Hospitality is key to country's growth

THE DISCONNECT between the Government's tax and welfare policies has come to a head, to the point where they are now acting in direct conflict with one another.

- By Kate Nicholls CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF UK HOSPITALITY

In fact, it’s looking like a lose-lose situation for both the Treasury and the Department for Work and Pensions.

Getting people back into work is the right focus - but it needs foundational sectors like hospitality to be creating jobs to achieve that goal.

Unfortunately, the regressive decisions by the Treasury to drastically raise employer taxes next month mean that job creation has ground to a halt.

In many cases it’s in reverse, with employers taking jobs off the market. Confidence has plummeted to its lowest in years, with businesses cancelling returning to the workforce or with caring responsibilities.

“As the Government’s welfare reforms aim to increase the numbers in work, flexible retail roles offer a first rung back on to the career ladder.”

Small retailers employing more than 10 people were also facing higher employment costs, while the high street was hit with bigger bills after Labour cut Covid-era discounts on business rates for retailers, pubs and restaurants last year.