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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Aug- 2021 -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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15 JulyBusiness
Hospitality sector still faces ‘very real’ issues, says CGA
Despite some 79% of business leaders expressing optimism for the future, they also face the “very real” issues of staff shortages, rising costs and high debt levels, according to the latest Future Shock report from CGA and UKHospitality. Karl Chessell, CGA’s business unit director for hospitality operators and food, EMEA,…
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13 JulyTrade Associations
UKH welcomes lifting of restrictions on Freedom Day
Yesterday (12 July), prime minister Boris Johnson announced the government will proceed with moving into Step 4 of its roadmap out of lockdown, which will begin as planned on 19 July. As part of the new measures, nearly all legal restrictions will be lifted, however the need to wear face…
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7 JulyTrade Associations
New self-isolation rules ‘don’t go far enough’, says UKH
UKHospitality (UKH) has criticised the government’s updated rules for self-isolation as part of its roadmap out of lockdown, arguing the new rules do not move quickly enough, nor deal with the industry’s staff shortage crisis. Yesterday (6 July), health secretary Sajid Javid confirmed that double vaccinated people will no longer…
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6 JulyTrade Associations
Hospitality sector praises restriction easing announcement
The UK’s hospitality sector has overwhelmingly issued its support behind the government’s decision to scrap almost all existing Covid-19 restrictions in England by 19 July. This includes limits on the number of people who can meet together, legal requirements on wearing face masks, and social distancing in pubs and bars.…
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