Waving through good practice

The hospitality industry has to deal with many issues and challenges, but few are more important than the question of vulnerability; not least because – on top of welfare and vulnerability engagement being a moral imperative – you could find yourself facing a licensing review if you don’t make it a priority.

Making women, girls and all vulnerable clients feel safe in and around your premises might seem like a complex and thorny issue, but there are plenty of initiatives on hand to guide you.

Recently-launched initiatives

Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has introduced a number of campaigns aimed at improving public and professional awareness around vulnerability. Recently-launched initiatives such as the Women’s Night Safety Charter and Say Maaate to a Mate are imaginative, appealing and effective. There are longer-established movements too, such as Ask for Angela and Welfare and Vulnerability Engagement (WAVE).

The hospitality industry has to deal with many issues and challenges, but few are more important than the question of vulnerability; not least because – on top of welfare and vulnerability engagement being a moral imperative – you could find yourself facing a licensing review if you don’t make it a priority.

Making women, girls and all vulnerable clients feel safe in and around your premises might seem like a complex and thorny issue, but there are plenty of initiatives on hand to guide you.

 

Recently-launched initiatives

Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has introduced a number of campaigns aimed at improving public and professional awareness around vulnerability. Recently-launched initiatives such as the Women’s Night Safety Charter and Say Maaate to a Mate are imaginative, appealing and effective. There are longer-established movements too, such as Ask for Angela and Welfare and Vulnerability Engagement (WAVE).

Ask for Angela

Ask for Angela was launched some years ago and encourages venues to train staff in helping vulnerable people in need of urgent assistance. If a venue participates in the scheme, customers know they need only to ask staff for ‘Angela’ and they will be looked after and made safe.

WAVE training courses

We at Complete Licensing are fully behind these campaigns and offer our own WAVE training courses, helping venue owners and licensees understand how to train staff in helping vulnerable customers. All venues need staff on board with this initiative, but – for obvious reasons – safeguarding in this area is crucially important to the sexual entertainment licensing sector and anyone offering late night refreshments.

We pride ourselves on our expertise; when it comes to licensing lawyers will always guide clients through all aspects of the Licensing Act 2003. Our ongoing compliance team is there to ensure that the standards required to satisfy the licensing authority never fall.