations like yours and communities like the one you operate in to seize the initiative.

Perhaps in a year’s time, you will be able to tell a great story about the way you transformed the lives of women and girls in your community, maybe earning one of those coveted Club Mirror awards along the away. You could start a new programme or project to re-energise your women’s or girls’ teams, or reach out to schools or a particular employer in your

area to try to get women and girls more active in your town or village. You could simply start with a sign on the door with ‘#thisgirlcan at our club’ on it.

Whatever you do, it’s clear that there is lots of potential which sports clubs aren’t tapping into yet. And for your club, it’s potential league wins, potential new members and potential profit. What have you got to lose?

CONTACT DETAILS Sport and Recreation Alliance Burwood House 14 Caxton Street London SW1H 0QT t. 020 7976 3900 f. 020 7976 3901 twitter. @sportrectweets www.sportandrecreation.org.uk

CLUB REPORT

33

GAMING

Gaming – review of 2014 and advice on the year ahead Chris Haley

From the cancellation of Machine Games Duty penalties by HMRC to the ongoing Linneweber saga, life is certainly never dull in the gaming sector, as Dransfields MD Chris Haley explains.

The main event during 2014 with Machine Games Duty was the welcome cancellation of penalties issued by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). This followed a realisation that the penalty regime was not working as it should be and that many penalties had been issued in error due to HMRC computer errors. All penalties should have been refunded by now in accordance with the Notice which appeared on HMRC’s website [See panel for full details]. As it currently stands, the automatic penalty regime has yet to be reinstated and HMRC are dealing with MGD errors, under declarations etc on a case by case basis.

“Here at Dransfields we’ve seen these changes in stakes and prizes result in many more digital gaming machines replacing traditional reelbased machines in clubs.”

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CLUB REPORT

Increase in Stakes and Prizes Last year saw the first increase in club machine jackpots in over 20 years and an increase in maximum price of play. This followed a Government consultation with major club organisations, manufacturers and machine suppliers. [See Table 1.]

Here at Dransfields we’ve seen these changes in stakes and prizes result in many more digital gaming machines replacing traditional reel-based machines in clubs. This is because digital machines allow more flexibility and innovation in games design – in particular, the number of win lines can be increased from the standard one or three to over thirty providing a more engaging experience. Digital machines also allow a menu of games, providing greater variety to a wider range of players.

A regular complaint we hear about most traditional reelbased machines is that they are too complex and they can be off-putting to casual players who feel that they will lose money whilst trying to learn how to play them. Digital machines, however, can provide simpler games for these players as well as

Machine Category

Previous Maximum Stake/Prize

New Maximum Stake/Prize

B4

£1/£250

£2/£400

B3A

£1/£500

£2/£500

Table 1

more complex games to appeal to core players. And, with the new higher jackpots, they can attract ‘absentee’ core players back from the Bookies thanks to the similar high quality games and graphics witnessed in Bookies’ gaming machines.

Linneweber and gaming machine income VAT case update Rank Group, which is the leading case for the reclaim of VAT on gaming machine income prior to December 2005 (commonly known as ‘Linneweber’), lost the challenge made by HMRC at the Court of Appeal. However, it has now been granted permission to appeal this latest decision to the UK’s Supreme Court and this will take place during 2015 with a result expected before the end of the year. This is the last Appeal possible by either party.

Due to the decision of the Court of Appeal, HMRC issued demands for repayment of refunds that had already been made to clubs, pending the outcome of the case at the Supreme Court.

This has undoubtedly caused hardship for clubs having to find the money to meet these repayments. Should Rank be

GAMING

Machine Games Duty penalties – question and answer Which penalties are being cancelled?

HMRC is cancelling all of the penalties issued to people for late filing of MGD returns and late payment of MGD. HMRC is not cancelling any other MGD penalties – for example, MGD penalties issued for failing to register or making errors on a return, still stand. HMRC is also not cancelling late filing and late payment penalties issued for taxes other than MGD.

HMRC will send you a payable order for the balance. If you don’t owe any MGD debts HMRC will send you a payable order for the full amount of the refund. HMRC will include interest in what they pay back to you. HMRC will do this by the end of December. Do not worry if you do not receive your refund for a few weeks – HMRC has a lot of cases to work through and unfortunately this will take some time.

How do I know whether I have had one of the MGD penalties that is being cancelled?

HMRC would have written to you. When HMRC issued a penalty to someone they sent them, as appropriate, a letter with the reference MGD11 (penalty for late payment) or with the reference MGD12 (penalty for late filing of a return).

I have an MGD debt – can I have the full amount of my refund without some being used to cover the debt?

No. HMRC will only send you what is left (if anything) after they have used your refund money against your MGD debt.

I use the MGD Online Service and I can still see a penalty for late filing of an MGD return or late payment of MGD on my account – does this mean that the penalty isn’t cancelled?

HMRC confirm that the penalty is cancelled and you do not have to pay it. However, it may take a while for HMRC to update the MGD Online Service with the information about the cancellation.

Is it right that HMRC are not going to issue any more penalties for late filing of MGD returns and late payment of MGD? No. Although, for a short period HMRC will not issue any new penalties for late filing of MGD returns and late payment of MGD through their automated system, they may still issue penalties on a case by case basis in particular circumstances.

HMRC will turn the automated system for issuing these penalties back on once they can be sure it is working properly.

HMRC will update MGD website when they have information on when the automated system will be turned back on.

How do I get a refund of the penalty I paid?

You don’t need to do anything. If you owe any MGD debts HMRC will use your refund towards paying what you owe. If the refund clears what you owe and there is some of it left successful in their Final Appeal and the decision reversed, then these repayments will be returned to the club.

Important Note: This case does not have any bearing on Category B3A machines. Any refund of VAT or licence duty received in relation to these machines is safe and they remain free from all forms of taxation including Machine Games Duty Fraudulent activity There has been a worrying increase in the number of thefts from machines and clubs need to be vigilant to this criminal activity. The amount of money that machines hold can represent a significant loss to a club especially if they attack all the machines on the premises.

There are organised gangs of machine thieves specifically targeting clubs so be particularly alert to strangers in your club.

Machine thieves usually operate in groups of three to five people who block view of the machine whilst the theft is performed. They will often have a person distracting the bar staff / door staff whilst the theft is occurring and you may not even be

I had a penalty for late filing of MGD returns or late payment of MGD but I’m not registered for MGD anymore – will I get a refund?

HMRC will treat you in the same way as people who are still registered for MGD. So they’ll put your refund towards any MGD debts you still have. If the refund clears what you owe and there is some of it left HMRC will send you a payable order for the balance. If you don’t owe any MGD debts HMRC will send you a payable order for the full amount of the refund.

Can my refund be sent to me by electronic transfer rather than payable order?

No. Unfortunately HMRC can only make these refunds by payable order.

I’ve asked for a review against the penalty I received for late filing of MGD returns or late payment of MGD and I haven’t had the result of this review yet – what happens?

HMRC has cancelled the penalty you asked to have reviewed.

The review is closed.

I’m appealing against the penalty I received for late filing of MGD returns or late payment of MGD and the appeal hasn’t finished yet – what happens?

HMRC has cancelled the penalty you are appealing against.

The appeal is closed aware that you have been robbed until they have left the club as they conceal the visible signs of forced entry.

If you do have CCTV systems in your club then try and ensure the machines are actively monitored but this alone will not deter thieves as they will often block any camera recording their activities. The best way to deter thieves from attacking your machines is by ensuring they cannot crowd around your machines thereby blocking the view of staff.

Note – Proximity of the machine to the bar does not deter them, active engagement from staff does! If in doubt simply ask that they play existing games off and then switch the machine off until they have moved on.

Note – you should always check suppliers’ ID badges before allowing anyone to collect, repair or remove a machine. There have been a number of cases this year whereby thieves have walked into a club and said that the committee have organized a machine change. They have then ‘removed’ the old machine and simply driven off with it! If in doubt telephone your supplier to check!

CONTACT DETAILS Dransfields Ltd Dransfield House Mill Street Leeds LS9 8BP t. 0345 644 9414 f. 01132 343948 www.dransfields.com

CLUB REPORT

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FINANCIAL PLANNING

Back to black – bank balances and club coffers Keeping the club’s bank balance in the black might not always be easy. But there are some simple steps which can help keep money in the account – and creditors away from the club doors.

“Whatever you do, if you fail to get a grip on your cashflow the chances of saving your club fall dramatically.”

In the current climate, clubs up and down the country are facing hard times. There are a number of steps, however, which will strengthen club business, free up capital and put in place controls to make it easier to trade through these challenging times.

In recent months, the adage ‘cash is king’ has been bandied around a great deal, but perhaps only because the alternative – and more accurate – statement ‘cashflow is king’ doesn’t have quite the same ring to it.

Whatever you do, if you fail to get a grip on your cashflow the chances of saving your club fall dramatically.

So, taking this issue as a starting point, there are several ways you can bolster your business and improve financial controls.

Restricting spending Consider restricting spending, particularly in terms of stock ordering. It is important not to over-order and, where possible, reduce the amount of stock you hold on shelves. It may mean ordering more frequently, but it will mean cash stays in your bank account longer, and if you do have bills to pay, you are not faced with trying to quickly shift stock to fill the coffers.

This extends to hiring new staff and making decisions about major investments - anything that will incur costs immediately or in the coming months should be scrutinised closely. That isn’t to say don’t invest in your club, but don’t put all your eggs in one basket with a refurbishment or new service in the hope of generating significant revenue and leave yourself short.

Approach purchases with the simple rule that anything paid for sitting unsold or un-used is cash that could be in the bank.

Monitoring finances Keep a very close eye on the bank balance. It is crucial that finances are monitored daily and decisions are not taken without adequate cashflow planning, so consider giving a senior staff/committee member access to more information and responsibility for the bank balance.

