UKHospitality – government’s industrial strategy risks shutting out the majority of the people in the country: UKHospitality has warned that the government’s industrial strategy risks shutting out the majority of the people in the country. Consultation on the strategy, which is the UK government’s proposed ten-year plan for the economy, closed yesterday (Sunday, 24 November). UKHospitality said it focuses only on a small number of high economic productivity sectors and warned that policies which favour those sectors over the wider economy would risk the success of the strategy. The trade body called for the creation of a Foundation Economy Sector Council to ensure sectors like hospitality can thrive and contribute to the success of the eight sectors identified in the strategy. “The focus on only eight high economic productivity sectors, in only some parts of the UK, risks meaning that the majority of the people in the country are shut out,” said Allen Simpson, deputy chief executive of UKHospitality. “We saw from the impact of the Budget on lower earners what happens when we forget the everyday economy. It also risks the success of the strategy itself. Investors tell us that quality of life is a bigger driver of investment decisions than anything like tax or regulation. To put it simply, companies want good pubs, good restaurants, good coffee and good places to live. Hospitality delivers that. That’s why a Foundation Economy Sector Council is crucial to retain that focus and utilise hospitality’s ability to create places where people want to live, work and invest.” The British Beer and Pub Association also warned that the strategy fails to include industries like brewing and pubs, despite their significant economic and cultural contributions. BBPA director of strategy and policy Andy Tighe said: “It is alarming that the sector is currently overlooked in the strategy. Brewers and pubs pour billions into the economy, support more than one million jobs and are at the heart of local economies and communities throughout the UK.”

NTIA welcomes spiking legislation pledge: The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has welcomed the prime minister’s commitment to making spiking a specific criminal offence. It said Sir Kier Starmer’s pledge will send a strong message to offenders while empowering victims to come forward with confidence. It will also allow authorities to focus on perpetrator profiling, enabling law enforcement to build a formidable picture of offenders, said NTIA chief executive Michael Kill. “The prime minister’s decisive action marks a critical milestone in our ongoing efforts to address the pervasive issue of spiking and ensure the safety of women and girls within the night-time economy and beyond,” he added. “As a society, we must stand united to tackle this appalling crime that undermines the trust and enjoyment people deserve when socialising or simply travelling at night.” Kill said the NTIA has “worked tirelessly” with night-time economy businesses to ensure safeguarding remains a core focus, but that training is the cornerstone of the broader UK strategy against spiking. “While we have worked extremely hard to enhance our ability to manage spaces such as pubs, bars, and clubs, it is essential to recognise that the issue of spiking extends beyond the hospitality and night-time economy,” he added. “This is a societal issue, and success requires a collective approach. Policing, transport authorities, nighttime economy and hospitality businesses, universities, community stakeholders, and government agencies must work together to eradicate spiking and other crimes that disproportionately affect women and girls. Together, with coordinated action and shared responsibility, we can drive real change and create a society where safety is guaranteed, whether in a licensed venue or a domestic setting.” A British Beer and Pub Association spokesperson said: “Our sector is already working to help prevent this awful crime, and both we and our members support new ways to stamp out these attacks, support victims, and collect robust evidence. Although spiking does not solely occur in the hospitality sector, we are steadfast in our endeavours to prevent it. We will continue to engage with Government and partners on the best way to deliver new initiatives in order to keep customers as safe as possible.”