News Bites
Government must get hospitality back on its feet in the Budget: Kate Nicholls
CEO of UKHospitality Kate Nicholls lays out what the industry needs in the Spring Budget in a new article for the Caterer. She details the need for a cap on business rates increases, reduction in VAT rates for hospitality, leisure and tourism businesses and to address wages in light of the increase in National Minimum and Living Wages. Read her full point of view below!
Pub firm closures up 180% as costs soar.
Accountancy group UHY Hacker Young found that nearly one-quarter of pub firms could be forced out of business after just three bad months. A combination of cost of living crisis, interest rate rises, rail strikes and the aftermath of Covid lockdowns and social restrictions have caused an increase in pub and bar closures. Peter Kubik at UHY Hacker Young commented: “The government should consider what it can do to alleviate these pressures.”
Business confidence in hospitality sector falls as costs mount
In the latest edition of CGA by NIQ’s Business Confidence Survey, only 41% of leaders currently feel confident about the hospitality market over the next 12 months – down by eight points from October’s figure of 49%. Karl Chessell, director at CGA by NIQ says: “Costs of doing business have soared in every area, and the case for targeted government intervention is now clear and urgent.”
New study finds 85% of hospitality professionals experience poor mental health
Workforce solutions management company Planday have released a report surveying over 2,000 staff in hospitality, retail and care sectors – and found that around 85% of hospitality workers experience poor mental health, and their symptoms become worse with irregular shift patterns and uncertain work shifts. Kris Hall, founder of the Burnt Chef Project said: “This research shines a spotlight on the mental health crisis in the hospitality industry.”