CONTACT DETAILS Club Mirror Gainsborough House 59/60 Thames Street Windsor Berks SL4 1TX t. 01753 272022 e. info@clubmirror.com www.clubmirror.com

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Dealing with Debtors Looking beyond cash already in the bank, it is crucial to manage both creditors and debtors effectively. If you only address outstanding debts on a monthly basis at present, change your procedures and do it as a weekly priority. Bills should be despatched as soon as possible.

Don’t allow debts to drag out, whether this is members slow to send in subs or income from commercial activity.

As soon as a deadline passes, get in touch and find out how you can speed payment up.

If you are concerned that certain debts may not be paid for example, a bill for venue hire or rent owed for property you let - take action immediately. This should involve ‘planning for the worst’ and ensuring you could cope if the debt wasn’t paid (and seeking legal advice about recovery options).

Handling creditors Where you owe money to others, be it in bills for stock or upcoming charges from utilities, the sooner you talk to them about potential problems the better. It may be that there is an alternative to one-off payments which would allow you to pay quarterly or monthly, boosting your cashflow in the short term. You might even be able to negotiate a longer payment period.

Shopping around Don’t be afraid to ask for a discount - the market is tough for suppliers too so research the potential savings you might make by switching suppliers for your products and utilities.

With any supplier you are entitled to a payment period so don’t pay early. By all means pay promptly and maintain a good relationship with your suppliers, but if you are allowed 30 days to pay, don’t pay on the second day and then struggle for a week because of tight cashflow.

Additional income Finally, there are also a number of ways you can raise additional income and now may be a good time to explore them. If you have land or property that is not being properly utilised, or perhaps assets that have a high value, you could consider using them to bring in extra funds.

Ultimately, the priority is to keep your club trading through the tough times so you can prosper when good times return. It means belt-tightening and tough decisions, but in the longrun, strong financial management could be the difference between sinking and swimming in the current climate.

PLANNING AHEAD

Planning for success – from signage to sports screenings Clubs, like every other business in the UK, need to rise to the challenge of the economy we find ourselves in. This short, sharp Club Report audit is a good exercise to make sure you’re covering all bases.

“Even the

To meet today’s challenges, clubs must continue to present themselves in the most professional manner that they can.

Judging by appearances The external appearance of the club is the first impression that members – and potential members – get of your club. The wrapping can be as important as what’s inside and perceptions can be heightened by taking time out to ensure you stand out in the crowd. Take a step outside the club. Would you be attracted enough to walk through the doors? Does it have ‘curb appeal’?

Of course the vast size of many clubs and the cost of external decoration can make this a costly exercise. But even the smallest attention to detail can make a big difference. Ensuring that the doors are clean and freshly painted is an obvious one.

Hanging baskets and plants can hide a multitude of sins and in the hands of the right committee member/s can be a cheap and effective way to inject new life into a tired exterior.

Signage counts Make sure signage is sited correctly, that it is illuminated where it should be and ensure advertising material such as posters are in date. A wind-tattered poster announcing dates long gone by does little to present the venue as an upbeat, finger-on-thepulse club.

Marketing matters Impact and a ‘wow’ factor are important to grow the member base. The more advertising and marketing you can do the bigger the impact on membership and events sales, and – from a PR perspective – maintains the club’s profile in the minds of old, new and prospective members.

Mailings to your membership database (where possible) is another way of ensuring you are generating the greatest footfall you can when attracting people to your events. This is where all your marketing initiatives should start – they are your most loyal customers.

Sports screenings and big events Advertising is essential in and around the venue – particularly with respect to sports screenings. Make sure you regularly select the big dates, get the posters up and maximise the potential.

Often it is important to include promotional offers or something of interest to pull members away from the comfort of their own home. Check out your local competition. What are they doing?

The high traffic areas at your venue are the ideal locations for your advertising literature – toilets, notice boards and

smallest attention to detail can make a big difference.” entrances. Make sure these areas are well covered.

All staff need to be fully briefed regularly on up and coming events. They are your sales team and are not just there to pull pints. Share the responsibility and strain with them giving you more time to focus on the detail.

Funding plans Seeking out sponsorship for events and functions means clubs can expand on original plans with a greater degree of support and finance.

Raising the bar The product portfolio is key – the right brands, with the right support at the best prices giving the necessary margins.

Members’ preferences, combined with new (appropriate) launches and offers etc is the obvious port of call.

How you promote and display the bar offering is also vital to encouraging volume up sells. Eye level positioning of high profit products and the overall general appearance of the bar are massive contributory factors in your challenge to increase revenues for the club.

Targets and training Staff training is ever more important given the competitive marketplace that clubs are in. Product knowledge, customer skills, service techniques and a positive attitude are all essentials.

And finally, for smaller clubs who may think they don’t need a business plan, now’s the time to reconsider. Developing a business plan (whatever the size of the club) and setting targets is the way to achieve objectives. Every business needs a framework to ensure it stays on track, focused – and open!

CONTACT DETAILS Club Mirror Gainsborough House 59/60 Thames Street Windsor Berks SL4 1TX t. 01753 272022 e. info@clubmirror.com www.clubmirror.com

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PRODUCTIVITY FOCUS

Getting it done – the art of productivity Increasing productivity at the club is a golden chalice. But contrary to popular belief, just checking tasks off a to-do list isn’t necessarily the answer, explains Ilya Pozin from Ciplex.

“A number of time-saving methods – take meetings and emails for example – are actually just ways to get out of doing real work.”

Truly productive people aren’t focused on doing more things; this is actually the opposite of productivity. If you really want to be productive, you’ve got to make a point to do fewer things.

1. Create a smaller to-do list. Getting things accomplished during your workday shouldn’t be about doing as much as possible in the sanctioned hours. It may be hard to swallow, but there’s nothing productive about piling together a slew of tasks in the form of a checklist. Take a less-is-more approach to your to-do list by only focusing on accomplishing things that matter.

2. Take breaks. You know that ache that fills your brain when you’ve been powering through tasks for several hours? This is due to your brain using up glucose. Too many people mistake this for a good feeling, rather than a signal to take a break.

Take a walk, grab something to eat, workout, or meditate – give your brain some resting time. Achieve more productivity during your workday by making a point to regularly clear your head. You’ll come back recharged and ready to achieve greater efficiency.

3. Follow the 80/20 rule. Did you know that only 20 percent of what you do each day produces 80 percent of your results?

Eliminate the things that don’t matter during your workday: they have a minimal effect on your overall productivity. For example, on a project, systematically remove tasks until you end up with the 20 percent that gets the 80 percent of results.

CONTACT DETAILS www.ilyapozin.com

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4. Start your day by focusing on yourself. If you begin your morning by checking your email, it allows others to dictate what you accomplish. Set yourself in the right direction by

ignoring your emails and taking the morning to focus on yourself, eat a good breakfast, meditate, or read the news.

5. Take on harder tasks earlier in the day. Knock out your most challenging work when your brain is most fresh. Save your busy work – if you have any – for when your afternoon slump rolls in.

6. Pick up the phone. The digital world has created poor communication habits. Email is a productivity killer and usually a distraction from tasks that actually matter. For example, people often copy multiple people on emails to get it off their plate – don’t be a victim of this action. This distracts everyone else by creating noise against the tasks they’re trying to accomplish and is a sign of laziness. If your email chain goes beyond two replies, it’s time to pick up the phone. Increase your productivity by scheduling a call.

7. Create a system. If you know certain things are ruining your daily productivity, create a system for managing them. Do you check your emails throughout the day? Plan a morning, afternoon, and evening time slot for managing your email.

Otherwise, you’ll get distracted from accomplishing more important goals throughout the day.

8. Don’t confuse productivity with laziness. While no one likes admitting it, sheer laziness is the No. 1 contributor to lost productivity. In fact, a number of time-saving methods – take meetings and emails for example – are actually just ways to get out of doing real work. Place your focus on doing the things that matter most as efficiently and effectively as possible. Remember, less is more when it comes to being productive during the workday.

TRAINING

Gaining with training – why it pays to make them stay So you’ve recruited them… now you have to keep them. Timely advice on the value of training.

Much time, effort and probably money, is spent on recruiting employees. A smooth professional introduction to the club and their role within it, will ensure that money has been well spent. You don’t want to start all over again because the newcomer promptly leaves after getting an appalling reception into the club business.

What to cover There are a whole host of subjects which need to be covered to effect the smooth induction of an individual into any organisation. Some will have to be carried out immediately on commencement, especially if there is a high security or health and safety risk; others are more suitably dealt with at a later stage.

A properly planned and executed induction programme will ensure a more relaxed and confident employee, comfortable with their new colleagues and their own role within the club. The level of planning needed will of course vary according to the size of the club, but you will certainly need the relevant paperwork in place – national insurance number, P45 (or P46), driving licence where appropriate, bank details, emergency contact, permits to work (if applicable) and so on.

An employee handbook should be issued with their statement of main terms and conditions of employment including supporting policies and rules.

Planning programmes Although planning the programme (the common skills part) subject, sequence, venue, timing and trainers, is time consuming on the first occasion, it can be used time and time again in the future when little time will be required to update it. Try and mix up ‘listening’ and ‘doing’ sessions, so that people do not spend long periods being talked at or have unfamiliar muscular activity becoming painful and tiring. Clearly, any activity involving risk should be preceded by appropriate health and safety training.

Steps to success Assuming general physical and mental ability (tested if necessary during the recruitment process), consistent with the requirements of the job, certain basics will improve the ease, proficiency and success of training. First identify the skills required. Break each one down into suitably sized steps. Practice each step until proficient at that step before moving on to the next. Once proficient at each step combine them and, hey presto, learning done.

It is the trainer’s responsibility to ensure the learner has learned, therefore always test that you have been understood. Quizzes and tests are all ways of checking the learner has understood the training.

Trainees should be provided with their training programme, an understanding of why they are being taught those subjects and the value to them as an individual to learn them.

Clearly someone brand new to the club has to undergo intensive induction and training regarding every aspect of the business; its layout, rules, people, policies etc. As already noted, some of the subjects have to be dealt with immediately on commencement (for example, toilet facilities and critical Health and Safety issues) while others are dealt with at later stages during the programme.

