UKHospitality Cyrmu: don’t penalise bars for green investments

Trade body UKHospitality Cymru has backed the Welsh government’s move to ensure businesses aren’t penalised for investing in being more eco-friendly.

In response to consultations around renewable energy rates support and improvement rates relief in Wales, the trade body said the measures would inspire companies to spend on reducing their environmental impacts.

David Chapman, UKHospitality Cymru executive director, also urged the Welsh government to make the measures permanent and to consider other areas, as the industry continues to rebuild post-pandemic.

Chapman said: “Hospitality businesses in Wales are keen to make improvements to their venues, whether it’s improving existing buildings or investing in new technology to help them become more sustainable.

“Incentivising businesses to make improvements to their venues is a win-win. Not only does it improve efficiency and sustainability but it can help attract more people to a local area, support high streets and drive business investment.

“I’m pleased the Welsh government has recognised the benefits these exemptions and reliefs can deliver. Not only is it a common-sense approach to encourage investment but it’s a clear signal to business that their concerns are being heard.

“I’d encourage the government to go a few steps further by making the renewables proposal permanent and extending the proposed relief period for buildings improvements from 12 months to 24 months, in addition to considering a radical rethink of business rates reform.”

In more recent sustainability-related news, last month Chivas Brothers, the Scotch whisky arm of Pernod Ricard, made its carbon-reducing technology available to the wider industry – a move it believes could halve carbon emissions.