MP Lucy Frazer met with the manager of an Ely pub to congratulate him at a special reception at the House of Commons.

Neil Deane, manager of the Hereward pub on Market Street, travelled to London to attend a celebratory reception in honour of being one of Stonegate Pub Company’s first 100 managers to complete its management-training ‘Accelerator’ programme.

Fifty MPs, including SE Cambs MP Ms Frazer, joined Stonegate bosses to mark the occasion and congratulate Mark and his fellow managers.

The special guests were given a VIP tour of the House of Commons before the main event, hosted on the Terrace by Gavin Shuker MP.

Launched in 2013, the Accelerator programme provides deputy managers the chance to rise to the challenge of managing their own pub.

Over 100 graduates have progressed to general manager roles, with a further five in head office roles.

Jon Perkins, success coach for Stonegate, developed the Accelerator programme and said: “The programme develops both personal and business skills. Its uniqueness is in identifying personal motivators that inspire the skill and the will to succeed.”