Trade body, which campaigned for the inclusion, says it will enable pub sector to help UK build back better The British Beer & Pub Association (BPPA), the leading trade association representing brewers and pubs, has today welcomed the announcement that hospitality and catering qualifications will be included as part of the Lifetime Skills Guarantee. The Lifetime Skills Guarantee enables adults without an A level or equivalent qualification to do a free, fully-funded Further Education course. The BBPA had campaigned for the inclusion of hospitality and catering qualifications – used in a range of pub roles, from those in the kitchen to front of house – when the Lifetime Skills Guarantee was first announced. It says the move will help the pub sector as it recovers from COVID-19 to help the UK build back better. Welcoming the inclusion of hospitality and catering qualifications in the Lifetime Skills Guarantee, Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said: “Having campaigned hard for it, we are delighted to see the inclusion of hospitality and catering qualifications in the Lifetime Skills Guarantee. “As restrictions are removed on pubs and they begin their road to recovery, we know they have a vital role to play in helping the communities they serve build back better. The inclusion of hospitality and catering qualifications in the Lifetime Skills Guarantee is a great first step for this. “Our pubs are on the search for new talent to nurture and develop. People using the Lifetime Skills Guarantee for a hospitality or catering qualification will have the opportunity to work in a sunrise industry and begin a rewarding and fulfilling career that can see them rise very quickly to running their own pub! “For existing talent in our pubs, the inclusion of these new qualifications will help enable them to upskill as part of their career development.”
Ongoing Government support essential to help sector meet challenges and rebuild after pandemic New research published by the UK’s leading hospitality and pub trade bodies shows the scale of the challenges facing these hard-hit businesses as they look to rebuild from the devastating effects of the pandemic. UKHospitality, The British Beer and Pub Association and The British Institute of Innkeeping are all warning that the long-awaited easing of restrictions this week does not mark an easing of challenges for sector businesses. Chief among these are major concerns around staffing, the supply chain and tapering of Government support. Furthermore, the current ‘pingdemic’, as a result of the NHS Covid app, means up to as many as a fifth of staff in the sector are isolating at any one time. This is forcing operators to reduce operating hours or to close venues completely, threatening to derail recovery. The survey of over 350 businesses operating tens of thousands of venues found that: 100% of businesses surveyed currently have vacancies; mainly front-of-house (84%), non-head chefs (67%) and kitchen porters (36%). A third are experiencing managerial role vacancies. Vacancy levels are running at 10% across the sector – implying a shortage of over 200,000 workers. Almost all (94%) of hospitality businesses are experiencing difficulties with their supply chain – 66% have reduced product lines; 63% are seeing delays in deliveries; 60% are experiencing products not turning up; and 56% are seeing major price inflation A return to a VAT rate of 20% next year will have negative impacts on the vast majority of businesses: 43% said they would cut investment; 30% would become loss-making; 28% would cut jobs; 22% would implement a recruitment freeze, and 21% would face business failure In terms of priorities for Government support, respondents ranked additional business rates relief into 2022/23 as the top measure, followed by a continued reduction in hospitality VAT beyond March 2022 and, thirdly, an overhaul of the business rates system. Other support measures needed that ranked highly were a reduction in the tax on beer and alcoholic drinks, as well as help to address labour shortages experienced by the sector. In a joint statement, the three trade bodies said: “The easing of all legal restrictions should mark a progression into the recovery phase for our sector, which has been hardest hit during the pandemic and only now permitted to trade unrestricted and make progress toward rebuilding and paying off accrued debts. “But businesses are faced with a range of pressing challenges meaning the road to recovery will be bumpy for many months to come. The sector has already lost more than 12,000 venues during the course of the pandemic and more than half a million jobs - without further adequate support there will be more businesses and jobs lost. “For hospitality to begin a sustainable recovery, Government must continue working closely with us in order to put in place the right trading environment, including measures such as further business rates relief into next year and the extension of the lower rate of VAT. This will offer firms the chance to bounce back strongly and help to rebuild fragile consumer confidence. With the right support, hospitality can be at the forefront of the nation’s economic recovery, creating jobs and reviving our high streets and city centres.”
Trade association says findings show investment now needed in sector to drive growth and help communities build back better The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA), the leading trade association representing brewers and pubs, has today responded to a study published by the ONS on the impact of COVID-19 on the hospitality sector in the UK. According to the ONS study, consumer spending on hospitality, which includes pubs, remains at less than 70% of pre-pandemic levels. The BBPA says the findings are further evidence of just how hard the hospitality sector, including beer and pubs, have been hit by COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions, and that investment is now needed in the sector for growth which help build back stronger communities and more jobs. In line with the beer and pub sector’s Long Live The Local campaign, the BBPA is urging the Government to invest in the sector through the reform of VAT, Beer Duty and Business Rates which unfairly penalise pubs. Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said: “This ONS study is yet further evidence of just how devastating the pandemic has been for hospitality. “The recovery of our sector has only just begun now restrictions have been lifted, but these ONS figures show far our sector has to go to return to viability. “The numbers are clear – more investment is needed now for our sector so it can play a leading role in building society and the economy back better. The Government must do this by reforming VAT, Beer Duty and Business Rates by which pubs and other hospitality businesses are greatly overtaxed. “We urge those who want to see hospitality and pubs recover to support the Long Live The Local campaign and sign the petition at https://www.longlivethelocal.pub./. Investment in our sector can help the country build back better with stronger communities, more jobs and a boost to villages, towns and cities across the country.”
We champion issues that matter to the beer and pub industry. These are causes our members are passionate about; whether it’s promoting beer as the nation’s drink, or campaigning against increases to beer duty and businesses rates that are so damaging to community pubs.