Government assembles Hospitality Council to guide sector recovery

The council has been assembled to help deliver the Government’s 'hospitality strategy', which was launched back in July and is intended to support the reopening, recovery and resilience of the sector following the pandemic. 

This includes making it easier for pubs, restaurants and cafes to offer al fresco dining by making pavement licenses permanent; and extending takeaway pints in England and Wales until September 2022.

The first meeting of the Council, which is led by Prezzo executive chair Karen Jones and Business Minister Paul Scully, will take place today (29 September).

"The hospitality industry has shown incredible creativity and resourcefulness through the pandemic, pivoting to new ways of doing business like al fresco dining and takeaway pints to stay safe, meet changing consumer demands and protect livelihoods," says Scully.

"With the launch of this council, we’re taking the next step in the journey to build back better from the pandemic by unveiling the experts who’ll be driving the reopening, recovery and resilience of the sector."

Other Council members include Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association; Starbucks UK general manager Alex Rayner; Turtle Bay, Caravan Restaurants and Flight Club chair Jane O’Riordan; and Restaurant Group chief executive Andy Hornby.

Since the strategy was launched, the National Employers and Partners Team has created a steering group to find hospitality vacancies and support employers in filling them.

Opportunities in the industry, which is continuing to face a crippling labour shortage, are also being highlighted to jobseekers through the Department for Work and Pensions's dedicated Work Coaches.

Elsewhere, the Department for Education has added hospitality and catering courses to the Government's Lifetime Skills Guarantee.

"I think the lockdowns have shown us many things, particularly the importance of our people and our teams and the key role hospitality has to play in lighting up our high streets and city centres," says Jones.

"We now need to capitalise on our combined energy, creativity and innovation to continue the creation of a world-class hospitality industry: the Hospitality Sector Council will aid in making that a reality."