Route to promotion Changes to an individual’s role, especially where it is to be expanded to include extra responsibilities, or where promotion to a more senior grade is involved poses their own particular problems. Again proper planning for the induction and training to be able to carry out the new duties, duly prioritised and recorded as appropriate, is essential.

It is, however, also essential to consider the selection of the individual who is to have his/her role expanded or who is to be promoted. The fact that someone is a good (or even your best) barman does not mean that he/she would make a good supervisor or manager. Care must be taken in the selection of an individual for promotion to, for example, bar supervisor. Length of service, or the feeling that it is ‘their turn’ is not a reason to promote someone, because what happens to them if it goes wrong?

What do you do with the individual? Sack them? Not only have you then lost your supervisor but you have lost a good employee who was so highly valued to you that you promoted them in the first place! There are also the costs of having to go through the process again, the morale damage to the rest of the work force and knock-on costs because the team is currently leaderless until the appointment and bedding-in of the new supervisor.

Properly planned and executed training for new starters and ongoing changes/promotions, will lead to a higher quality and quantity performance, hence lower costs, less waste, reduced rates of labour turnover, improved recruiting, greater willingness to retrain, and a higher morale amongst the workforce. Enough said?

General statistics show that 50 per cent of all leavers leave within the first three months and a further 25 per cent leave within the second three months. And this is mainly due to poor induction and training. There is a cost associated with each one of these leavers.

So look after your staff and your bottom line at the same time; it really does pay to make them stay.

“Try and mix up ‘listening’ and ‘doing’ sessions, so that people do not spend long periods being talked at.”

CONTACT DETAILS Club Mirror Gainsborough House 59/60 Thames Street Windsor Berks SL4 1TX t. 01753 272022 e. info@clubmirror.com www.clubmirror.com

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MANAGING MEETINGS

How to chair meetings – and why hold them at all?

Typically, managers spend around 40% of their time in meetings. Yet according to research, 83% of people who go to meetings worry about them drifting off the subject and 74% question their effectiveness.

CLUB REPORT’S FIVE TOP TIPS 1. Gain rapport – warm up the meeting by discussing something general that everyone can join in with.

2. Guide the discussion rather than dominating it – the chair is the facilitator not the chief contributor.

3. Make an impact – positive, strong, good body language.

4. Set the tone, rules and agenda.

5. Listen and ask the right questions.

Have you ever left a meeting wondering why you were there in the first place? Or perhaps walked away feeling positive, only to find that nothing has actually changed a week later?

Whether you are meeting with an individual, a group or a supplier, it’s important to conduct meetings effectively and use the time well. The following check list will help.

Preparation • Is the meeting really necessary? Why has it been called?

• Who needs to be there?

• When, where and for how long?

• Self prepare – what do you want the outcome to be?

• How can you influence the meeting? Plan your approach.

• Circulate a draft agenda. Let everyone know why they need to be there. Do they need to add anything? This way everyone can prepare effectively.

Agenda When planning the agenda think about: • What you want out of the meeting.

• The scope of the discussion so you keep on track.

• A logical order for the items to be covered.

• Whether you will cover difficult points first or start with the easy or more pleasant matters.

• How you will deal with difficult items – would they be better dealt with outside the meeting? Do you need to do a bit of ‘lobbying’ first?

• The times allocated to each and how flexible you will be; how to manage the meeting accordingly.

• Who will be there? What might their needs/hidden agenda be?

• What decisions might need to be taken – what are the possible options?

• Possible action plans and outcomes.

Putting your case forward • State your case.

• Give reasons.

• Give an example.

• Restate your position. For example: ‘I’d like to introduce a broader food menu at the bar. I know that some of the regulars have been eating elsewhere. We can – and should – make a good margin here.’

Dealing with conflict • Keep calm, cool and in control.

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• Keep to business – avoid personal comments – use ‘I feel...’ instead of ‘you...’

• Keep to the facts and issues in hand.

• If you don’t understand, ask.

• Be open to feedback and use it positively.

• Respect the other point of view – even if you don’t agree with it.

• Take a break if necessary.

• If you really can’t agree discuss with an impartial third party.

• Be prepared to compromise.

Problem solving • Define the issue (problem).

• Check the facts.

• Define the desired outcomes.

• Identify alternatives.

• Examine possible consequences.

• Choose your solution and do it.

• Check whether you achieved the goals and act accordingly.

Dealing with different types • Mr Stroppy: let him have his say, sum up his point of view for the group and ask for feedback.

• Mrs Positive: use her to reinforce points and contribute throughout.

• Mr Know-All: Let the group comment on his theories.

• Miss Chatty: Interrupt tactfully – use time limitations as an excuse to move on. Summarise her points.

• Mr Bashful: Ask him about something he knows to increase self confidence. Give credit for his contributions.

• Miss Distracted: Ask her about her experience and for help to solve the issues.

• Mr Detail: Ask for the overview and then for specific detail only as it’s needed.

• Mrs Questioner: Pass her questions back to the group or ask her to answer her own question.

Involve everyone and bring in those who may be holding back (they are often the thinkers in the group and can make the best contributions).

And above all, make sure that all action points are minuted and allocated to the appropriate person. These will need to be followed up and the activities competed within a given time frame.

INSURANCE

Making it count – insure for all you’re worth As a result of a struggling economy and the ever increasing pressures on revenue, the insurance market in 2014 saw a distinct trend whereby many clubs opted to focus purely on premium savings. But this often means neglecting the level of cover realistically needed to protect all elements of a successful club business, warns Craig Steffensen, AON’s Head of Sales – Licensed Trade.

Due to the increasing competitiveness of the insurance market it can seem logical to approach a number of brokers / insurers in the search for the best possible premium. And it’s a business rule of thumb that you should seek out at least three suppliers to get the best deal for your club.

Having said that, however, club insurance is a highly specialised and unique market. Expert knowledge and experience is essential if businesses are to ensure they have the correct level of cover in place.

In the last 12 months the market has witnessed a wide range of premium reductions. Sadly, it seems that often these policies have failed to offer an equivalent level of cover needed.

Do make sure, for example, that Member to Member Liability is not restricted to a lower limit - or indeed omitted entirely because the policy was not designed with club specific situations in mind. If the correct level of insurance is not in place, should one member cause injury to another, any claim could result in it being refused by insurers.

Hoping for the best is great.

Insuring the club properly is better!

INSURANCE TYPES YOU MAY REQUIRE: Fidelity Guarantee Sometimes referred to as theft by employees or club officials, fidelity guarantee provides insurance against direct financial loss to companies arising from a dishonest or fraudulent act by an employee.

Legal Expense Insurance Legal disputes are often costly and stressful to pursue or defend; legal expense insurance covers the cost associated with legal action as a result of various circumstances including; employment, property and VAT disputes.

Directors & Officers Liability Insurance Directors and Officers insurance covers costs associated with defending an allegation of a wrongful act; it removes the financial risks faced by committee members acting in the capacity of a director, trustee, company secretary or other similar “officer” role should an allegation be made against them.

Public Liability Insurance Public liability insurance protects you against the cost of compensation to members of the public who have suffered an injury or whose property has been damaged as a result of your business activities.

Craig Steffensen

“Expert knowledge and experience is essential if businesses are to ensure they have the correct level of cover in place.”

Employers Liability Insurance If you have employees including part-time and temporary, you are required by law to hold employers’ liability insurance; it protects you if an employee is injured or becomes ill as a result of the work they do for you. Should they choose to pursue the club for compensation, costs relating to any claim made can often add up quickly. The minimum level of cover allowed by law is £5,000,000, but most insurers provide at least £10,000,000.

Aon UK Limited is a dedicated insurance broker to the social and sport club market. Aon UK Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. FP.ENT.494.CM

CONTACT DETAILS Aon UK Ltd 125-129 Vaughan Way Leicester LE1 4SB t. 07809 322236 e. craig.steffensen@aon.co.uk

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INSURANCE

Club insurance – don’t be just a number Wendy Sharp

“It is imperative that operators seek professional, honest advice from brokers who are both experienced, trusted and who operate with integrity.”

CONTACT DETAILS Wendy Sharp Business Development Manager Club Insure Ltd Romero House, 8 Airport West, Lancaster Way, Yeadon, Leeds LS19 7ZA e. wendy.sharp@clubinsure.co.uk t. 0113 205 4319 m. 07786 070078 www.club-insure.co.uk

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“How well do you know your broker? When did you last receive a face to face visit? Are your queries responded to in good time? Had a claim? How well were you looked after?” asks Club Insure’s Wendy Sharp, who offers the following advice.

All clubs need to ensure that they have adequate insurance to protect them against unforeseen disasters – but how do you know you are adequately protected if a professional body has not deemed you so? Filling in a form online or over the phone can never replace the detailed review a face to face meeting allows for.

As with all industries the insurance market is highly competitive, but while it might be tempting to seek insurance advice through online facilities or high street brokers, clubs needs to be extremely cautious about approaching businesses which do not specialise in the club market. It’s a very unique sector with very unique circumstances, and if these

risks aren’t understood or considered by those ‘outside’ our industry, then clubs may well find themselves inadequately covered and undervalued for insurance purposes; this is incredibly dangerous in such a litigious society and can be detrimental to their business in the event of a claim.

It is imperative that operators seek professional, honest advice from brokers who are both experienced, trusted and who operate with integrity.

The good news is that premiums don’t always have to go up! An accurate and comprehensive assessment, coupled with the right advice, could see the club paying less for a better level of cover.

SLIPS, TRIPS AND FALLS – TOP TIPS At Club Insure we are experiencing an increased amount of insurance claims involving slips, trips and falls.

It is worrying how many landlords, tenants and committees still don’t conform or are ignorant to legal requirements.

The facts – slips, trips and falls • Account for over half of all reported accidents by the general public • Account for approximately 16% of compensation claims • Cost employers around £500m each year • 90% of injuries resulting from a trip lead to at least 1 week off work Prevention is better than cure – what can employers do to stay safe?

