The Scottish Government has announced that almost 30,000 successfully completed their personal licence holder refresher training. For those affected, failure to complete the refresher training by 31st August 2014 would have resulted in licences being revoked and being hit with a five-year ban on re-applying.
The Scottish Grocers’ Federation has welcomed the news, saying that the knock-on effect of licences being revoked on the convenience store industry in Scotland of any large scale non-compliance would have been severe.
SGF is part of a consortium, including People 1st, SLTA and Scottish Wholesale Association, which has produced a range of user friendly and easy to access training and guidance resources. Chief Executive John Drummond commented: “We have been very pro-actively raising this issue with our members since at least May 2013. Our key concern has been to help our members protect their businesses. Thanks to a sustained and vigorous effort from across the industry we have ensured that our members have taken these messages on board.”
Drummond emphasised that retailers should realise that this was not a one off event and that from now on checking a personal licence to work out when it needs refreshed has to become business as usual.