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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May- 2023 -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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19 AprilNews
UKH urges government to improve vacancy rate ahead of summer
UKHospitality is urging the government to take action and improve the vacancy rate for the sector as the latest ONS figures show 140,000 job vacancies. The trade body warns that months of no positive movement in vacancy levels endangers the summer season as venues are forced to reduce opening hours…
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17 AprilNews
UKH calls for Ofgem intervention to help struggling businesses
With rising energy costs and a lack of support mounting across the board for hospitality businesses, UKHospitality is urging energy regulator Ofgem to force suppliers to engage in automatic renegotiations for those businesses paying the highest costs. Energy suppliers are also being asked to play their part and offer the…
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11 AprilNews
UKH opposes possibility of late night levy extension
UKHospitality has stated its significant opposition to any extension to the late night levy and reiterated the need to abolish it. In response to a Home Office consultation on extending the levy to apply to late night refreshment providers, UKHospitality highlighted that the entire consultation is based on an impact…
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Mar- 2023 -31 MarchNews
Hospitality sector faces £7.3bn increase in energy bills
Recent analysis conducted by UKHospitality shows that energy costs for the hospitality sector are set to be £12bn higher than prior to the energy crisis. The government is set to introduce the Energy Bill Discount Scheme from tomorrow (1 April) which will replace the current Energy Bill Relief Scheme while…
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