UKH launches alliance for suppliers

UKHospitality has announced the launch of a supplier alliance in efforts to “provide a voice” for more businesses across the hospitality sector.

In particular, the newly-formed alliance will push for government support for suppliers in line with operators, ensuring that any ongoing measures in support of hospitality includes the entire business network.

The group draws on UKH’s “extensive” supplier membership base, alongside non-members, and has been launched alongside a new survey for suppliers that will “ascertain the scale of the crisis” facing supplier businesses, and outline the “urgent” need for support. 

It comes as UKH said that supplier businesses are “intrinsic to the functioning of the hospitality sector”, and will “face severe hardship should government support be discontinued while the hospitality sector is still in the early stages of reopening”.

UKHospitality chief executive, Kate Nicholls said: “The effect of the Covid-19 crisis has been acutely felt by hospitality businesses, and the impact is felt right across the sector. 

“There are many associated businesses which rely on the sector for their livelihood and these have been hammered just as hard.”

She added: “Supplier businesses within hospitality are just as wide-ranging, varied and dynamic as the venues themselves. 

“Our sector supports businesses as disparate as EPOS companies, licensing solicitors or even linen specialists. The shutdown of the hospitality sector has meant that all these businesses have been forced into hibernation as well.”