A manager’s certificate allows you to manage any licensed premises such as an on-licence, off-licence, club licence or special licence and includes conveyances such as aircraft and motor vessels.
When alcohol is being sold or supplied to the public on licensed premises there must be a duty manager on duty at all times. They must hold a current Manager's Certificate. It is their job to make sure the premises comply with the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 and the conditions of the alcohol licence.
Once your manager's certificate is issued, your employer needs to complete a Notification of Duty Manager Appointment or Change form(external link) and return it to the Council and Police, to formally appoint you as a Duty Manager for your place of work so that you can then work as a duty manager for that premises.
- Industry tools and resources for licensees(external link).
- National Guidance can be found on the Health Promotion Agency website(external link).
See timelines and trading days for more information.
All applications should be made well before your certificate is required. On average about 6 weeks is required to allow for public notification, processing, statutory reporting on your application, and issuing of a District Licensing Committee (DLC) decision on your certificate.
This includes taking account of all non-working day periods including.
The time period required for processing may be longer if there are oppositions from the agencies for your application or if you have not supplied all the information required to assess your application.
Applications made in November and December
If you want to receive a decision on your application before the Christmas period please ensure you have your application lodged with us at the beginning of November at the latest due to the non-working day period from 20 December to 15 January each year.
This is our busiest time of the year for processing all types of applications.
Renewal of managers certificates
Renewal applications(external link) for certificates should be lodged 20 working days before the expiry date of the current licence or certificate. In no case may the application be filed after the certificate has expired.
If you allow your certificate to expire, it means your duty manager appointment may no longer be valid and you can not work as the named duty manager. You cannot renew an expired certificate and you will need to make a new application.
It is your responsibility to ensure renewals are received on time.
If no renewal is received by the expiry date your certificate automatically expires.