Scully launches new Hospitality Strategy

Business minister Paul Scully has launched a new strategy aimed at ensuring the UK’s pubs, bars, restaurants and other hospitality venues can thrive long-term and adapt to consumer demands.

The Build Back Better: Hospitality Strategy focusses on the ‘three Rs’: reopening, recovery and resilience.

Reopening is backed by policies to support the hospitality industry address current recruitment challenges.

Recovery measures include working with the government-owned British Business Bank and other lenders to support access to finance so businesses can invest.

In terms of resilience, the government is looking to help the sector make hospitality a career option of choice, boost creativity, and develop a greener sector.

Measures include options for vocational training that support careers in the sector, such as a new T Level in addition to the planned Catering T Level, and working with the sector to raise the profile of careers in hospitality.

It also involves supporting innovation and productivity by using the government’s ‘Help to Grow’ programmes to strengthen the sector’s digital and management skills, and bringing hospitality businesses together with universities and other innovators to support the next generation of hospitality start-ups.

Business minister Paul Scully, whose portfolio includes hospitality, 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.”

A new Hospitality Sector Council made up of industry leaders and Government is being created to oversee the delivery of the strategy.

The council will agree an action plan to deliver the recommendations, review progress against this plan and monitor the overall recovery of the sector as businesses transition from reopening to recovery to resilience.

The council will be co-chaired by Scully with Café Rouge founder and Prezzo chair Karen Jones, with further members will be announced in due course.

UKHospitality has warmly welcomed the launch of the strategy, as recognition of the unique and valuable contribution the sector makes to the UK’s economic and social wellbeing.

Chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “The pandemic has devastated the hospitality sector and businesses are desperate to bounce back strongly and return to profitable trading. That’s why the launch of this new Hospitality Strategy is so important – it offers a strong platform to deliver the supportive regulatory and trading environment we need to recover, rebuild resilience and thrive.

“Building and training our workforce is a top priority if hospitality is to quickly revive and drive a national recovery, so it’s incredibly positive that a key part of this strategy is focused on addressing the current recruitment challenges and raising the profile of long-term sector careers.

“On the focus on carbon reduction, significant work is already ongoing in terms of leading the sector to a net zero future, so measures that will help support the industry’s roadmap are welcome. Ultimately, this strategy sets out a positive vision for the future of hospitality and how a thriving sector can help regenerate high streets and tourism destinations across every part of the country. We look forward to working closely with Government to deliver a plan of action.”