Government launches ‘Hospitality Strategy’ to help sector recover
It will focus on reopening, recovery and resilience with measures such as using the Department of Work and Pension’s work coaches to highlight the sector to job seekers in a bid to tackle in the recruitment challenges.
The strategy, aims to work with Government-owned British Business Bank and directly with lenders to support access to finance for firms to help them invest in their businesses.
Other aims in the strategy include exploring options for vocational skills and training to support careers in the sector including apprenticeships and other qualifications like a T-level and using the Help to Grow programmes in a bid to strengthen the sector’s digital and management skills.
The Government also announced pavement licences have been extended and made permanent alongside takeaway pints continuing for another 12 months as the temporary permissions for off-sales of alcohol are extended in England and Wales.
New options
Business minister Paul Scully said: “The pandemic has meant we’ve had to stay apart, and this has had a big impact on the hospitality industry, which exists to bring people together.
“We’ve been working with hospitality businesses throughout the pandemic to understand what support they need to not only reopen, but change and improve how they do things to meet changing consumer demands and protect jobs and livelihoods.
"We want young people to see the hospitality sector as a go-to option for long-term careers, and that’s why we will explore new options for vocational training and help further boost the creativity and environmental friendliness of the sector through the first-ever Government strategy for the hospitality industry.”
UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls highlighted the sector as fundamental to the nation’s economic and social wellbeing, before welcoming the new strategy.
Strong platform
She said: “It provides our sector with a strong platform to deliver the supportive regulatory and trading environment we need to recover, rebuild resilience and thrive.
“We look forward to working closely with the minister and as part of the sector council to deliver an action plan that enables our nation’s hospitality venues to bounce back from the devastation caused by the pandemic and return to creating jobs and careers – supporting Government’s agenda on levelling up.”
There has also been a Hospitality Sector Council set up, which is co-chaired by entrepreneur Karen Jones and Scully to oversee the delivery of the strategy.
Jones said: “The past 16 months has shown us many things, underlining the importance of our people and our teams and the key role hospitality has to play in lighting up our high streets and city centres.
“We need to capitalise on the energy, creativity and innovation that will be released post-pandemic to continue our creation of a world-class hospitality sector: this Strategy will aid in making that a reality.
“I am honoured to be co-chair alongside minister Scully and will work with a will with hospitality and Government colleagues to put in place all our wonderful industry needs to flourish.”
