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.
-
Mar- 2021 -24 MarchCoronavirus
Hospitality urged to register for free workplace Covid testing
Trade associations are urging businesses in the hospitality industry to register for free workplace Covid-19 testing. The deadline to register for free rapid lateral flow tests, which will allow businesses to test employees twice a week, is 31 March 2021. With hospitality set to partially reopen in April, trade associations…
Read More » -
23 MarchGovernment
UKH calls for gov to look at ‘data not dates’ when lifting restrictions
UKHospitality (UKH) is urging the government to follow “data not dates” and loosen some of the restrictions slightly earlier than the current roadmap. According to the group, the continued success of the vaccination programme should allow for “hotels with self-contained rooms to be able to open alongside other self-contained accommodation…
Read More » -
22 MarchBusiness
Mayor of London to invest £6m into hospitality reopening
Sadiq Khan has announced a £6m investment to directly support the re-opening of London’s economy once Covid-19 restrictions are lifted. The mayor revealed he will be investing £5m to support the eventual reopening of central London, which will include a new campaign to attract visitors and tourists back into the…
Read More » -
15 MarchCoronavirus
Hugh Osmond joins legal battle to reopen indoor hospitality
Hugh Osmond, the current director of Various Eateries, has joined Sacha Lord’s legal challenge against the government to reopen indoor hospitality at the same time as non-essential retail next month. Osmond, founder of Punch Taverns and former Pizza Express director, wrote to Boris Johnson about the prime minister’s “irrational decision”…
Read More » -
11 MarchTrade Associations
Gov confirms lease forfeiture moratorium extension
The government has announced another extension of the lease forfeiture moratorium, in a boon for the hospitality industry. Robert Jenrick, the house secretary, confirmed protections that prevent landlords from repossessing commercial premises, if businesses are unable to to pay rent due to Covid-19, will now expire in June. Originally the…
Read More » -
9 MarchRegulations & Policies
Gov extends pavement licences to support hospitality
The government has confirmed plans to extend pavement licences for businesses on the high street. Communities secretary Robert Jenrick intends to extend pavement licences for a further 12 months to help the hospitality industry recover from the imposed national lockdown. Jenrick said: “We’re all looking forward to seeing pubs, cafes…
Read More » -
5 MarchCoronavirus
UKH warns business rates cap may endanger mid-sized firms
UKHospitality has warned that the £2m cap the government has imposed on business rates relief “could threaten the survival of jobs and businesses” for many mid-sized firms. The warning comes after the cap was unveiled as part of the chancellor’s budget announcement on Wednesday (3 March). As part of the…
Read More » -
4 MarchTrade Associations
Hospitality industry welcomes budget package
The UK hospitality industry has responded warmly to the confirmation of financial support in the government’s budget for this year. Yesterday (3 March), chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a £65bn support package for the economy as the country prepares to leave lockdown restrictions in April. Under the new budget, hospitality and…
Read More » -
3 MarchEducation
Hospitality sector urges gov to protect apprenticeship funding
Hospitality industry leaders are calling on the government to “throw a protective ring” around apprenticeships funding and youth employment in the sector, in order to make the training and development of the future hospitality workforce a “cornerstone of the recovery”. Leaders from a cross-section of the industry, including charities, trade…
Read More » -
3 MarchGovernment
Welsh Gov grants £30m for hospitality, leisure, and tourism
The Welsh Government has announced a £30m support package for hospitality, leisure, and tourism businesses impacted by the ongoing Covid-19 measures. The funding is aimed at businesses employing ten staff or over, recognising the higher level of operating costs that they face. Ken Skates, minister for the economy, transport and…
Read More »
