Government

The latest news and updates on government policy, from the business journalists at Catering Today. We bring you the latest on what’s happening in the restaurants, bars and catering industry, with exclusive stories, analysis, best practice and industry comment.

Dec- 2024 -

18 December

Inflation hits eight-month high of 2.6% in November

Inflation has risen for the second month in a row, rising to 2.6% in November, up from 2.3% the previous month, marking the highest level of inflation in eight months. According to the Office for National Statistics, the main drivers behind the rise were fuel and clothing, where prices rose this…
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5 December

UKH Scotland welcomes business rates relief but warns thousands excluded

UKHospitality Scotland has said the new 40% business rates relief for hospitality businesses announced in the recent Scottish Budget will provide “much-needed support” for eligible hospitality businesses, but highlighted that thousands will miss out. In yesterday’s (4 December 2024) Budget, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government Shona Robison…
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Oct- 2024 -

3 October

London night czar to step down

Sadiq Khan’s London night czar Amy Lamé has announced that she will be stepping down at the end of the month after eight years in the role. The night czar was a new role created by Mr Khan following his election as mayor in 2016 focused on the capital’s nightlife.…
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Jul- 2024 -

5 July

UKH: ‘Labour needs to deliver on its commitments, and quick’

UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls has said that “we need to see Labour deliver on its commitments, and quick,” after the party secured a landslide victory at the general election. The UKH boss said within the first 100 weeks, the sector needs to see reduced employer National Insurance Contributions to…
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Apr- 2024 -

29 April

APPG inquiry launched into hospitality recruitment and retention

Parliament has announced the launch of an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) inquiry into hospitality recruitment and retention. The inquiry into ‘recruitment and retention of staff in hospitality’ will be led by an influential group of parliamentarians and explore the reasons behind high vacancy rates, ask what more the sector…
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Dec- 2023 -

18 December

10,000 hospitality groups may benefit from Scottish rates relief, reports find

Around 10,000 hospitality businesses would stand to benefit if the Scottish government heeded the calls from UKH Scotland and introduced a business rates relief scheme, replicating support in England, according to The Fraser of Allander Institute. The institute found that those businesses are ineligible for the small business bonus scheme,…
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5 December

Labour shortages to worsen with new immigration plan, says UKH

Labour shortages in the hospitality sector are set to worsen as a result of the Government’s new immigration plans according to UKHospitality. While three quarters of the hospitality workforce are made up of UK nationals, around a quarter of the workforce is made up of overseas workers according to UKH.…
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Jul- 2023 -

14 July

UKH calls late night levy extension ‘damaging blow’ to sector

UKHospitality has branded the extension of the late night levy a “damaging blow” to the sector after the government adapted the law for local authorities. The levy will now allow local authorities to create late night levy areas smaller than their local authority boundaries and extend levies to sites such…
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May- 2023 -

26 May

UKH warns immigration rules ‘not working effectively’ for businesses

In a response to the publication of legal migration figures, UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls has warned that the immigration system is “not working effectively for businesses”. Her response comes as significant shortages of staff across hospitality are still persisting, as 132,000 vacancies are yet to be filled. This is…
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Feb- 2023 -

8 February

UKH welcomes new energy security department

UKHospitality has welcomed the creation of a new department for energy security following a restructuring of government departments yesterday (7 February), calling the move “good news” for the sector. The reshuffle saw the former Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) split into three new departments, including the Department…
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