PM urged to perform “wholesale review” of hospitality system
UKHospitality called on the new government to pursue “an agenda of positive reform to boost UK business”.
A trade body has urged new Prime Minister Boris Johnson to perform a “wholesale review” of the hospitality system.
“We have long been calling for action to tackle costs that restrict investment, with business rates still the chief culprit. A wholesale review of the system, reducing costs, will give businesses the stability and flexibility they need to invest in their venues and team members and help reinvigorate high streets,” UKHospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said in a statement.
Addressing the “imbalance” between the digital and the bricks and mortar economy, she adds, should also be high on Johnson’s priorities.
UKHospitality’s comment comes after Johnson’s recent assumption of the post, bringing a promise of Brexit by 31 October.
“We need a sensible Brexit outcome that eliminates the uncertainty that held business back but delivers a stable future to allow them to plan for the future, including tariff-free trade on food and drink with the EU. This is a future that also needs to acknowledge the economic needs of the country. Our businesses need to be able to continue to recruit and the best way to do that is with a post-Brexit immigration policy that supports recruitment, alongside support for the Tourism Sector Deal that will upskill our domestic population,” Nicholls added.
UKHospitality also issued a reaction to the government’s published summaries of responses to four consultations, outlining steps to tackle packaging, that they say will lead to “significant costs” for businesses and consumers.
“Any deposit return scheme needs to be consistent across the whole United Kingdom. There is still a worry that the scope of the scheme may be unwieldy for hospitality outlets. Including coffee cups, would likely be a logistical nightmare and the Government needs to provide more clarity on this,” Nicholls said.
