NICs hike will mean 10% rise in employment cost
The increase in employer national insurance contributions (NICs), which is set to come into force in April 2025, will mean a 10% rise in the cost of employment per person, research has found.
Legislation
Trade bodies caution Government over Employment Rights Bill impact
The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) and UKHospitality (UKH) have warned the Government about potentially negative effects of the Employment Rights Bill.
There will be ‘blood on the carpet’ following the Budget
There will be “blood on the carpet” after the Budget but firms must not “lose sight” of their goals, Hook Norton managing director James Clarke told The Morning Advertiser (The MA).
Proposed allergen guidance ‘needs to be flexible’
Flexibility should underpin allergen guidance, one trade body has stated.
NIC rise will have bigger impact than changes to Employment Rights Bill
Increased Employer National Insurance Contributions (NIC) will “immediately impact” employment more than changes to the Employment Rights Bill, one trade body has warned.
UKH CEO cites benefits of Get Britain Working plans
UKHospitality CEO Kate Nicholls has said the introduction of the Get Britain Working white paper will be beneficial to the on-trade by bringing more people into jobs.
Gov's Industrial Strategy 'overlooks pubs and breweries'
The Government’s Industrial Strategy “overlooks pubs and brewers” and risks economic growth, industry leaders have warned.
Trade bodies welcome ‘critical milestone’ in fight against spiking and violence
Trade bodies have welcomed a Government pledge to keep “women and girls safe at night” with a crackdown on spiking that will see it become a new criminal offence.
UKH Scotland calls for 40% business rates relief ahead of Budget
Firms in Scotland will be “significantly” worse off than their English counterparts without business rates support in the upcoming Scottish Budget, one trade body has warned.
Rising inflation and energy prices 'ominous warning'
Higher than expected inflation and energy prices an “ominous warning” of what could come in April, industry leaders have warned.
Wells & Co invests in French estate due to 'negative' Budget impacts
Wells & Co has will direct its capex funds overseas rather than the UK as a result of the autumn Budget, which will have a "prolonged negative impact on consumer confidence".
Welsh gov move to abandon DRS ‘extremely disappointing’
The Welsh branch of UKHospitality has labelled a move by the country’s Government to abandon the UK-wide deposit return scheme (DRS) as “extremely disappointing”.
Plans to permanently cut business rates must 'level the playing field'
Industry leaders warn measures to permanently cut business rates must be part of a “bigger picture” to reduce the “unfair tax burden” on the sector.
City nightclub facing closure due to lease expiration
Motion, a popular night-time live music venue located in Avon Street in Bristol, has announced it may be closing its doors come July 2025.
New fraud guidance will hold firms to account
New anti-fraud guidance was published on Wednesday 6 November, outlining crucial advice for organisations around the new corporate criminal offence, ‘Failure to Prevent Fraud’.
25% of independent pubs facing closure after 'devastating' Budget
One in four (25%) independent pubs are set to fail as a result of the hikes in unemployment costs and business rates, a survey has shown.
What the national insurance contribution changes mean
Following the alterations to employers' national insurance contributions, one financial expert has outlined what these mean for operators.
90% of venues struggling with extreme costs
Nine in 10 night-time firms are battling extreme costs, following the Budget last month (October).
Business leaders’ confidence declines amid increasing cost rises
Optimism among Britain’s hospitality leaders has dropped amid extreme pressures on margins and consumer visits, research has found.
Interest rates cut 'overshadowed' by looming cost increases
The Bank of England (BoE) has reduced interest reduced interest rates by 0.25%, but “£3.4bn worth of cost increases still looming” for hospitality firms.
Operators left in fear following Budget announcements
Some 82% of operators have admitted they fear for the future of pubs following Rachel Reeves' Budget announcements, according to recent data from the UK Spirits Alliance (UKSA).
Sector reacts as pubs exempt from outdoor smoking ban
Industry leaders have welcomed news pubs will be exempt from the potential outdoor smoking ban as some operators brand the proposal a “waste of Government time”.
Gov axes plans to introduce smoking ban in pub gardens
Plans to introduce a smoking ban in pub gardens have been scrapped, the Government has confirmed.
New business rates system ‘ill-thought-out’
Plans to reform business rates in 2026 have been “ill-thought-out” despite pledging to address the imbalance between bricks and mortar and online businesses.
OPINION
OPINION: First Budget proves Gov is not ‘pro business’
It took Chancellor Rachel Reeves 77 minutes to demolish any hope that, despite its claims, this is a Government that is ‘pro-business’.
