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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Sep- 2021 -13 SeptemberTrade Associations
UKH welcomes extension to debt protections
UKHospitality has welcomed the Government’s extension of debt protections to tenants announced on 10 September. The body claimed that the additional protections for non-rent debts will provide “breathing space” for hospitality operators to negotiate with suppliers. Moreover, the measures are deemed to provide time to find an “appropriate arbitration mechanism…
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Aug- 2021 -23 AugustTrade Associations
Hospitality sector still struggling despite customers’ return to venues, UKH warns
Despite 56% of consumers returning to hospitality venues in the first 10 days after ‘Freedom Day’ last month, compared with 35% in 2020, thousands of businesses are still struggling compared to pre-pandemic, according to the latest UK Hospitality survey. A survey by the group found that it took over six…
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20 AugustAwards & Events
Kwasi Kwarteng confirmed as headline speaker at UKH annual conference
UKHospitality is set to welcome business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng as the headline speaker at its upcoming annual conference. Kwarteng will join a “stellar” line-up of sector leaders on the day, including Paul Pomroy, CEO of McDonalds UK, Karin Shepard, European MD of InterContinental Hotels Group and Nick Mackenzie, CEO of…
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13 AugustTrade Associations
Hospitality contributed to 40% of Q1 to Q2 economic growth, says UKH
The hospitality industry reportedly contributed to 40% of the UK’s total economic growth between Q1 and Q2 2021. The figure comes from the latest UKHospitality Quarterly Tracker, produced by CGA, which followed ONS data revealing the UK GDP to have grown 4.8% in June. Kate Nicholls, chief executive at UKH,…
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3 AugustCoronavirus
UKH welcomes NHS ‘ping’ changes, but calls for additional measures
UKHospitality has welcomed the recent Government announcement that the NHS Covid-19 app has been updated to “ping” fewer contacts, but has called for additional measures. The Department of Health and Social Care released a statement yesterday (2 August) stating that those being contacted by the app to self-isolate has been…
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Jul- 2021 -30 JulyTrade Associations
Hospitality businesses miss out on £100.2bn in sales due to Covid
Hospitality businesses have suffered a £100.2bn drop in sales from pre-pandemic levels in the 15 months since the start of the pandemic, according to the latest edition of the UKHospitality Quarterly Tracker with CGA. Prolonged closures and trading restrictions have both limited total sector sales in the 12 months to…
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28 JulyPeople
UKH names Kate Nicholls as disability ambassador
UK Hospitality (UKH) has appointed Kate Nicholls, CEO of the group, as its new disability ambassador. The appointment follows the government’s release of its new ‘National Disability Strategy’ – with officials outlining plans to offer disabled people better job support and opportunities. Nicholls said that as part of her new…
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21 JulyFeatures
Fixing the staffing shortage goes beyond changing self-isolation rules
It’s not new news, the hospitality sector is facing a staffing shortage crisis. A study conducted by CGA and Fourth last month found nine in 10 hospitality business owners expect employee shortages this coming year. Yet, the problem persists without showing any signs of letting up. With the 19 July…
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20 JulyCoronavirus
Industry figures hit out against nightclub vaccine restrictions
Industry figures have hit out against Boris Johnson’s announcement that, from September, only those fully vaccinated will be able to enter venues “where large crowds gather”. When addressing the nation, the prime minister claimed that the Government is “concerned” by the “continuing risk posed by nightclubs”. In turn, he confirmed…
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16 JulyGovernment
UKH welcomes gov’s new ‘hospitality strategy’
UKHospitality has welcomed the launch of a new ‘hospitality strategy’, which reportedly recognises the contribution the sector’s pubs, restaurants, hotels, nightclubs and other venues make to the UK’s economic and social wellbeing. The strategy sets out a raft of measures, including highlighting opportunities in the hospitality industry to job seekers…
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