Business Briefing: Job Losses, Brewery Shops And Bars – Beer Today

UKHospitality are projecting that 111,000 jobs will have been lost in the sector by the time the Budget is announced on 26th November. This will be almost 13 months on from the previous Budget, which hit hospitality with £3.4 billion of additional annual cost. The projection, based on the latest data from the Office for National Statistics, is illustrative of the impact these costs have had on jobs. The lowering of the employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) threshold has been the most damaging, bringing 774,000 people working part-time and flexible jobs into the tax threshold for the first time. The scale of job losses necessitates urgent action at the Budget, says the trade association. In order to reverse the damage done, UKHospitality is urging the government to lower business rates, fix NICs, and cut VAT. “Hospitality is being taxed out, and the sheer scale of cost increases hitting the sector is forcing businesses to make tough decisions to cut jobs, raise prices, slash investment, and reduce hours,” said UKHospitality chair, Kate Nicholls. “This is the opposite of what we want to do. We want to create jobs, help people come back into work, invest in our businesses, and support the communities we serve. “I would urge the government to act on our concerns and lower business rates, fix NICs, and cut VAT at the Budget. We stand ready to work together on solutions that can reverse the damage already done and help hospitality thrive, not just survive.” • Payrolled employees in the accommodation and food services industry fell 4.1% year on year in August, new ONS labour market figures show. However, vacancies in the sector rose for the first time in a year, up from 74,000 in July to 78,000 in August. Saxon Moseley, partner and head of leisure and hospitality at RSM UK, said the figures suggested operators may be close to cutting as far as they can in response to April’s rise in staff costs. “Added to this, vacancies in the sector increased for the first time since August 2024, which indicates businesses have turned a corner and are looking to recruit again. “However, with speculation and uncertainty building in the lead-up to the budget, there’s every possibility this could be derailed, particularly if businesses are hit with additional tax rises.  “Operators need to see government support in the Budget rather than further tax burden placed on them. Any tax measures that hit consumers’ disposable income will also have a negative knock-on effect on the sector, so the government must tread extremely carefully.” • The New Exmoor Brewery has opened an on-site shop. Hours are 10am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. The address is Ford Road, Wiveliscombe TA4 2RE. • Exale Brewing are taking on Cooke’s Pie & Mash Shop, on Kingland High Street, Dalston, London, and transforming it into The Black Eel. Opening on 24th October, the brewer promises “a vibrant, old-school freehouse with a little something for everyone”. • There have been leadership changes at Punch Pubs & Co. Robin Belither has been promoted to managing director of both the leased and tenanted and management partnership divisions. Steve Worrall has been appointed to a newly established role of group projects director. • Ashley Lovett has been named as the new operations director at Everards. He has long experience in the industry, at Admiral Taverns, Hawthorn Leisure, and Ei Group.