BUDGET 2024
Key points from the Budget in summary
Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered Labour’s first Budget in 14 years, with many from the on-trade raising concerns over moves that will affect operators.
BUDGET 2024
Operators hit back at ‘disappointing’ Budget
Pub operators have responded to Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Budget with disappointment, warning of the possibility of further pub closures and adding thousands to their already escalating costs.
BUDGET 2024
1p off a draught pint but other dispense formats will see duty rise
The Government’s “commitment to support smaller brewers” came in the form of a 1.75% reduction in beer/cider duty for draught products in the Budget.
BUDGET 2024
Employer national insurance contributions to rise
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced an increase in employer national insurance contributions as the autumn Budget was announced.
BUDGET 2024
Business rates relief slashed but system will be overhauled in 2026
Pubs will suffer in the short term after their pleas for the 75% business rates relief to remain were replaced with a 40% reduction in the Budget – but an overhaul of the system will take place in 2026/27.
BUDGET 2024
'2025 will be painful for hospitality'
We’ll be reporting the latest from Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Budget statement and its impact on the trade.
Lord: Gov support vital to avoid high streets being ‘decimated’
High streets will be “decimated” without support for the hospitality sector in the Budget on Wednesday (30 October), according to night-time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, Sacha Lord.
Sector urged to 'remain proactive' during new fraud prevention laws
Trade body UKHospitality (UKH) has responded to new anti-fraud legislation, which is set to come into force in the coming months.
New harassment legislation: NTIA calls for 'full commitment' to change
Legislation on harassment introduced this month (October), marks a significant milestone in improving employee protections throughout the UK’s night-time economy, one trade body has stated.
Beer industry boost vow in Budget welcomed
SIBA and CAMRA have welcomed the Government’s intention to support the independent brewing industry but urged further reliefs be made on draught beer duty and business rates.
54% of firms would cut jobs if business rates relief ends
More than half (54%) of hospitality businesses would reduce their employment levels, risking job losses if the current business rates relief ends next year, research has shown.
Review of the Week
'They're making an enemy of us'
The MA's Ed Bedington caught up with Our Yummy Collection founder Anthony Pender to get his take on the week's news.
NTIA: Nightclubs on ‘brink of extinction’
The Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA) has claimed the nightclub scene is on “the brink of extinction”.
Seven in 10 late-night firms facing closure
Seven out of 10 firms face collapse without urgent business rates relief extension, new research from the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA) has revealed.
Budget ‘last chance for Gov to stop rates bills quadrupling’
Bosses of the country’s biggest and well-known pub groups have backed calls for business rates support at the Budget.
Sector reveals hopes and fears in Budget lead-up
Business rates, wage increases and tax rises are just three areas of concern leaders from the sector have highlighted ahead of the Budget on Wednesday 30 October.
Review of the Week
Maintain the pressure ahead of budget
The MA's Ed Bedington caught up with UKHospitality boss Kate Nicholls to get her take on the week's events and why the sector needs to maintain pressure on Government and MPs ahead of the budget.
Tube strikes will impact sector on 'key' trading days
November’s Tube strikes will have a “significant impact” on London’s hospitality firms on key trading days, one industry body has said after further industrial action was announced.
UKH: NI hike would 'hammer' sector
An increase to employer national insurance (NI) contributions would “hammer” the hospitality sector.
Opinion
Government needs to get off the fence and give clarity to businesses
We’ve seen a lot of recent headlines around how the new Government is pro-business, hosting investment events and courting the international business community.
Starmer refuses to rule out employer NI hike
The Prime Minister has refused to rule out a National Insurance (NI) increase for employers in the upcoming Budget.
100 DAYS OF LABOUR
'Words must be met with action' as Labour marks 100 days
Voices from across the sector have urged the Government to be clearer on its plans for future growth and make good on its pre-election promises after it marked 100 days in power.
Review of the Week
'We need to shout about being a great place to work'
The MA's Ed Bedington caught up with the BII's Steve Alton in the wake of the Government's employment bill announcement.
Employment Rights Bill will have 'major ramifications' for pubs
Employment law specialists have advised the pub sector to review their employment practices now so they are ready to implement changes when the Employment Rights Bill comes into force.
Sector braces for NLW increase in Budget
Publicans are bracing themselves for another possible jump in the national living wage (NLW) when Rachel Reeves addresses parliament in her first Budget as chancellor on 30 October.