Trade Associations

The latest news and updates on trade associations, 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.

Mar- 2025 -

25 March

Hospitality Action reports record-breaking year of support in 2024

As Hospitality Action marks the fifth anniversary of its first COVID grant, the charity reports that it has seen a “lasting rise in demand for support”, making 2024 its “most challenging year yet”. According to its latest Impact Report, a surge in grant applications last year was driven by mounting…
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17 March

CareerScope hub launch to offer lifeline to staff facing closures

Five trade bodies – the Institute of Hospitality, Hospitality Action, the Savoy Education Trust, Springboard and UKH – have officially launched the CareerScope Hospitality Support Hub to help people who have lost their jobs or their businesses due to the number of closures in the sector. The new resource hub…
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Jan- 2025 -

30 January

Growth plan must include foundation economy, UKH says

UKHospitality has urged the chancellor to bring forward a specific growth plan for hospitality, and other sectors in the foundation economy, that can deliver growth “swiftly”. While the trade body agreed that big infrastructure projects are much-needed, it also pointed out that their benefits won’t be realised “for years or…
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21 January

A fifth of hospitality staff to enter new employer NICs threshold

More than 774,000 hospitality workers, representing a fifth of the industry’s workforce, are set to enter into the new employer NICs threshold for the first time, according to new analysis from UKH. The trade body warns that the changes to employer National Insurance Contributions will hit hospitality hardest due to…
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20 January

Scottish budget leaves thousands of venues worse off, UKH claims

UKHospitality Scotland has claimed that the latest Scottish budget will leave more than 2,500 hospitality businesses ineligible for support. The new measures in the budget will provide 40% business rates relief for venues with a rateable value up to £51,000. The trade organisation stated that combined with increases to the…
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Dec- 2024 -

24 December

BBPA calls on govt to continue reviewing ‘worrying’ EPR fees

The BBPA has urged the government to continue reviewing the new “worrying” UK extended producer responsibility (EPR) base fee for businesses that import or supply packaging, following the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ announcement. The regulations mean that organisations, such as hospitality businesses, may be responsible for the…
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20 December

UKH disappointed in BoE decision to hold interest rates

UKHospitality has expressed disappointment in the Bank of England’s decision to hold interest rates at 4.75%, which came after a recent hike in both inflation and wage growth. At its meeting this week, the bank’s monetary policy committee voted by a majority of 6–3 to maintain the current rate. Three…
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12 December

UKH calls for ‘substantial’ rates relief after years of overtaxing

UKHospitality CEO Kate Nicholls has raised concerns that some hospitality businesses with a rateable value over £500k have been “dragged” into the surcharge category and face paying higher business rates, which goes against the policy’s intention. Under the proposals, properties with a rateable value below £500k could benefit from a…
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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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4 December

Employment Rights Bill must reflect sector’s position, UKH says

UKH has urged the government to ensure the “unique” circumstances of the industry are reflected in any changes made to the Employment Rights Bill. It comes as the Bill’s four technical consultations officially closed this week (Tuesday 2 December). The trade body has submitted responses to each consultation, building on…
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