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In

BRIEF Urging the Prime Minister to take action, in

the run-up to this year’s Budget,
UK Hospitality Calls for Government UKHospitality is, among other demands,
Support for Hospitality Industry calling on the government to bring about
lower business rates to revive high streets,
New figures from the Office of National and to cut VAT on hospitality to drive
Statistics confirm 69,000 jobs have been lost investment.
within the hospitality sector since the last
Budget. Kate Nicholls, chair of UKHospitality, said:

“In the years following the financial crisis we
In a letter to the Prime Minister, created one in five net new jobs and today
UKHospitality said the increase to National employ 3.5 million people. The Government
Insurance Contributions, which has needs sectors like hospitality to create jobs
impacted a fifth of the workforce, had a and meet their ambition to get more people
“disproportionate effect on entry level jobs”. back into work.

The trade body also estimated earlier this
year that businesses were hit with a £1bn “The economy needs jobs. Hospitality
wage bill when the changes came into force creates them. But we are being taxed out.”
in April.

In

BRIEF

Red tape slashed to revamp high streets
with new cafes and bars

In a statement from the Dept of Business and
Trade, the government is set to overhaul
planning and licensing rules and regulations
to make it easier for hospitality venues to
open in empty and disused high street
locations.

The plan, which aims to “slash” red tape is
part of the Small Business Plan, and hopes to In addition, new ‘hospitality zones’ will fast-
breathe new life into high streets up and track permissions for alfresco dining, pubs,
down the country by introducing a new bars and street parties.
National Licensing Policy Framework, which
will modernise outdated planning and
licensing rules. The hope is that this new Reforms will also protect long-standing
framework will cut the cost, complexity, and venues from noise complaints by new
time it takes to open and operate hospitality developments.
venues.

SEP/OCT.25 ISSUE 44