Government launches strategy to support hospitality recovery including dedicated council

The government has launched a ‘hospitality strategy' to support the recovery of the sector, including a dedicated council to oversee its delivery.

The council will be co-chaired by Prezzo executive chair Karen Jones (pictured) and business minister Paul Scully, with further members to be announced in due course.

Scully said he wanted young people to see hospitality as "a go-to option for long-term careers".

The council will agree an action plan to deliver the recommendations, review progress and monitor the recovery of the sector. Initiatives will include bringing businesses together with universities to boost innovation as well as reducing the industry's waste and plastic consumption.

To support the industry's staffing shortage, the government will be highlighting opportunities in hospitality to jobseekers through the Department of Work and Pension's dedicated work coaches. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is also understood to be in discussions with the Home Office on what can be done to support the immediate staffing shortage in the sector.

Recovery measures will include working with the government-owned British Business Bank and directly with lenders to support access to finance for hospitality firms so they can invest in their businesses.

The government is also setting out ways to help the sector improve its resilience, including by exploring options for vocational skills and training that support careers in the sector, including apprenticeships, bootcamps and other qualifications like a T-Level, and working with the sector to raise the profile of careers in hospitality.

UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: "Hospitality is absolutely fundamental to the country's economic and social wellbeing, so this new strategy which recognises our unique role is very welcome. 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."