Risk assessments Are you doing enough to prevent harm? A risk assessment is not about creating huge amounts of paperwork, but rather about taking sensible measures to control the risks in your workplace on an

ongoing basis.

Consider what risks might lead to slip or trip injuries and decide what suitable and effective control measures will prevent accidents.

Concentrate on the real risks – those that are most likely to cause harm. In many instances, straightforward measures can readily control risks.

Make a record of your significant findings and what you have in place to prevent them. If you have fewer than five employees you don’t have to write anything down but it is good practice to keep a record.

Practical steps to prevention Employer’s responsibilities – There are many simple ways employers can control slips, trips and fall – here are a few examples: • Use entrance matting • Remove spillages promptly • Use wet floor signs • Divert pedestrians away from risk • Use strip lighting to illuminate steps or slopes • Keep walkways and work areas

clear of obstructions • Provide slip-resistant footwear where necessary e.g. kitchens Employees responsibilities – As an employee you also have a duty of care whilst in the workplace to do all you can to prevent slips, trips and falls, e.g: • Clean or make arrangements for spillages to be cleaned • Report any damaged flooring or mats • Keep your area of work clean and hazard free • If you are given PPE – wear it • Inform your employee of any potential hazards

TECHNOLOGY

Web and tech trends – to 2015 and beyond!

Just how can clubs prepare for exciting new web and technology trends that will feature in 2015? And most importantly how – and why – should they prepare for them? What are the benefits? Lawrence Hardcastle from Larrytech explains.

Improved personal assistants and instant search results ‘Hey Siri’, ‘Hey Cortana’, ‘Ok Google’ – these are the trigger phrases for ‘personal assistants’ across the main mobile operating systems. In the past they have been seen as a bit of a novelty. However, improvements in the technology behind them mean that they have more practical use in everyday life – especially to help manage and keep track of business tasks. One particularly powerful feature is setting reminders to go off when you are at a specific location.

Simply say, ‘Ok Google, remind me to ___ when I am at ___’, and it will do the rest for you.

What is more, these personal assistants are getting better at integrating with other accounts on the web, meaning that they will provide a more personalised and useful service. Google’s personal assistant app – ‘Google Now’ has a good system in place that uses visual cue cards to give you updates on things it has deemed of interest to you. This is something you should bear in mind because your club may be recommended to a certain user by a personal assistant that has picked up on his/her interests and preferences.

To prepare for this future, clubs should ensure they have a Google+ business page set up – with up to date information such as the address, opening times and contact details.

This will mean that potential members and guests are able to find your club when doing generic google searches such as ‘Clubs in Northampton’, or with natural voice searches, such as ‘Show me a map of places to go around my area’.

The rise of the smartwatch Just as 2007 was the year touchscreen smartphones caught the imaginations of people everywhere with the release of the first generation iPhone, it looks like Apple will provide the spark again to make 2015 the year of the smartwatch.

This ‘Apple Watch’, ‘iWatch’– or whatever they decide to call it – is due to be released around March time. Sure, they are certainly not the first company to release a smartwatch, but they have millions of loyal customers who trust the brand so it is bound to catch on to some extent. It may not be immediately obvious what owning a smartwatch could bring to your life.

Apart from being able to tell you the time, these watches will come packed with an array of sensors, trackers and other technical wizardry. Once paired with your phone via Bluetooth, the watch will provide another outlet to view, act on notifications such as text messages and run apps.

They could be particularly useful for health conscious types where having a screen discreetly strapped to you would make it easier to track and manage fitness routines. Some

Lawrence Hardcastle

“To prepare for this future, clubs should ensure they have a Google+ of these watches even double up as heart rate monitor.

This is yet another device that uses a Wi-Fi connection, so clubs are well-advised to ensure that any club Wi-Fi is both easily accessed and has an unlimited broadband plan in place to avoid extra charges for exceeding bandwidth that members may use.

More video content Internet users have always consumed video content, and as a general trend this will increase in years to come as there is greater access to low cost video production technology and video delivery networks such as YouTube and Vimeo.

Facebook is also starting to look a lot more like YouTube, with people uploading, sharing and commenting on videos posted on their feeds. This highlights the fact that video is the more engaging method of communication when comparing the same content in text form. For this reason, more and more businesses – clubs included – will try to get in on the act as a way to market their offerings to the masses.

Clubs are perfectly primed to make use of video as a way to market and advertise the experience they offer. There is a time-lapse setting that you can use on Go-Pros and some smartphones which could work to great effect in a club setting. This technique makes time appear to be moving faster when playing back the video at normal speed. Set up a camera in a corner and leave it filming, preferably at a busy period(obviously you’ll want to alert members to the recording!). The end-product would ideally show that your club is an attractive venue, showing people enjoying themselves along with a general buzz of activity. This will give an extra insight into your club and could persuade someone who hasn’t visited before to come and do so!

business page set up.”

CONTACT DETAILS Larrytech Calverley House 55 Calverley Road Tunbridge Wells TN1 2TU t. 01892 888011 e. sales@larrytech.com www.larrytech.com

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club awards 2015

YOUR INDUSTRY

NEEDS YOU

The Club Awards are back.

And we want you to enter!

The Club Awards recognise the commitment of clubs, committees and individuals who work to ensure a healthy future for their clubs.

If you agreed with three or more of these statements then you could be a finalist and the Club Mirror team wants to hear from you.

IT COULD BE YOU Do you think you could be a finalist? Do you have what it takes to beat the best and stand out from the rest?

WHY ENTER? Clubs who make it through to the finals use their success to:

Does your club have/do THREE OR MORE of the following?

• A turnover of £100,000 or more?

• Provide regular entertainment?

• Provide a good range of beers and spirits?

• Have a popular food menu?

• Have a thriving junior section?

• Encourage new members?

• Keep up-to-date with the latest drinks on the market?

• Have a sports team(s)?

• Play an important role at the heart of the community?

• • • • •

Raise the club’s profile Gain coverage in the local press and media Encourage new members Thank members for their support Demonstrate that the club is spending members’ money wisely

Finalists will enjoy: • A free ticket to the Gala Dinner and Awards ceremony (in November, Manchester) and one further discounted ticket at £10 (if required) • Three-course Gala Dinner • Entertainment from a celebrity host • Dancing/after dinner entertainment • Certificate for all finalists • Award for category winners • Inclusion in the Club Mirror Hall of Fame • Coverage in Club Mirror Magazine

So what are you waiting for?

Fill in the form opposite, email us, fax us or enter online at www.clubmirror.com We look forward to your entry!

DEADLINE: JUNE 12, 2015 – Tel: 01753 272022; To enter online visit www.clubmirror.com 46

2015 Awards Ceremony - November, Manchester IS THIS YOU? Are you proud of your teamwork?

Are you proud of

EXPRESS ENTRY FORM

THE CLUB AWARDS THREE QUESTIONS AND YOU COULD BE ON YOUR WAY TO THE CLUB AWARDS 2015 November, Palace Hotel, Manchester 1. Number of members: ____________________________________________

your bar team?

2. Year founded: __________________________________________________

3. Club Turnover (if known / approximate) _____________________________ Are you proud of your catering?

Are you proud of your club?

Are you proud of your entertainment?

Are you proud of your management?

Then you should enter the Awards

WHICH CATEGORIES WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR? (Please tick as many/few boxes as you wish).

■ Bar Manager/Bar Steward of the Year ■ Best Business Initiative of the Year ■ Best Turnaround Club of the Year ■ Bowls Club of the Year ■ CAMRA Real Ale Club of the Year* ■ Catering Club of the Year ■ Charity Club of the Year ■ Committee of the Year ■ Community Club of the Year ■ Cricket Club of the Year ■ Darts Club of the Year ■ Entertainment Club of the Year ■ Football Club of the Year ■ Golf Club of the Year ■ Green Club of the Year

■ Grounds Team of the Year ■ Manager/Secretary of the Year ■ Marketing Club of the Year ■ Membership Club of the Year ■ Most Innovative Club of the Year ■ Refurbishment Club of the Year ■ Rugby Club of the Year ■ Sports and Fitness Club of the Year ■ Sports and Fitness Chain of the Year ■ Student Union of the Year ■ Tennis Club of the Year ■ Traditional Club of the Year ■ Website of the Year ■ King of Clubs

*Different deadlines apply

Fax: 01753 272021; Email: info@clubmirror.com To enter online visit www.clubmirror.com 47

club awards 2015 EXPRESS ENTRY FORM

THE CLUB AWARDS Just fill in your club details on this page and let us know which categories you’d like to be considered for (turn to previous page).

We’ll then give you a call – simple as that!

Your Name: _____________________________________ Job title/role: ____________________________________ Club Name: _____________________________________ Address: ________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _________________________ Post code: _____________ Contact tel nos: Daytime: _______________________________________ Evening: ________________________________________ Mobile: _________________________________________ Best times to call you: _____________________________ Email address: ___________________________________ DEADLINE: JUNE 12, 2015 SEND IN YOUR ENTRY NOW. HERE’S HOW:

BY POST:

Club Awards, Club Mirror, Gainsborough House, 59-60 Thames Street, Windsor SL4 1TX

BY EMAIL:

Email your details to info@clubmirror.com

BY PHONE: Call in your details to 01753 272022

48

BY FAX:

Fax this page to 01753 272021

ONLINE:

www.clubmirror.com

CLUB ASSOCIATIONS supported by

Associations, affiliations and organisations Club Mirror takes its role as a champion of the club industry very seriously. We are the only independent magazine which serves the entire sector, whatever the club affiliation. Now in our 46th year of publication, we know better than most that club associations are crucially important to a healthy future. This section is dedicated to all of our allies who are fighting on behalf of clubland.

CONTENTS 50

Alliance of British Clubs

50

Association of Conservative Clubs

51

British Institute of Innkeeping

51

Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation

52

Club & Institute Union

54

Club Managers Association of Europe

54

Golf Club Managers Association

55

National Union of Labour & Socialist Clubs

55

National Union of Liberal Clubs

55

Royal Air Forces Association

56

Sport & Recreation Alliance

56

Sport England

57

A-Z of club associations

Clubs play a unique part in the fabric of British society, providing a safe and convivial environment in which to socialise.

