Sector working to reduce salt in food
UKHospitality has commented on today’s report by Public Health England, highlighting efforts by hospitality businesses to cut salt in food. The trade body has also reiterated that, for most customers, eating out is not an everyday occurrence.
UKHospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said: “Hospitality venues have made significant efforts to reformulate menus, provide greater choice and transparency, and reduce salt. These efforts have been recognised by PHE’s report and we will continue to work towards targets to reduce salt and promote healthier attitudes to food.
“It should be remembered that, for the vast majority of our customers, eating out is not an everyday occurrence. It remains an occasional treat which should be factored into wider efforts to promote healthy eating and drinking.”
Vital sustainability measures must be affordable to achieve success
New measures to promote sustainability and cut waste must be proportionate and affordable, according to UKHospitality.
Following the Government’s announcement of a strategy to cut waste and promote sustainability, UKH has highlighted ongoing efforts by the sector and warned against piling costs on businesses that may undermine existing work.
UKHospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said: “The hospitality sector shares the concerns of the Government and the public regarding sustainability. Our businesses understand there is a need to address issues like single-use plastics and food waste and they are already hard at work. Many outlets have already undertaken measures to cut waste voluntarily and UKHospitality, along with the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has been leading efforts to promote best practice across hospitality.
“We are supportive of new measures to promote sustainability and tackle waste, but they must be affordable and proportionate. New measures are going to hit businesses at a tough time when costs are increasing and consumer confidence is low. Any new scheme, particularly the deposit return scheme, must be workable and avoid piling further financial pressure on businesses.”
Clarity and transparency key to workers’ rights implementation
UKHospitality has challenged the Government to issue clear and transparent guidance to support businesses and employees regarding new workers’ rights.
The Government has today published a wide range of measures designed to transform workers’ rights. These include a further response to the Taylor Review, a response to the Director of Labour Market Enforcement’s annual report, a consultation on the National Minimum Wage regulations and the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission on flexibility of working.
UKHospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said: “These measures strike a balance between protecting workers’ rights and ensuring the highly-valued flexibility that exists in the UK. As ever, we need to see clear and unambiguous guidance from the Government to support businesses and ensure there are no accidental breaches to any new measures. The Government must also recognise that new measures will increase bureaucracy for businesses.
“Moves to amend the National Minimum Wage Regulations will do much to avoid accidental breaches and help employers supporting their employees through salary sacrifice schemes. We are also pleased to see our recommendations to the LPC have been heeded and a supplementary wage for non-contracted hours has not been taken forward. The Government’s package contains some pragmatic measures, but we are still concerned about plans to tackle ‘one-sided flexibility’ in the workplace. It is vital that guidance is clear so as to not undermine employer-employee relations regarding flexible working.”
UKHospitality reaction to migration White Paper
“The central plank of Government’s immigration policy, to cut off lower-skilled migration with a salary threshold, is fundamentally flawed and will damage the hospitality sector and the wider UK economy. It also does little to build bridges with our European friends.
We need the Government to keep to its word, listen to business over the next 12 months and realise that these proposals will be crippling for business, and Britain’s high streets in particular. An immigration policy that recognises the contributions of migrants of all skill levels is one that works for Britain.
“We are working to develop the pipeline of domestic talent, through the Tourism Sector Deal, of which hospitality is a major part; but the hospitality sector needs EU workers to support our homegrown teams and keep the sector growing.
“We welcome the Government’s commitment to expand youth mobility arrangements. All the evidence shows that young migrants contribute significantly to the UK economy. We await further detail on this, but it needs to have sufficient incentive for workers to want to come to the UK in the first place.
“The introduction of 12-month temporary visa could risk creating a dual workforce, with those permitted to stay being invested in and those on temporary visas unable to plan or progress. This could prove a significant drag on productivity.
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UKHOSPITALITY REFLECTS ON TRANSFORMATIONAL YEAR AND PREPARES FOR CHALLENGES OF 2019
UKHospitality has marked the successes of a transformational year at today’s 24th annual Christmas lunch.
Since its creation earlier this year, UKHospitality has gone from strength to strength, enjoying membership growth of 20% and vital campaigning successes, saving the sector £2.4bn in additional costs. Hospitality remains the third largest sector private sector employer and last year generated 1-in-8 of all new jobs.
UKHospitality’s reiterated its objectives of cultivating an environment that enables the sector to deliver its forecast of up to 6% growth, 30,000 additional jobs and 200,000 apprenticeships.
Chief Executive, Kate Nicholls, reported on the successful development of the UKH Academy, which provides ‘Gold Standard’ learning in line with a wide range of apprenticeship standards, funded either through the apprenticeship levy or subsidised by the government. The Academy also tailors learning for the employer to meet the needs of their business, while ensuring transferability of skills to equip learners for work across the sector.
Nicholls said: “2018 will be remembered as a key year for the sector, in which we created a single voice that was well heard during a turbulent year. Our industry is a rewarding and exciting industry in which to work and we are increasingly being recognised as such.
“Our work continues to see us fighting for a fair and balanced environment that enables our vital sector to flourish and we will continue to help politicians and the media understand our economic, social and cultural contribution. A top priority for the coming year is the people challenge; developing and building on the sector deal announced last month, countering the potentially devastating effects of the Government’s planned post-Brexit migration strategy and also promoting the sector as a great place to work, grow and develop.”