Free training day for Shropshire’s prospective B&B owners

A free day of training and information is on offer to help Shropshire’s prospective bed & breakfast businesses get off to the best possible start.

The Bed & Breakfast Start-Up training day will be held on Wednesday 23 October at the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre in Craven Arms.

It’s being provided by Shropshire Council and the Shropshire-based B&B Academy, who are working together to provide guidance and training to those who are seriously interested in running, or are already planning, a B&B business in Shropshire.

The training will ensure that prospective business operators are aware of what is involved in running a bed and breakfast, guide them through statutory requirements, provide a framework for business and marketing planning, and introduce the help and support available.

Further guidance and follow-up help will then be available as businesses start to become established.

Councillor Tina Woodward, Shropshire Council’s deputy Cabinet member responsible for tourism, said:

“This initiative is part of our support for the development of the tourism industry across Shropshire, which seeks to increase overnight stays and provide the range of accommodation that visitors require. We want to help prospective business operators plan realistically to give them the best chance of success.”

A similar course held earlier this year was fully subscribed with a number of B&B businesses now set to open in 2013/14 in different parts of the county.

The B&B Academy was set up in 2006 by Karen Thorne, an established bed & breakfast owner and former trainer with British Airways, to provide specialist training for small accommodation businesses.

The training day is free but places are limited and must be booked in advance. For more information and to book contact Karen Thorne at B & B Academy at karen@shropshirebreakfast.com or call 01547 530885