Clubs are all about building memberships, building communities and building for the future Their importance at the heart of the community has been heightened yet again, as pub closures continue and displaced pub-goers seek out new venues to spend their leisure pound.

So now is the time to shout about clubs. Together we can build the profile of clubs still further, and help drive even more people through club doors. Associations form an invaluable part in this, offering support and advice on everything from membership to legislation. The plethora of associations represented at the 2014 Club Awards exemplified how these associations continue to support their member clubs, and we encourage all clubs across the UK to tap into the resources and expertise on offer.

In the following pages we catch up with important club associations regarding what has been happening in 2014 and what they think will happen in 2015.

“We encourage all clubs across the UK to tap into the resources and expertise that associations offer.�

CONTACT DETAILS Sean Ferris Club Mirror Gainsborough House 59/60 Thames Street Windsor Berks SL4 1TX t. 01753 272022 e. info@clubmirror.com www.clubmirror.com

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CLUB ASSOCIATIONS

Alliance of British Clubs

David Taylor

CONTACT DETAILS David Taylor, Secretary Alliance of British Clubs t. 01484 654414 m. 07936 196746 e. info@abclubs.org.uk

As is usual at this time of the year ( January as I write this), clubs are getting their books ready for submission to the auditor and then the reporting season will start to get underway. Unfortunately, news is slow to reach me at the moment and it is difficult to give an opinion about the health of clubland without reaching for the proverbial crystal ball!

The problem that surely will or has affected many clubs is that the refunds made to them by HMRC of duty paid on gaming machine takings will now have to be repaid by the club because HMRC has won an appeal against the initial repayments. There can be few clubs that could have afforded the luxury of putting the refund cash in the bank but instead found some immediate need and good use for it around the club. Thankfully it would seem that generally HMRC have been reasonable with clubs in difficulty and have allowed 'time to pay agreements' where genuine hardship would be caused by repayment.

Following the good news of the scrapping of the much despised Beer Duty Escalator in the 2013 Budget there was more good news in 2014 with an announcement of a reduc-

tion in beer tax of one penny a pint; these two very welcome offerings seem to have had an effect on limiting price increases in clubs. Let's hope that the good news continues this year!

It would appear that the issue has been (finally?) resolved as to whether or not the showing of live Saturday afternoon football in clubs (and pubs) is legal, for hardly a week goes by now without news of another successful Sky prosecution for use of foreign transmission services to view football matches.

Thankfully, I read of very few prosecutions involving clubs.

I don't usually comment on political issues, but like it or not it is probably an inescapable fact that the news headlines from January 2015 onwards will no doubt centre on the forthcoming General Election and what it holds for us both individually and collectively. Suffice to say that whatever the outcome let us fervently hope that the tax treatment of the British Pint and other drinks will continue to be downwards, thus not only not helping the drinker but also those employed in our clubs who serve us with our pint or other glass of cheer.

Here’s to a happy 2015!

The Association of Conservative Clubs Philip Smith

CONTACT DETAILS Philip Smith CBE ACC Chief Executive and Chairman of CORCA Association of Conservative Clubs Ltd 24 Old Queen Street, London, SW1H 9HP t. 020 7222 0843 f. 020 7222 1622 www.toryclubs.co.uk

The Association of Conservative Clubs (ACC) was formed in 1894 with the aim of widening political involvement and engagement of people from all parts of society with the Conservative Party.

The ACC is the second largest Club organisation in the UK with clubs that may operate under the names of Conservative, Unionist, Constitutional, Salisbury and Beaconsfield among others. The main assistance offered to ACC Clubs is free legal advice on all matters relating to the management and administration of a club. This covers everything from Licensing and Gaming to Employment and Finance.

In addition, the ACC provides Clubs with up to date information on new legislation and looks after the interests of clubs generally lobbying Government on matters affecting clubs. We also negotiate national deals for various services and products which are advertised through our magazine and administer the IA Ticket Scheme which permits members of

ACC clubs to access other ACC clubs.

The ACC provides loans to clubs, which many of our clubs have benefitted from, and a free Trusteeship service to unincorporated clubs. As an example of our assistance, in 2014 when clubs were being asked to repay Linneweber HMRC payments the ACC pledged to provide funding to every ACC club which required assistance meeting this repayment demand.

We currently have over ÂŁ7 million out in loans to our clubs and we also act as Landlords to an increasing number of our affiliated clubs.

The ACC is committed to helping all clubs thrive. We believe that clubs are an integral part of their local communities, as is evidenced by the large amount of fundraising activity which is undertaken by clubs of every description.

As part of our commitment to the National Club Movement the ACC takes an active role in CORCA (Committee of Registered Club Associations) and the All Party Parliamentary Clubs Group.

For a condensed A-Z of key club associations see page 57.

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CLUB ASSOCIATIONS

British Institute of Innkeeping The last 12 months have been pivotal not only for us at the BII but also for you all our there at the coalface in clubs up and down the country.

With the sector emerging from the recession at last came a drive for growth not seen in the industry for some years and consumer demand has heightened competition to record levels.

It is vital for club owners and operators to be at the top of their game and to constantly be reviewing what they offer their customers if they are to win the battle for business being waged in every town and city between licensed premises of all shapes and sizes.

Consumers have more disposable income that they have had for a number of years but they are also more discerning about how they spend it – and there are no shortage of different types of premises in which to part with their cash.

What makes your club stand out? Why would your customers return to you? How do you come up with ideas to constantly refresh what you do and keep customers engaged?

With your workload ever increasing it can be impossible to take the time you need to come up with new ideas and evolve to meet your customers’ expectations – so the team here at the BII have made it a priority to bring together a constant stream of new ideas, case studies, examples of best practice and expert advice in order to save our members

time and money and ensure they remain at the top of their game. We also have a whole range of advice resources and helplines – all completely free of charge to members – that can be called on 24-hours a day to help busy operators with any questions and issues that arise in this constantly changing environment.

We seek to inspire and support all our members to grow their businesses – and all this for less than the price of a pint each week.

I believe the BII is a vital resource for anyone serious about succeeding in this business and my team is genuinely passionate about clubs and pubs in the UK and what they bring to their communities and their customers. We are also focusing in 2015 on promoting new talent into the sector, but talking to young people at school and college level about why they should consider a career in this industry over one in hotels or general retail.

The predicted skills shortage over the next five to ten years is a worrying one for all of us and the opportunities for bright young things to develop their business and entrepreneurial skills in this fantastic industry are enormous – and critical to the future of our industry. So if you’ve got a fantastic young person working behind your bar right now please do take the opportunity this year to sit them down and talk about their future career.

I wish you all a very successful 2015.

Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation CISWO delivers community and personal welfare services within coal mining and former coal mining communities throughout Great Britain.

First established as a limited company prior to the Miners’ Welfare Act 1952, it became a National Charity (Registration No. 1015581) in 1995. In 2001, changes to charity law meant that all the sport and recreational facilities had to be made available to the public at large and to the whole community in which they were located. As a result, and in partnership with the Charity Commission, CISWO worked hard to ensure that people from any walk of life could join their local Miners’ Welfare Scheme and take part in all its activities.

Miners’ Welfare Schemes (there are still over 300 today) were created as focal points of community life. Now Registered Charities in their own right, these organisations continue to work extensively with CISWO, volunteers, local partnerships, local authorities and a host of external agencies to provide facilities and services to their communities.

CISWO’s objectives are: “The promotion of health, the relief of poverty and hardship and the advancement of education and any other charitable purposes for the benefit of coal miners, former employees of the industry, their relatives, dependents and the communities in which they live.”

To enable this CISWO employs a Social Work service within coalfield communities.

These teams have specialist expertise in working with disabilities and the challenges facing older people, and can also provide support to, for example, community social events and widows’ groups, as well as regularly attending events in former coal mining communities.

Importantly, they also administer applications to various schemes of benefit (including a number of Convalescent Homes) who make funds available to support people in hardship. They can also work in partnership with other organisations to solve problems on behalf of beneficiaries.

Services are free of charge and often involve personal, confidential home visits.

Tim Hulme

CONTACT DETAILS Tim Hulme Chief Executive BII and BIIAB Wessex House 80 Park Street Camberley Surrey GU15 3PT t. 01276 684449 e. tim.hulme@bii.org www.bii.org www.biiab.org

CONTACT DETAILS (Scotland) e. ian.mcalpine@ciswo.org.uk t. 01506635550 (North East) e. vincent.clements@ciswo.org.uk t. 01914777242 (Yorkshire) e. ian.lally@ciswo.org.uk t. 01977703384 (East Midlands) e. donald.brooks@ciswo.org.uk t. 01623625767 (Western) e. david.thomas@ciswo.org.uk t. 01782744996 (Wales) e. andrew.morse@ciswo.org.uk t. 01443485233 CISWO HQ The Old Rectory, Rectory Drive, Whiston, Rotherham, South Yorks S60 4JG. t. 01709728115 www.ciswo.org.uk

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Club & Institute Union It’s fair to say that 2014 was a busy year for the CIU and all our member clubs.

George Dawson

CONTACT DETAILS CIU (Working Mens Club and Institute Union) 253 - 254 Upper Street London N1 1RY t. 0207 2260221 e.info@wmciu.org.uk www.wmciu.org The CIU’s Annual Congress takes place this year on April 11 in the Norbreck Hotel, Blackpool.

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It saw a successful induction programme for all Branch Secretaries held at Head Office, which we’ll be looking to repeat this year.

In a similar vein, we took a detailed look at our Education system. As a result we are piloting the introduction of a new accredited examination as well as on-line learning.

The re-launch of our magazine Club Journal was also big news, with increased revenue streams secured for the CIU and also a much-improved product.

One of the most significant pieces of new legislation in 2014 came into force on 1 August – The Cooperative and Community Benefit Societies Act. Its main effect is to consolidate earlier legislation, including: • Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965 • Friendly and Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1968 • Cooperative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2003 The 2014 Act ensures continuity of registration for all preexisting registered societies. All existing registered societies will now be referred to as ‘registered societies’ instead of ‘industrial & provident (I&P) societies’.

