PUB staff are being paid to play computer games in the bar as part of a revolutionary training programme launched by pub operators Morrells of Oxford.

The state-of-the-art computer package - which allows pub staff to learn at their own pace - has been hailed by Environmental Health officials as "brilliant".

The program, developed by Devon-based Creative Learning Solutions with Morrells training and development manager Alan Bidmead, uses games, exercises and quizzes to help pub staff pass an exam which leads to a nationally recognised qualification.

The first program, covering food hygiene, is already in several Morrells pubs, backed by Oxford City Council and the Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene.

Other programs - covering health and safety and routine pub training - will be released over the next 12 months.

Oxford environmental health officer Simon Banks said: "I am delighted to see a local company taking such an innovative approach to food safety training."

Mr Bidmead said: "In the past, cost restrictions - both financial and in terms of man-hours - meant that many pub operators trained only selected staff. Because this package is accessed from a computer terminal based at the pub it enables all staff, both full time and part-time, to dip in.

Carole O'Callaghan, manager at The Bell in Long Hanborough, one of the first Morrells' pubs to benefit from the training programme, said: "I've been in the licensed trade for the last 20 years and have never seen anything like this."

Story date: Wednesday 03 March

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