The trade body expressed its support for the review’s objectives and business-first approach, as a sector Vanguard.
The Keep Britain Working Review, led by Sir Charlie Mayfield, sets out a new employer-first approach to supporting employees and healthy workplaces, and tackling the rising issue of ill-health keeping people out of work.
UKHospitality has been listed as a sector Vanguard, in which it will act as a co-ordinating power for hospitality to work with businesses, input into new policy design and share best practice and insight.
In addition to work undertaken as part of this review, UKHospitality also highlighted the need for action to reduce the sector’s tax burden at the Budget, which will support its ability to help people back into work.
Join the Vanguard and shape workplace health reform
Hospitality businesses interested in joining the Vanguard can help shape national workplace health reform, receive the latest benchmarking and insights, showcase hospitality’s strengths and play a pivotal role in building a healthier workforce.
Our response
Kate Nicholls, Chair of UKHospitality, said: “People are at the heart of hospitality and are integral to delivering the brilliant experiences that our sector is known for.
“The priorities laid out in the Keep Britain Working Review to go even further to support our teams and develop healthier and more resilient workplaces are the right ones, and I’m pleased that UKHospitality will act as a sector Vanguard to co-ordinate activity, share best practice and drive change.
“This business-first approach is critical in order to utilise hospitality’s unique qualities as an entry point for those coming back into work or starting work for the first-time.
“We know that hospitality is the most socially productive sector in the economy, leading the way in employing part-time workers, access for non-graduates, and spread of jobs around the country. These are the qualities that are critical to tackling ill-health and getting people back into work.
“This approach needs to be taken in tandem with a concerted effort at the Budget to reduce the sector’s tax burden, which is one of the primary barriers to hospitality fulfilling its potential to employ more people and support people back into work.
“Businesses are being taxed out and there needs to be action at the Budget to lower business rates, fix NICs and cut VAT to reduce those costs, which will support high street businesses and the Government’s objective to help people back into work.”
