MORE than 70 providers and interested parties from a wide-range of related services attended the national launch of the Association of Licensed Trade Accountants (ALTA) in Worcester.

Welcoming members and guests to the Diglis House Hotel, ALTA chairman David Jones said the group’s aim is to maximise its pubs’ profitability by offering specialist advice which supports its objectives of quality, independence and choice.

A letter from Robin Walker, MP for Worcester and advocate of the Save the Great British pub campaign, was read out backing the new organisation.

Keynote speakers were Neil Robertson, chief executive of the British Institute of Innkeeping, Barry Gillham, chairman of the leisure and hospitality consultancy Fleurets, and Giles Kendall, operations director of Punch Taverns. An open forum was chaired by Peter Grieve, head of recruitment and training at Enterprise Inns, who said that the pub group would now insist on all of its preferred accountants being ALTA members.

Mr Grieve said: “It is so important for licensed retailers to have proper financial advice and controls fully embedded in their business.

“The formation of ALTA is a major step forward as specialist licensed trade accountants can now operate to a pre-agreed charter and develop a consistent level of service and standards.”

ALTA treasurer and founder member Neil Sysum, of the Worcester-based NRS Accountants, said: “It’s fantastic to see so many people from all over the country supporting this new national initiative.”

There are three levels of membership – fellow, member and associate – available through subscription.

Associate membership is open to people working in related services. For details visit alta.uk.com.