The Union and its I&P member clubs rank as cooperatives because they conduct themselves by and for the benefit of their participating members.

Still on legislation, and the Late Night Levy (LNL)still hovers over us all. While the imposition of LNLs hasn’t hit in the way we feared might be the case, we remain vigilant.

Looking forward, we are currently revising our guidance to clubs working on drafting up new contracts for club employees as well as revising and updating our Club Secretaries Handbook.

Another important step has been our decision to reengage with PRS. We're in the process of negotiating a special rate for clubs and will update members on the progress and advise on tariffs and opportunities.

On the subject of suppliers, our Beer & Trades Exhibition will be staged on Friday, April 10, at the Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool. This is a great opportunity for clubs and suppliers to network, so I would encourage all CIU clubs to come along. It takes place the day before our 2015 CIU Annual General Meeting on April 11 at the same venue.

The AGM provides members with the opportunity to have their say and to influence the future of their club – and CIU clubs as a whole. (There were nearly 600 in attendance and voting last year.)

The Union’s Annual Report is also launched at the AGM and includes everything a member club needs to know about the Union including information on legislation affecting clubs, the Union’s Long Service Awards and its varied sports competitions.

Here's to a healthy and invigorating 2015!

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CLUB ASSOCIATIONS

Club Managers Association of Europe CONTACT DETAILS Club Managers Association of Europe Office 8, Rural Innovation Centre, Unit 169 - Avenue H, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2LG t. 0247 669 2359 e. debbie.goddard@ cmaeurope.plus.com www.cmaeurope.org

The Club Managers Association of Europe (CMAE) is a non-profit making professional association. Its members are involved in the management of sports clubs (golf, tennis, sailing, rowing, rugby, football, cricket), health and fitness clubs, leisure, city and dining clubs located throughout Europe. In 2013 it joined forces with the publishers of Club Mirror and the Club Report to launch an exclusive members magazine Clubhouse Europe (www.clubhouseeurope.com).

Key objectives of the CMAE include: • To promote best practices in club management management of all types of clubs throughout Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.

• To provide and promote educational events.

• To reward members with two levels of certification – the

Club Management Diploma (CMDip) and the internationally recognised certification in club management – the “Certified Club Manager” (CCM) designation.

• To provide members with networking opportunities, assistance with career development, employment opportunities and recruitment.

• To develop and maintain effective communication with members and with other external parties.

• To encourage ethical standards in club management.

• To report on changing social, governmental, environmental and economic issues on a European level.

• To research, develop, analyse and disseminate information/data related to club management and the club industry.

Golf Club Managers Association

Bob Williams

CONTACT DETAILS Bob Williams Chief Executive Golf Club Managers Association (GCMA) Bristol & Clifton Golf Club Beggar Bush Lane, Failand, Bristol, BS8 3TH t. 01275 391153 e. hq@gcma.org.uk www.gcma.org.uk

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There is a view that when you take on a job in golf club management, it generally takes 12 months for you to understand what the job actually involves. It has certainly been my experience that you need to understand the full calendar of events before trying to make an impact. It was with this philosophy in mind that I started out on my appointment as Chief Executive just over two years ago, however with the greatest of respect to hindsight I didn’t think that for one moment we would have changed the governance of the Association and moved head-quarters all within the first eighteen months!

Now with a skills appointed board of six and settled in to our new premises at Bristol & Clifton Golf Club it is time to start to move the association forward. The Board of Directors offer the association a wide ranging mix of skills that cover all aspects of golf club management. Hence we are now preparing to launch a long term Business and marketing strategy that will project the GCMA into the foreseeable future.Having identified the need to improve our communications on all fronts, we appointed Mike Hyde as Digital and Communications Manager. Having worked in a similar role in the arts sector Mike is an avid golfer and brings a number of skills with him.

The first consequence of this appointment is his involvement with the Web-site designers to deliver our new Web-site, which will include a number of membership benefits as well as the commencement of GCMAtv. Having been launched at the end of January we await the responses from members and visitors to the site.

Continuing with a review of the marketing and communications the GCMA are reviewing the vehicles for providing information to the Golf Club Manager, in these days of high speed communications it is imperative that the person running the golf club is provided with the tools to do the job as soon as possible. It is planned that within the next two or three months we will be able to provide an on-line information highway that fits this purpose.

Education Over the last year there have been a number of developments on the educational front. The GCMA have run nearly one hundred ‘introduction to Golf Club Management’ over the years – and for a long time they have always been run at Weston-super-Mare. With effect from 2015 we will be taking them around the UK, starting in Harrogate in January, followed by Bristol in March and then back up North again for the end of the year.

2015 National Conference at St Georges Park, Burtonon-Trent – November 15th to 17th.

After deciding to move away from Hinckley the FA Centre will provide an excellent venue for what threatens to be the best Conference to date. It will also provide the opportunity to bring the ‘Young Managers Group’ concept to the fore. Having only just created this group it is being developed to understand the Golf management trends of the future and how it is seen through their eyes.

supported by

CLUB ASSOCIATIONS

National Union of Labour and Socialist Clubs I would like to open by wishing everyone a Happy New Year and all the best for the future of your clubs. I mention New Year because it seems nowadays that by the time New Year arrives some of our members slow down on drinking their supermarket beers and dare to venture away from the television. On one particular day I took my wife to the supermarket and whilst waiting outside it looked like mad Friday with people coming out of the supermarket laden with boxes of beer which the supermarkets are often selling cheaper than we can buy alcohol from the breweries. To make matters worse we are now having the introduction of the ‘one pound a pint’ shops, similar to the pound pie shops.

Fortunately, since the millennium, when all artists thought they should be on the same money as Tom Jones, clubs are changing their style and going back to the good old days of the families getting together for a sing song or just

socialising; yes in some clubs this is working! In other words we are carrying out our function as members clubs in operating in various ways to get people to stop sitting at home being lonely and getting out to meet their friends and socialise.

No matter what our politics are, we are all social clubs providing facilities for persons from all walks of life so that they may visit their club and enjoy the company of others.

With many pubs now becoming restaurants (and not pubs), our clubs are providing an even greater service to the community as non- profit making organisations. So I say to all clubs be prepared to change to survive. And remember that there is an election coming up – so do a bit of lobbying with your political delegates as to why we have to pay full rateable values when we are non-profit organisations providing a service to the community!

CONTACT DETAILS Bob Bates General Secretary The National Union of Labour and Socialist Clubs 38, Percival Way St Helens, WA10 4GX t: 01744 758746 e. Bates.R4@outlook.com

National Union of Liberal Clubs Here at the National Union of Liberal Clubs as we leave behind 2014 and move into 2015 – a year where there will be elections held – we approach the year ahead with a sense of caution, wondering what the year will bring, with a new government and new legislation that will surely follow.

But to reflect on 2014: • The past year has seen more clubs going down the diversity route to keep and increase their market share, some introducing catering, some real ale, for example • Clubs continue to find it extremely hard to control their overheads and costs, so we continue to work with our preferred supplies to get the best possible deals for them • A strong management team and tight financial controls play a part in welcoming members through the door and

keeping them entertained whilst on the premises • We still are under attack from the supermarkets who continues to offer cheap beer • The clubs with a strong management have survived and increased their market share • We continue to offer member clubs help with Health and Safety legislation and training for staff and committees • We have seen a small number of clubs close due to a lack of foresight by committees who failed to see the changes that they could have made prior to the doors having to close • We continue to offer help to our member clubs via our website Finally I would like to thank Sean and his team at Club Mirror for all the support that they have offered to the club sector throughout the year.

CONTACT DETAILS Bernard Simpson, Secretary National Union of Liberal Clubs 74 Printon Avenue, Blackley, Manchester, M9 8GF t. 07946 482340 e. emailnulc@gmail.com www.nulc.org.uk

Royal Air Forces Association The Royal Air Forces Association (RAF Association) is a membership organisation and registered charity. It has over 63,500 members including serving RAF personnel, veterans and nonservice individuals.

Whether it’s an injured airman fighting to get back on his feet, a young child missing their parent away on overseas operations, or a World War II veteran needing a shoulder to lean on, the association helps all generations of RAF Service personnel and their families. It is estimated that there are

around 2.4 million ex-service people, some 33,000 currently in uniform and an increasing number of reserve forces. This group, their families, dependants under 18 years old and dependants with a disability over 18 years old are all eligible for assistance from the RAF Association.

A UK-wide caseworker network of over 540 volunteer Honorary Welfare Officers undertakes over 68,000 welfare contacts annually. The Association distributes more than £1.78m in welfare grants to serving and ex-serving personnel.

CONTACT DETAILS The Royal Air Forces Association 117 Loughborough Road, Leicester, LE4 5ND t. 0116 2665224 www.rafa.org.uk

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Sport & Recreation Alliance The Sport and Recreation Alliance is the umbrella body for sport and recreation in the UK and represents 320 members including organisations such as The FA, the Rugby Football Union, British Athletics and British Rowing.

Our members are the governing bodies of sport and recreation. Their job is to run their sport or activity, promote participation and set the rules and conditions under which it takes place. Our job is to make that job as easy as possible. We represent their views to people who make decisions; we promote the interests of sport and recreation so that as many people as possible know about their work; we campaign on issues affecting our members OUR VISION: We are the heart of a world leading sport and recreation sector.

CONTACT DETAILS Sport and Recreation Alliance Burwood House 14 Caxton Street London SW1H 0QT t. 020 7976 3900 e. info@sportandrecreation.org.uk www.sportandrecreation.org.uk

OUR MISSION: As the independent voice we champion sport and recreation and provide inspirational leadership and deliver unrivalled services that enable our sector to thrive.

What we value: • Excellence • Positivity • Passion • Imagination

• Integrity • Collaboration OUR CORE FUNCTIONS AND OBJECTIVES: Lead – To be a trusted and valued thought leader among all stakeholders in the sport and recreation sector.

