UKH urges Gov to work with hospitality as ‘eyewatering’ £3.4bn costs hit

UKHospitality has urged the government to work with hospitality to help bring growth and jobs back to the sector on the day (1 April) that £3.4bn of new annual costs hit the sector.

It comes as hospitality businesses will now face an additional £1.9bn in wage costs, £1bn of employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) and £500m in business rates, as a result of relief being lowered from 75% to 40%.

The cost of employing a full-time member of staff, aged over 21-years-old, has increased by more than £2,500 annually, a 10% increase. The cost of employing staff aged below 18-years-old has increased by 18% and for employees between 18- and 20-years-old it has increased by 16%.

UKH revealed that seven in 10 hospitality businesses say they will have to reduce their employment levels as a result, risking job losses and lost income for workers. A third will reduce trading hours and 15% believe they will have to close at least one site.

As such, UKHospitality is urging the Government to bring forward a plan for hospitality businesses that enables the sector to unlock growth and jobs. This plan would have to set out how the Government intends to reduce the costs and red tape that plague the sector.

It added this should include the Treasury ensuring its business rates reform, to be unveiled in the Autumn, offers the maximum discount for hospitality businesses.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, said: “The costs hitting hospitality this month are eye-watering, and the impacts it will have on businesses, teams and communities are stark.We’ve already seen a chilling effect on investment plans and job creation – all of which have been put on hold or shelved. As costs begin to bite, we’ll see venues having to tighten their belt even further through restricting trading hours or, in a worst-case scenario, cutting jobs.

“None of this helps the Government’s ambitions to drive growth or get people back into work. It needs sectors like hospitality to achieve both of those goals, but with disjointed tax and welfare policies, that is looking more difficult than ever.Hospitality has the ability to generate socially productive growth and create jobs for everyone, everywhere, but this level of cost ties our hands behind our back. I urge the Government to work with us to bring forward a plan for hospitality that addresses these issues and backs the sector to serve Britain and create places where people want to live, work and invest.”