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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Jul- 2023 -14 JulyGovernment
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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Jun- 2023 -29 JuneBusiness
New scheme to retain hospitality staff launches in NI
The UK Hospitality and Tourism Skills Board has developed a new ‘Wellbeing and Development Promise’ to promote the wellbeing and development of staff within both sectors. The new scheme is a UK-wide hospitality and tourism industry initiative. Hospitality Ulster in partnership with Tourism Northern Ireland and the Hospitality and Tourism…
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14 JuneTrade Associations
Hospitality can deliver £29bn economic boost with right support, says UKH
In the past six years hospitality has increased its annual economic contribution by £20bn to £93bn, according to a new report launched at UKHospitality’s summer conference. It also showed that employment in the sector has risen to 3.5m, making hospitality the third largest employer in the country. The report, produced…
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May- 2023 -31 MayBusiness
Rail strikes set to cost hospitality industry £132m, says UKH
Upcoming rail strikes in May and June will cost the hospitality industry £132m according to UK Hospitality. Members of the ASLEF union are set to walk out on 31 May and 3 June after the union rejected what it called a ‘risible’ pay offer of 4% per year for two…
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26 MayBusiness
Hospitality turnover down 14% on pre-pandemic levels
Turnover for hospitality businesses was down 14.7% in the last year compared with pre-pandemic levels when accounting for inflation. This is according to the UK Hospitality Quarterly Tracker which is created in association with CGA Strategy. The tracker shows that the revenue generated in the last 12 months is 4.1%…
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26 MayNews
Contract caterers’ sales climb 30% in Q1, says CGA
Contract caterers’ sales in the first quarter of 2023 finished 30% above the same period in 2022, the latest Contract Catering Tracker from CGA by NIQ and Bidfood reveals. The strong quarter extends the sector’s recovery from the Covid crisis and reflects consumers’ steady return to workplaces and other locations…
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26 MayGovernment
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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24 MayTrade Associations
UKH warns there is a ‘long way to go yet’ despite inflation fall
UKHospitality has warned that despite today’s (24 May) announcement that inflation fell to 8.7% in April, continued inflationary pressure means there is “a long way to go in this crisis yet”. Whilst calling the overall figures “encouraging”, the trade body warned that the “stubbornly high” food and drink inflation is…
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16 MayComment
Return of the MAC: Should hospitality be on the Shortage Occupation List?
The hospitality sector accounts for a significant 7% of the UK workforce and comparing the most recent three-month period up until January this year with the immediate pre-pandemic period (Jan-Mar 2020), vacancies in the sector are 72% higher. This compares to an increase of 42% in the overall economy. The…
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Apr- 2023 -28 AprilBusiness
Fresh rail strikes to heap ‘further pain’ on hospitality, says UKH
Trade body UK Hospitality has called for all parties involved to “redouble” their efforts to reach a resolution ahead of planned strike action by train drivers. Train drivers from the ASLEF union are set to strike on three dates across May and June dashing hopes of a resolution to the…
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