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News
Third of on-trade to cut Christmas opening hours
The “systemic problem” of staff shortages will force one-third of businesses to reduce their opening hours over Christmas.
The data comes from trade body UK Hospitality’s 12 edition of the Future Shock report in partnership with CGA by Nielsen IQ.
Figures show a third (32%) of hospitality businesses have been forced to implement reduced hours over Christmas, while 13% have cut opening days – both due to labour shortages.
Kate Nicholls, UK Hospitality chief executive, said: “The statistics in the report lay bare the real-life impact on businesses and consumers as a result of not having enough staff.
“It’s so disappointing that businesses are having to go to such lengths such as simplifying menus and reducing trading hours to deal with this. It’s also doing the consumer a disservice, limiting choice and availability.”
The trade body is urging the UK government to introduce a two-phase approach to combat the issue, including changes to the immigration system and reforms to the Apprenticeship levy.
Suggestions include expanding the Youth Mobility Scheme to include EU member states, and abolishing the Immigration Skills Charge, which is an extra cost on top of visa requirements that could deter applicants, UK Hospitality warned.
“There are very simple measures available to the government that can free up the immigration system and make a huge difference to business,” Nicholls added. “Expanding the Youth Mobility Scheme to the EU27, for example, would do wonders to add good numbers of people to the available labour pool.
“Implementing these measures, alongside reform of the Apprenticeship Levy to best develop our own talent, would help hospitality businesses no end. With the right staffing resource, hospitality can really drive growth, offer customers an enhanced experience and help lift up the economy.”
The UK hospitality sector has also had to contend with rail strikes this festive period, which UK Hospitality warned could cost the sector £1.5 billion (US$1.8bn) in lost revenue.