I enjoyed touching base with UKH UK Hospitality in their Parliamentary drop-in recently.
Hospitality is an economic, social and cultural powerhouse, delivering opportunity, investment and social mobility across the UK. It employs 3.5 million people, contributes £54 billion in tax receipts that fund vital services, and it generates c.£90 billion in Gross Value Added.
Hospitality remains constrained by the impacts of Covid, which pushed up costs and continues to constrain demand from domestic customers and tourism. Around 3,000 hospitality businesses closed in the UK in 2023 as these short-term shocks risk the long-term success of a traditionally resilient sector. Last year, the Autumn Statement partly addressed one of the most important costs for the hospitality sector, by holding flat the business rates multiplier for businesses in smaller properties, and extending the retail, hospitality and leisure relief for another a year.
At the drop-in we discussed the Autumn Statement, which has made an important difference to business rates for hospitality businesses in England, as well as in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, through business rates relief schemes.
However, to my disappointment, it has not been replicated in either Scotland or Wales. That means that for example, the average pub in Scotland will be £15,000 worse off than its equivalent in England, a medium-sized hotel £30,000 worse off, and businesses in the largest premises up to £110,000 worse off. UKH UK Hospitality are therefore calling to ask the Scottish and Welsh Governments to pass the full business rate relief on to businesses, replicating the benefit to English businesses. I hope the SNP and Senedd take this on board.
I will continue my ongoing support and discussions with UKH UK Hospitality.
Uxbridge and South Ruislip contributes £86m to the economy and employs 2,378 people in the hospitality sector.
Click below on the attachments to see stats on the economic impact on Hillingdon.