Champion – To be the acknowledged, independent champion of the interests of our members and the sector as a whole.

Enable – To be a provider of high quality, added value services to our members by developing and sharing knowledge and expertise, and delivering world class programmes and services.

Perform – To be a high performing organisation which embodies best practice in governance and leadership.

The Sport and Recreation Alliance was formally known as the CCPR or the Central Council of Physical Recreation. We are a company limited by guarantee No 474512. Registered in England and Wales.

• See more at: http://www.sportandrecreation.org.uk/about/what-sport-andrecreation-alliance#sthash.sii4o3Xi.dpuf

Sport England CONTACT DETAILS Sport England SportPark 3 Oakwood Drive Loughborough Leicestershire LE11 3QF t. 08458 508 508 e.funding@sportengland.org

Sport England is committed to helping people and communities across the country create sporting habits for life.

This means investing in organisations and projects that will get more people playing sport and creating opportunities for people to excel at their chosen sport.

We will invest over £1 billion of National Lottery and Exchequer funding between 2012 and 2017 in organisations and projects that will: • Help more people have a sporting habit for life • Create more opportunities for young people to play sport • Nurture and develop talent • Provide the right facilities in the right places

We have a variety of funding programmes which have different rounds that open and close throughout the year.

Funding streams include: • Inspired Facilities – open all year • Small Grants – open all year • Get Healthy, Get Active – opened 4 December 2014, closed Monday 26 January 2015 • Protecting Playing Fields – opened 10 December 2014, closes Monday 9 February 2015 • Community Sport Activation Fund – opened 20 January 2015, closes on Monday 20 April 2015

For a condensed A-Z of key club associations see opposite page.

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CLUB ASSOCIATIONS

A-Z of club associations Alliance of British Clubs See page 50 for Secretary David Taylor’s review of 2013 and preview of 2014.

Alliance of British Clubs t. 01484 654414 m. 07936 196746 e. info@abclubs.org.uk ______________________________________________________ Associated Church Clubs Associated Church Clubs Limited was first incorporated in England & Wales in 1992, ultimately overseen by the Liverpool Roman Catholic Archdiocesan.

Associated Church Clubs, Archdiocese Of Liverpool, The Centre For Evangelisation, Croxteth Drive, Sefton Park, Liverpool, Merseyside, L17 1AA ______________________________________________________ Association of Conservative Clubs Turn to page 50 for more thoughts and plans from Chief Executive Philip Smith.

Association of Conservative Clubs Ltd, 24 Old Queen Street, London, SW1H 9HP t. 020 7222 0843 f. 020 7222 1622 www.toryclubs.co.uk ______________________________________________________ The British Holiday & Home Parks Association The British Holiday & Home Parks Association (BH&HPA) is the only UK organisation founded with the exclusive objective of representing and serving those who own or manage holiday, residential, tenting and touring parks.

BH&HPA, 6 Pullman Court, Great Western Road, Gloucester, GL1 3ND. t.01452 526911, e.enquiries@bhhpa.org.uk www.bhhpa.org.uk ______________________________________________________ British Hospitality Association The BHA aims to promote the interests of operators, brands and owners across hotels, restaurants and food service, serviced apartments, clubs and visitor attractions.

British Hospitality Association, Queens House, 55-56 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3BH t. 0207 404 7744 e. bha@bha.org.uk www.bha.org.uk ______________________________________________________ British Institute of Innkeeping See page 51 for more details.

BII and BIIAB, Wessex House, 80 Park Street, Camberley, Surrey, GU15 3PT t. 01276 684449 e. tim.hulme@bii.org www.bii.org www.biiab.org ______________________________________________________ Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CISMPA) launched in 2011. CIMSPA is a

professional development body for the UK’s sport and physical activity sector.It was awarded chartered status by the Privy Council; this came into effect at the start of January 2012.CIMSPA provides leadership, support and empowerment for professionals working in sport and physical activity and a single unified voice for the sector. It holds two long term strategic priorities: 1. To provide opportunities for young leaders to develop and succeed 2. To provide leadership on the development and management of career pathways CIMSPA, SportPark, Loughborough University, 3 Oakwood Drive, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3QF t. 01509 226474 www.cimspa.co.uk ______________________________________________________ Club & Institute Union See page 52 for President George Dawson’s analysis of the past year and challenges for 2015.

CIU (Working Mens Club and Institute Union) 253 - 254 Upper Street, London, N1 1RY t. 0207 2260221 e.info@wmciu.org.uk www.wmciu.org ______________________________________________________ Club Managers Association of Europe Turn to page 54 for details of the Association’s plans for 2015.

Office 8, Rural Innovation Centre, Unit 169 - Avenue H, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2LG t.0247 669 2359 e. debbie.goddard@cmaeurope.plus.com www.cmaeurope.org ______________________________________________________ Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation See page 51 for more details.

Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation, HQ (Whiston), The Old Rectory, Rectory Drive, Whiston, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, S60 4JG t. 01709 728115 f. 01709 839164 www.ciswo.org ______________________________________________________ National Union of Labour and Socialist Clubs Turn to page 55 where General Secretary Bob Bates discusses the Union’s plans for 2015.

The National Union of Labour and Socialist Clubs, 38, Percival Way, St Helens, WA10 4GX t: 01744 758746 e. Bates.R4@outlook.com ______________________________________________________ National Union of Liberal Clubs Turn to page 55 where Secretary Bernard Simpson examines the issues facing clubs in 2015.

NULC, 74 Printon Avenue, Blackley, Manchester M9 8GF t. 07946 482340 e. emailnulc@gmail.com www.nulc.org.uk

supported by

Wigan Warriors

vs.

Huddersfield Giants

13 February

For live Super League Rugby, you need Sky Sports in your club.

Call 08442 411 311 Calls to Sky cost up to 5.1p per minute (plus 15.97p connection free) for BT customers. Calls from other providers may vary.

Fixtures may be subject to change.

CLUB REPORT

57

CLUB ASSOCIATIONS supported by

Glasgow Warriors

vs.

Ospreys

21 February

For big Rugby Union clashes, you need Sky Sports in your club

Call 08442 411 311 Calls to Sky cost up to 5.1p per minute (plus 15.97p connection free) for BT customers. Calls from other providers may vary.

Fixtures may be subject to change.

58

CLUB REPORT

Northern Ireland Federation of Clubs The Federation exists to cater for the needs of private member non profit-making clubs in Northern Ireland.

The Federation acts as a lobbying body in all matters related to legislation and regulations pertaining to clubs in Northern Ireland. It has seen its profile increase in recent years due to its endeavours to have the harsh legislation placed on the club sector reduced, to create a more level playing field.

An Executive Committee is headed by John Davidson, Chairman, Bob McGlone, Secretary, David Larmour, Treasurer and Harry Beckinsale, Public Relations Officer.

N.I. Federation of Clubs, c/o Unit B7, Portview Trade Centre, 310 Newtownards Road, Belfast BT4 1HE t.0289 0459864 e.info@nifederationofclubs.com www.nifederationofclubs.com ______________________________________________________ Royal Air Forces Association The Royal Air Forces Association (RAF Association) is a membership organisation and registered charity. It has over 63,500 members including serving RAF personnel, veterans and nonservice individuals.

Whether it’s an injured airman fighting to get back on his feet, a young child missing their parent away on overseas operations, or a World War II veteran needing a shoulder to lean on, the association helps all generations of RAF Service personnel and their families. It is estimated that there are around 2.4 million ex-service people, some 33,000 currently in uniform and an increasing number of reserve forces. This group, their families, dependants under 18 years old and dependants with a disability over 18 years old are all eligible for assistance from the RAF Association.

A UK-wide caseworker network of over 540 volunteer Honorary Welfare Officers undertakes over 68,000 welfare contacts annually. The Association distributes more than £1.78m in welfare grants to serving and ex-serving personnel.

The Royal Air Forces Association, 117 Loughborough Road, Leicester, LE4 5ND t. 0116 2665224 www.rafa.org.uk ______________________________________________________ Royal British Legion The Royal British Legion provides practical, emotional and financial support to all members of the British Armed Forces past and present, and their families.

It actively campaigns to improve their lives and safeguard the Military Covenant between the nation and its Armed Forces. It organises the Poppy Appeal, and is recognised as the nation's custodian of Remembrance. It's mission is to provide welfare, comradeship, representation and Remembrance for the Armed Forces Community. It's mission – Remembrance.

The Royal British Legion, 199 Borough High Street, London SE1 1AA t.0808 802 8080 info@britishlegion.org.uk www.britishlegion.org.uk ______________________________________________________ Royal Naval Association The Royal Naval Association (RNA) has over 20,000 members across 370 branches in the UK and overseas. Regular social events, fundraising, advising on welfare and employ-

ment matters, ‘or just providing an arm around the shoulder’ are all part of the Association’s work.

The RNA’s core values include: • Unity – ‘Shared backgrounds and equality in rank.’

• Loyalty – ‘To each other and our dependants… Our loyalty is to all our shipmates, our local communities, the personnel and dependants of the Naval Service, along with other charities or organisations with naval connections’.

• Patriotism – ‘We are proud to serve and proud to represent our country and the Naval Service. Our pride in serving our country never leaves us. Nor do we forget those who have fallen for our country or who fight now.

We are deeply honoured to represent them on both a national and international level’.

• Comradeship – ‘Friends in fun, fellowship and need’.

RNA HQ, Room 209, Semaphore Tower, PP70, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth, PO1 3LT t.023 9272 3747 e.admin@royalnavalassoc.com www.royalnavalassoc.com ______________________________________________________ Sport and Recreation Alliance Turn to page 56 for more details. Also: turn to page 32 for the Alliance's insight into the role of women in clubs and in sport.

Sport and Recreation Alliance, Burwood House, 14 Caxton Street, London, SW1H 0QT t. 020 7976 3900 e. info@sportandrecreation.org.uk www.sportandrecreation.org.uk

SPORT ASSOCIATIONS – LISTED BY SPORT BOWLS Bowls England Bowls England is the National Governing Body for the sport of Flat Green Lawn Bowls in England formed in January 2008 following a unification of the English Bowling Association (EBA) and English Women’s Bowling Association (EWBA).

