Hospitality strategy launched to help the sector recover

A new Hospitality Strategy has been launched today by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy which focuses on the reopening, recovery and resilience of the sector.

As part of this, it has been announced that pavement licenses for pubs, restaurants and cafes will be extended to allow al fresco dining to continue and takeaway pints can be served for a further 12 months.

The strategy also focuses on the current recruitment struggles facing the industry, with long-term plans to help make the sector a ‘career option of choice’ by providing vocational skills and training, such as apprenticeships.

Paul Scully, the Business Minister co-chairing the Hospitality Sector Council overseeing the delivery of the strategy, said:

“The pandemic has meant we’ve had to stay apart, and this has had a big impact on the hospitality industry, which exists to bring people together. We’ve been working with hospitality businesses throughout the pandemic to understand what support they need to not only reopen, but change and improve how they do things to meet changing consumer demands and protect jobs and livelihoods.

“We want young people to see the hospitality sector as a go-to option for long-term careers, and that’s why we will explore new options for vocational training and help further boost the creativity and environmental friendliness of the sector through the first-ever government strategy for the hospitality industry.”

If you would like further clarity on today’s announcement regarding pavement licensing, contact Matt Foster, Head of Licensing and Gaming on mfoster@mincoffs.co.uk or call 0191 281 6151.