RAGB chairman plans membership drive with new regional offices

Michael da Costa, who became chairman of the Restaurateurs Association of Great Britain (RAGB) this week, plans to more than treble membership by 2000.

Da Costa, managing director of Richoux restaurants, believes he can push the RAGB membership from 1,200 to 5,000 through the opening of regional offices.

"The RAGB has changed enormously over the past five years. It started as a club of like-minded restaurateurs, but now we've come together as a lobby group to push the interests of restaurateurs," said da Costa.

"We need to make sure our voice is heard. We are a very large employer in a fast-growing sector," he added.

He plans to push the benefits of staff training among members and is working with the Hospitality Training Foundation to develop a Modern Apprenticeship aimed at independent restaurants.

"There is a nationwide skills shortage, it's not just a London issue - we have to train our own people," said da Costa.

Michael Gottlieb, who has been chairman of the RAGB for the last three years, has been elected president.