A new Pub Partnership programme from Shepherd Neame is providing a helping hand for 22-year-old licensee Emma-Lily Higgins.
The partnership is designed to provide licensees with additional guidance and practical support, alongside the independence of running their own business.
Similar to a traditional tenancy agreement, the programme offers hands-on assistance with all areas, from navigating utility bills and ordering beer, to marketing support, website guidance, and ongoing operational advice. Above all, it provides tenants with experienced support whenever challenges arise.
For Emma-Lily (pictured), taking on The White Horse, in Hawkinge, felt like a natural next step. Having first worked at the pub at the age of 14, she quickly developed a passion for hospitality there. Eight years later, knowing it was hers felt like a real ‘pinch me’ moment for her.
“I really love this place,” she said. “I did think ‘I have actually done it’. It was a great feeling. I was apprehensive, but I have had so much support from the regulars and I am pleased to work with Shepherd Neame as they genuinely support you and help you succeed.
“The White Horse has been here through some of my lowest and my highest moments, and I want to keep providing that sense of community for everyone else. We have our loyal regulars and are also welcoming lots of new faces, and they have all been there for me.”
Taking on the business in her own name was a daunting prospect, but throughout the process she had the reassurance of Shepherd Neame’s team. “It is that partnership and confidence,” said Emma-Lily. “You are running your own business but you know you can still talk to the brewery and they are there for you. A bit of reassurance goes a long way. I have been very grateful for that.”
An integral part of that support has come from Dan Sidders, Shepherd Neame’s head of tenanted business partnerships. Having previously worked as a licensee himself, he understands the realities and pressures of running a pub.
He said: “Emma-Lily is a great example of what happens when determination meets the right support. Our Pub Partnership programme is all about giving licensees the confidence to run their own business, knowing there’s always guidance if they need it. Emma-Lily’s really made the most of that at The White Horse, staying true to its community roots while making the business her own.”