Bowls England’s responsibility is to implement future policies and to promote the true value of the sport to all external agencies. It liaises with volunteer support agencies ‘to ensure that information on new legislation is available to Bowls England Members’ and encourages feedback from its members.

It produces newsletters, issues news releases and holds an Annual Conference.

Bowls England, Riverside House, Milverton Hill, Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV32 5HZ t. 01926 334609 www.bowlsengland.com ______________________________________________________ English Indoor Bowling Association The English Indoor Bowling Association(EIBA)works with affiliated clubs, county associations and bodies who are established for the promotion of the sport of Indoor Bowls.

It also works with local authorities, secondary Schools and further education colleges among others.

EIBA objectives include growing participation across the

CLUB ASSOCIATIONS supported by adult population in local communities, growing female participation, growing participation in the 14-25 age range, recruiting and retaining the 50+ and 70+ age groups and growing participation by people with disabilities.

English Indoor Bowling Association, David Cornwell House, Bowling Green, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE13 0FA t. 01664 481900 enquiries@eiba.co.uk www.eiba.co.uk ______________________________________________________ CRICKET England and Wales Cricket Board The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) was established in 1997 as the national governing body for all cricket in England and Wales. This followed two years of research into how cricket in England and Wales could be better organised to attract more players, raise standards and promote cricket as a spectator sport.

Its eventual formation was the culmination of a drive towards creating a single body responsible for the management and development of every form of cricket, from playground to the Test arena.

The ECB took over the responsibilities carried out for some 30 years by the Test and County Cricket Board, the National Cricket Association and the Cricket Council, all of which ceased to exist. In April 1998 the Women’s Cricket Association was also integrated into the organisation.

Its role now encompasses working with clubs, schools, juniors and youth, disabilities cricket, representative, first class and international cricket.

The England and Wales Cricket Board, Lord’s Cricket Ground, London, NW8 8QZ t.0207 431200 e.help@ecb.co.uk www.ecb.co.uk ______________________________________________________ DARTS British Darts Organisation The British Darts Organisation (BDO) is recognised as the world’s leading darts organisation. Founded in 1973 it has over 1,000 officials and a calendar of over 800 darts events each year.

It is the governing body for darts in the UK, regulating, organising, promoting, staging, administrating and fostering darts nationally, internationally and worldwide. It comprises 66 member counties in the UK and has 69 associate countries worldwide. Each BDO county stages its own domestic events and has a Super-League for men and women. Some have their own youth sections. The BDO is administered by a board of directors, democratically elected annually at its AGM. Funding is by subscription from its member counties as well as sponsors.

The British Darts Organisation, Unit 4, Glan-y-llyn Industrial Estate, Taffs Well, Cardiff, CF15 7JD t. 02920 811815 e.info@bdodarts.com www.bdodarts.com ______________________________________________________ FOOTBALL Football Association The Football Association (FA) celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2013. Founded in 1863 as the governing body of the game of

football in England, it is responsible for all regulatory aspects.

The focus in The FA Group Strategic Plan 2011-2015 is firmly on laying foundations for a healthy future. The FA’s activities include: • Promoting the development of the game amongst all ages, backgrounds and abilities in terms of participation and quality. This also involves promoting the availability of the sport to the greatest possible number of people.

• Regulating the game on and off the field of play through the "Laws of the Game" and the "Rules of The Association".

• Sanctioning, either directly or indirectly, all matches, leagues and competitions played in England • Overseeing the administration of the disciplinary system, which is applicable to all participants in the game (each club, player, competition, match official and any other person involved in the game in England is bound by the Rules) and the administration of refereeing throughout the game • Organising a number of senior men’s, youth and women’s national competitions (including most notably The FA Challenge Cup) and the participation of England national representative teams (again, senior men’s, women’s and youth teams) in international matches, most notably the men’s senior team in the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA European Championship and friendly fixtures.

The Football Association, Wembley Stadium, PO Box 1966, London, SW1P 9EQ t. 0844 9808200 e. info@thefa.com www.thefa.com ______________________________________________________ GOLF British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association Limited The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) is dedicated ‘to the continuing professional development of its members, and in serving their needs will strive through education and training for standards of excellence in golf course management throughout the greenkeeping profession’.

Today BIGGA has 6,000 greenkeepers and turf professionals as members, and membership is on an annual basis.

BIGGA divides the UK into five Regions: Northern, Midland, South East, South West & South Wales and Scotland & Northern Ireland. Each Region, which is covered by either a part-time or full-time administrator, is then divided into Sections. There are currently 26 Sections each with its own committee responsible for organising events for Section members and administration on behalf of the Association.

The major policy making body is the National Board of Management comprising the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Past Chairman together with one nominated representative from each of the five Regions and two Guardians.

BIGGA employs 13 full-time members of staff based at BIGGA House at Aldwark, near York, covering everything required to educate and assist greenkeepers with dedicated Membership, Learning & Development, Business Development and Communications.

BIGGA House, Aldwark, Alne, York, YO61 1UF t. 01347 833800 e. info@bigga.co.uk www.bigga.co.uk

Southampton

vs.

Liverpool

22 February

For unmissable top-flight football, you need Sky Sports in your club

Call 08442 411 311 Calls to Sky cost up to 5.1p per minute (plus 15.97p connection free) for BT customers. Calls from other providers may vary.

Fixtures may be subject to change.

CLUB REPORT

59

CLUB ASSOCIATIONS supported by

Liverpool

vs.

Man City

1 March

For unmissable top-flight football, you need Sky Sports in your club

Call 08442 411 311 Calls to Sky cost up to 5.1p per minute (plus 15.97p connection free) for BT customers. Calls from other providers may vary.

Fixtures may be subject to change.

60

CLUB REPORT

England Golf England Golf's Particiption & Club Support team aims to support clubs in all aspects of golf facility management and best practice.

The department works closely with other UK & European organisations eg. R&A, GCMA, BIGGA, NGCAA, CMAE, UKGCOA to ensure qualified and consistent information transfer to club officials through toolkits, templates and workshops, and that golf is represented at national / regional government level.

Examples of support services are as follows: • Legislation Equality Act EU & UK Pesticide Directive National Water Framework CROW Act & National Coastal Path Environmental Compliance • Business Support VAT Apportionment Community Amateur Sports Club status Appraisal Service – Sustainable business management practices and modern business methodology Marketing – Golf Central / One Golf Network web marketing portal, member retention / recruitment toolkit.

• Knowledge bank Members Benefits Package management England Golf Community – Q&A forum for club officials Health & Safety, Human Resource Discipline & Grievance PolicyGolf Handicapping – Online & telephone advice service for club officials Central Database of Handicaps management R&A Amateur Status Course Rating & Standard Scratch Score The National Golf Centre, Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, LN10 6PU t. 44 [0] 1526 354500 f. 44 [0] 1526 354020 e. info@englandgolf.org www.englandgolf.org ______________________________________________________ Golf Club Managers’ Association See page 54 for more details.

Golf Club Managers’ Association (GCMA), Bristol & Clifton Golf Club, Beggar Bush Lane, Failand, Bristol, BS8 3TH t. 01275 391153 e. hq@gcma.org.uk www.gcma.org.uk ______________________________________________________ Golf Union of Wales In January 2007 the Welsh Ladies Golf Union and Welsh Golfing Union, each with well over 100 years of history, merged to become the Golf Union of Wales (GUW). It is ‘committed to golf becoming a sport for all, and for life’.

The GUW employs seven professional and one part time staff. Its development arm, Golf Development Wales (a wholly owned subsidiary of GUW), employs five full time and two part time staff. Its Board meets quarterly. The full Council meets twice a year and is made up of 19 elected members and up to four co-opted members.

GUW, Catsash, Newport, NP18 1JQ t.01633 436040

e.office@golfunionwales.org www.golfunionwales.org ______________________________________________________ Scottish Golf Union The Scottish Golf Union (SGU) is the governing body for amateur golf in Scotland, incorporating 578 golf clubs across the country representing a total membership of approximately 230,000 golf club members.

Based in St Andrews, the SGU’s responsibilities span most aspects of the game in Scotland, from staging national amateur championships and managing Scotland’s national teams, to encouraging more youngsters to play golf and providing support services to member clubs.

The broad breadth of support for member clubs includes strategy, business planning, health and safety, golf course management, marketing and legislation.

The Duke’s, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8NX t. 01334 466477 e.sgu@scottishgolf.org www.scottishgolf.org ______________________________________________________ RUGBY Rugby Football Union The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is the national governing body for grassroots and elite rugby in England.

Its members include 2,000 autonomous rugby clubs grouped within 35 Constituent Bodies comprised of counties, the three armed forces, Oxford and Cambridge Universities, England Schools Rugby Football Union and England Students.

These bodies are supported by 50 Rugby Development Officers, six Area Managers and 120 Community Rugby Coaches across the country who provide some 30,000 coaching sessions a year for young people.

The RFU employs approximately 500 paid staff and helps to train and support more than 60,000 volunteers whose many roles include supporting the volunteer workforce and working with clubs.

Rugby Football Union, Rugby House, Twickenham Stadium, 200 Whitton Road, Twickenham, Middlesex, TW2 7BA t.0871 222 2120 e.enquiries@therfu.com www.therfu.com ______________________________________________________ TENNIS Lawn Tennis Association The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) is tennis’s governing body. The mission of the LTA is to get more people playing tennis more often, and part of its role is to govern tennis in Great Britain, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man by acting as guardians to promote and safeguard the integrity of the sport.

It aims to grow and and sustain the sport, and works to develop participation in the sport through investing in places to play (clubs, parks, schools and tennis centres etc) as well as supporting coaches, volunteers and club officials.

LTA, National Tennis Centre, 100 Priory Lane, Roehampton, London, SW15 5JQ t. 0208 4877000 e.info@LTA.org.uk www.lta.org.uk

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