Scottish pubs code adjudicator - communications and engagement strategy

Objectives

Our key strategic objective at the Office of the Adjudicator is to regulate the relationship between tied pub landlords (pub-owning businesses) and tenants in Scotland.

In order to do this, our Communication and Engagement plan will be aligned with the Scottish Government’s Communication Plan and will adhere to five core principles in the year ahead:

Evidence and Insight: We will ensure that all communication activities are based on sound evidence and grounded in stakeholder insights. By reducing information asymmetry between tied pub tenants and pub-owning businesses, we aim to empower tenants to make informed decisions while providing pub-owning businesses with clarity on government expectations.

Robust Evaluation: We will evaluate our work by measuring outcomes where possible to assess impact and drive continuous improvement. All pub-owning businesses will adhere to a standard set of minimum requirements toward tied pub tenants, supported by an effective arbitration regime.

Collaboration: We will foster effective and efficient communication among tenants, the industry, and investors by establishing a stakeholder forum to enhance engagement. Through this collaboration, we will ensure that tenants in Scotland are afforded rights comparable to those of their counterparts in England and Wales.

Digital: We will place a strong emphasis on digital and social media activity, alongside broadcast media, recognising that more people than ever are engaging with us in this way.

Innovation: We will continually identify and test new ways of working to enhance tenant satisfaction, streamline processes, and ensure fair practices across the industry.

And finally, we will ensure penalties, fees and expense provisions encourage good practice and compliance with the Scottish Pubs Code, leading to effective arbitration in cases of dispute.