The British Beer & Pub Association has today welcomed the launch of various consultations by the Government to cut waste and plastic, but has urged that a pragmatic approach is needed to ensure that objectives are achieved in the most cost-effective manner that work across the UK. Responding to the launch of the consultations, including a consultation on a proposed Deposit Return Scheme, Brigid Simmonds, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said: “Brewers and publicans fully support efforts to cut waste and plastic and so we welcome these consultations. However, a pragmatic approach is needed to ensure waste is reduced in a cost-effective manner that works across the UK. “We support a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for plastic bottles, but we also believe that enhancements to the current recycling schemes which collect cans and glass from residential and business properties can ensure we continue to achieve the high targets set by government. “There is currently a separate consultation on a DRS in Scotland, but the BBPA believes that a UK-wide system is crucial to making a DRS a success. This would avoid unnecessary costs and significant fraud risk in what is an integrated UK supply-chain and market for drinks containers. Evidence from other countries also shows that an industry-run, not-for-profit, scheme would likely deliver the most cost-effective results. “The proposed changes to Producer Responsibility Obligations will, according to the consultation, lead to a tenfold increase in the cost of PRNs (Packaging Waste Recovery Notes). This is significant for our industry as the beer and pub sector are major contributors to the current regime and will now bear the full cost of collection, recycling or disposing of waste. It is therefore important that any changes brought about by these consultations fully take into account the impact on businesses of all sizes, many of whom in our sector are already operating under significant regulatory burdens. We’ll be making this clear in our responses to these consultations.”
The annual Hospitality Works campaign has today launched for 2019, promoting hospitality as a sector where jobseekers can find gainful employment and a successful career. With the support of national hospitality employers, the campaign will be led by the Department for Work and Pensions, The Springboard Charity, UKHospitality and the British Beer and Pub Association. It will showcase the great career opportunities available across the hospitality sector, which currently faces a skills shortage. Hospitality Works 2019 will centre around two ‘Big Bash Events’ held in Manchester and Leeds. The Leeds ‘Big Bash’ event will kick off on 20th of February and the Manchester ‘Big Bash’ event will take place on 8th of March. Both events will provide opportunities for a range of employers to meet with their local Job Centre Plus and potential future employees. The Hospitality Works campaign has created in excess of 8,000 work placements since its conception in 2015. With the set-piece ‘Big Bash’ events and countless other events around the country planned, a record number of jobseekers are expected to find themselves a career in hospitality this year thanks to the campaign. Springboard’s Chief Executive Anne Pierce CBE commented: “In an industry where skills shortages continue to be challenging and labour shortages heading rapidly to crisis point, there is an acute need to take positive action to attract more people from the UK into the hospitality industry and fill the growing number of vacancies – particularly in the cities. This is why Springboard will be, once again, joining DWP as a major partner in Hospitality Works, rallying our industry partners, ambassadors and delivery teams to engage, inspire and influence jobseekers to join our fantastic industry, through a range of national and local inspirational activities and events in partnership with job centres in every region of the country.” Brigid Simmonds, Chief Executive of the British Beer and Pub Association commented: “The BBPA are delighted to once again support the Hospitality Works campaign. Our industry needs to do more to recruit UK citizens to our workforce whether behind the bar or in our kitchens, as pub chefs, or wider roles within the team. I am pleased our members are taking part in this important campaign up and down the country, working with Job Centres and potential employees. “Campaigns such as Hospitality Works do a great job of promoting the huge variety of career options which the hospitality sector can provide, enabling those looking for work to embark on an exciting and rewarding career.” Hospitality Works 2019 will also be supported by some of the biggest employers in the industry including Marston’s, McDonalds, Hilton, Ei Group, Caffé Nero, Bourne Leisure and Yo! Sushi. They’ll be taking part through visiting schools, holding events at job centres and welcoming jobseekers into their businesses for a taste of hospitality and to understand what opportunities are available to them within the sector. If you want to participate as a business/employer, please email hospitality.works@dwp.gsi.gov.uk or follow the #JobsWithASmile hashtag on social media.
Total beer sales increased by 2.6% in 2018 across the on and off trades This was the biggest growth in year-on-year beer sales for 45 years In the off trade (e.g. supermarkets and convenience stores), beer sales increased by 4.7% year-on-year In the on trade (e.g. pubs), beer sales increased by 0.1% year-on-year Sales of beer in 2018 were up 2.6% on 2017, according to the latest Beer Barometer sales data from the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA). The increase marks the biggest year-on-year sales growth of beer in 45 years. In the off trade, full year 2018 sales of beer increased by 4.7% on full year 2017 sales. In the on trade, full year 2018 sales of beer increased by 0.1% on full year 2017 sales. Despite a difficult start to 2018 for the beer and pub sector, with total sales of beer in Q1 2018 down by 1.7% on the same period in 2017, consistent growth in Q2 (up 3.6% on Q2 2017), Q3 (up 4.4% on Q3 2017) and Q4 (up 3.1% on Q4 2017) meant it was a record year for beer sales. Increased beer sales in Q2 and Q3 2018 were driven by the success of England at the World Cup, which saw the national team reach the semi-finals of the tournament, driving footfall in pubs where fans watched the games. Increased beer sales in Q2 and Q3 2018 were also driven in part by good weather, which encouraged people to get out and visit their local, making full use of the pub garden. Although the World Cup was a welcome boost to pubs this year, leading to a notable increase in beer sales, it only comes around once every four years. This means pubs cannot rely on it for growth. Good weather cannot be relied on by pubs or off trade businesses to boost beer sales either. The Chancellor’s decision to freeze beer duty in his most recent Budget was therefore very welcome and appears to have had an immediate impact on the industry, with beer sales increasing in Q4 2018. In particular, pubs benefited from a strong end to 2018 with beer sales growing by 2.2% in Q4 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. This was the first time Q4 beer sales grew in the on trade since 2011. The Chancellor’s decision to freeze beer duty in the Autumn 2017 Budget will also have boosted beer sales in 2018 overall. Brigid Simmonds, Chief Executive of British Beer & Pub Association, said: “2018 has been a good year for beer and pubs. Considering the heavy cost burdens the industry faces from high beer duty, business rates and rising costs in general, it’s great to see beer sales doing the best they have for some years. “A significant amount of the growth in beer sales in 2018 can be attributed to the England team’s performance at the World Cup and the good weather over the summer months. “The Chancellor’s decision in the 2018 Autumn Budget to freeze beer tax also appears to have had an immediate impact, with sales of beer in pubs growing in the last quarter of 2018 by 2.2%. This shows just how important reducing the beer tax burden is to boosting sales of beer and helping pubs with their footfall. “As the UK’s alcoholic drink of choice, which continues to have a much bigger, positive impact on the UK economy than any other drink, it is important that beer continues to do well and that the Chancellor continues to support pubs.”
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