Kate Nicholls
This archive features our reporting on Kate Nicholls OBE — a key voice in the UK’s hospitality and foodservice policy landscape. As Chair of UKHospitality, Nicholls plays a central role in lobbying government, shaping regulation, and influencing the commercial environment in which restaurants, pubs, bars, cafés, and catering firms operate. Catering Today covers Nicholls’ statements, policy positions, and leadership activity because her work directly affects the trading conditions, labour challenges, and long-term resilience of foodservice businesses. For operators navigating rising costs, staffing pressures, or post-pandemic recovery, her advocacy and insights are both timely and consequential.
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Jan- 2024 -2 JanuaryTrade Associations
UKH sets out plan for 2024
UKHospitality has unveiled a three-point plan which it will focus on in 2024 to put hospitality at the “front and centre of policy making” ahead of the next General Election. The plan includes generating investment through root and branch reform of business rates, creating jobs through Apprenticeship Levy reform and…
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Dec- 2023 -11 DecemberNews
UKH welcomes new Ofgem proposals
UKHospitality has welcomed Ofgem recent proposals to expand protections for businesses in the energy market. The energy regulator has launched a statutory consultation on proposals to ensure all businesses get the highest standards of service and provide more clarity on the costs being paid to third party energy brokers. The…
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5 DecemberGovernment
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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1 DecemberPubs and Bars
RMT accepts pay offer ending strikes until at least spring 2024
The RMT has announced that it has accepted a pay deal from the Rail Delivery Group, ending strike action until at least spring 2024. Members of the union have accepted a 5% pay increase which is backdated to 2022-2023 alongside a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies until the end of…
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Nov- 2023 -27 NovemberNews
Today’s news in brief – 27/11/23
Pho is set for expansion, securing fresh funding following a 33.6% turnover surge to £58.3m in FY23. Despite a profit dip to £1.8m (from £5.6m) due to pandemic concessions, restaurant EBITDA held steady around £10.4m. The company attributes the profit decrease to prior government aid. While FY23’s EBITDA stood at…
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27 NovemberTrade Associations
Extended hours for Euro 2024 ‘essential’ for pubs and bars, says UKH
Hospitality trade body UKHospitality has warned it is “essential” that trading hours are extended for the semi-finals and final stage of the European Championships next summer. UKH chief Kate Nicholls said Euro 2024 is set to be a “huge event” for hospitality businesses next summer as fans pack pubs and…
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22 NovemberNews
UKH criticises 10% rise in NLW amid business rates row
UKH has criticised the government’s latest announcement that the National Living Wage will rise 10% and 28p more than originally planned, saying that this increase will have a “knock-on” effect on businesses already struggling with costs. Yesterday, the government announced that the NLW will increase to £11.44 from April 2024,…
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10 NovemberTrade Associations
Hospitality leaders call for ‘urgent action’ in Autumn Statement
Michelin-starred chefs and publicans have joined industry CEOs from more than 230 companies in signing an open letter to the chancellor calling for urgent support ahead of this month’s Autumn Statement. Tom Kerridge, Monica Galetti, Tom Aikens and Jodie Kidd were among the chefs and publicans included in the letter,…
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8 NovemberNews
Today’s news in brief – 08/11/23
J D Wetherspoon has reported a 9.5% like-for-like sales growth for the 14 weeks ended 5 November. During this period, bar sales increased by 10.7%, food by 8.2%, and slot machines by 10%. The group’s hotel room sales also saw a 6.2% increase. In the year to date, total sales…
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8 NovemberTrade Associations
UKH urges govt to protect industry following King’s Speech
UKHospitality has urged the government to ensure there are measures in place to protect hospitality businesses from the effects of the cost-of-living crisis, following the King’s Speech yesterday (7 November). The bills outlined by the King included the carryover of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bills, which aims to…
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