The Malvern Hills Personal Licence course is held most weeks. As always, the Personal Licence course groups are small and this gives all candidates sufficient time to understand the whole underlying concept of licensing and being responsible for the operation of a premises licence.

By the way, I also teach this same course on a one-to-one basis, so please call for details and availability.

If you are responsible for the sale of alcohol, then this course is a must for you. In accordance with The Licensing Act 2003, anyone who is responsible for the sale of alcohol to the public must be a Personal Licence Holder. This course provides a detailed explanation of alcohol licensing, step by step.

Click to read my facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064026281162&sk=reviews

Sales of alcohol on licensed premises can only be made by or authorised by a Personal Licence Holder. All individuals applying to hold a Personal Licence must have first achieved a Level II Award for Personal Licence Holders. This Highfield Level II Award for Personal Licence Holders covers all the legal and social responsibilities of a Personal Licence Holder and meets the statutory requirements of the Licensing Act 2003. It is recognised by Malvern Hills Licensing Authority and all other authorities in England and Wales.

The Personal Licence is separate from the premises licence. The premises licence authorises the premises to be used for the supply of alcohol and other licensable activities. The licensing of individuals is separate from the licensing of premises. This permits the movement of personal licence holders from one premise to another, allowing greater flexibility.

Personal licence holders may authorise the sale of alcohol at premises licensed for that purpose and may also be employed as the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) at such premises. You should apply for a personal licence to the Council in whose area you ordinarily live.

A Personal Licence is a licence needed by anyone who supervises the sale of alcohol by retail in any premises – including pubs, off-licences, restaurants and hotels.

The requirement to have a personal licence holder does not apply to qualifying clubs or for events operating under a Temporary Event Notice.

Applications are made to the council for the area in which the applicant lives.  The Licence is valid for life (unless it is suspended, surrendered or forfeited), and will move with the holder from one premises to another, allowing greater flexibility. 

The issuing council will be responsible for continuing to issue this licence even if the holder moves away from the area. You must inform the issuing council of any changes of name or address.

A designated premises supervisor (DPS) must hold a personal licence. The DPS is the person named on a premises licence who has day to day responsibility for running the premises.

Personal licences will remain in force, unless forfeited, suspended, revoked or surrendered. A personal licence holder can also serve up to a maximum of 50 temporary event notices in a year.

The Licensing Act 2003 states that if a premises licence includes the sale or supply of alcohol then a Designated Premises Supervisor must be named on the premises licence. They will be responsible for the day to day running of the premises. The designated premises supervisor must be a personal licence holder.

The Personal Licence relates only to the supply of alcohol under a premises licence. An individual will not require a personal licence for other licensable activities. For example the provision of regulated entertainment or late night refreshments. Alternatively for the supply of alcohol under a club premises certificate.

In the case of Temporary Event Notices, Personal Licence holders will be able to give 50 Temporary Event Notices each year. Whereas there will be a limit of 5 for non-personal licence holders.

To obtain a Personal Licence, you will need to apply to the local authority for the area in which you are resident.  If you are not normally resident within England or Wales, you may apply to any licensing authority.

You must have the legal right to work in the UK in order to hold a Personal Licence, proof of which will be required.

Personal Licences are issued directly to the person applying for them, and are not transferable. Once you have obtained one, you are free to work at any premises, which is subject to a premises licence authorising the sale/supply of alcohol, anywhere in England or Wales. 

You may only hold one Personal Licence at any time, which will be valid for the whole of your lifetime, but may be revoked if you are convicted of a relevant criminal offence, have to pay an immigration penalty, or are found to have given incorrect or misleading information in your application.  Licences will also lapse automatically if your right to work in the UK expires or is revoked.

To obtain a personal licence, you must meet the following criteria:

be aged 18 or over
have not been convicted of any relevant or foreign offences. Relevant offences can be found under schedule 4 of the Licensing Act 2003.
have not forfeited a personal licence within a period of five years before making an application and hold an accredited licensing qualification

‘Relevant offences’ refers to a list of offences in the Licensing Act 2003. If you have committed one of these offences, the application, renewal or conversation of a personal licence could be rejected by the conviction rule. The offences can be found within schedule 4 of the Licensing Act 2003. Offences include:

Serious crime
Serious dishonesty
Involving controlled drugs
Certain sexual offences
Offences created by the act

Call me, Johnny Walker on 07970 134 730 for full details of how to obtain your Personal Licence without the tears. My advice is always free and without obligation. Cheers.

What is a personal licence?

All sales of alcohol must be made by, or under the authority of, a Personal Licence Holder. This means that any individual may sell alcohol provided that the sale has been authorised by a Personal Licence Holder.

You can have as many Personal Licence Holders at a premises as you wish, providing there is only one Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS).

You can also choose to become a Personal Licence Holder if you wish to apply for more than five Temporary Event Notices a year, but otherwise would not require one.

What is a designated premises supervisor?

All premises operating under a Premises Licence to sell or supply alcohol must appoint a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) for the premises. There can only be one DPS per premises. 

The DPS will be held as the person in overall charge of the premises. You should therefore choose this person with care.

Applicants must nominate the DPS on their application form for a premises licence. This person does not have to be on the premises at all times, however they must take responsibility for what happens there.

This means the DPS should ensure any staff they appoint are appropriately trained in the requirements of the Licensing Act 2003 and of any specific conditions attached to the Premises Licence.

A person cannot become a DPS unless they are also a Personal Licence Holder.

How do I apply for a personal licence?

Applicants must be over the age of 18. You must submit the following to the Licensing Authority:

1.     Application fee of £37 payable to your local licensing authority (where you live)

2.     A copy of a completed Personal Licence application form.

3.     A copy of a completed criminal disclosure form

4.     Two passport photographs, one of which is signed verifying the likeness of the photograph to the applicant by a solicitor, notary, a person of standing in the community or any individual with a professional qualification.

5.     Proof that you hold a Licensing Qualification that has been accredited by the Secretary of State. Please forward your original certificate. For example the Highfield Personal Licence Holder’s certificate

6.     Your Criminal Record Certificate. These can be obtained either from the Disclosure and Barring Service website (apply for a Basic Disclosure) or from Data Protection Unit of the Police. Please ensure that in either case the certificate or search results shall be issued no earlier than one calendar month before the submission of the application to your local licensing authority.

To obtain a Highfield Personal Licence certificate, please call Johnny Walker on 07970 134 730.