The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has welcomed the government commitment towards economic growth for businesses and workers, set out in the King’s Speech.
It says it will work closely with the government as it begins to make clear its plans to strengthen careers in hospitality and through planned reforms to the apprenticeship levy and the introduction of the Skills England Bill. This will go a long way towards addressing staff shortages that have, in some instances, led to closures, says the BBPA.
It welcomed, too, the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, pledging to create high-quality housing, and, in turn, new communities. It is looking forward to working with policymakers on how it can continue to put pubs and brewers at the centre of this conversation.
Volatility in the energy market has squeezed margins for publicans, and the sector will look closely to see how the creation of Great British Energy will help to secure domestic energy supply and generate confidence across the sector.
In Labour’s plan for pubs, a crackdown on anti-social behaviour was proposed. This has been reiterated in the King’s Speech and the BBPA will continue working with industry partners like Pubwatch and policymakers in Whitehall to ensure the best possible policies are implemented.
“Britain’s beer and pub sector will welcome the government’s renewed focus on achieving greater and sustained economic growth as outlined in today’s King’s Speech,” said Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the BBPA.
“Our nation’s brewers and pubs are drivers of local economic growth and high street revitalisation across the UK.”
The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has also welcomed measures in the speech. Chef executive, Steve Alton, said: “The new government’s intentions to remove red tape and bureaucracy from our planning system, as well as reform the Apprenticeship Levy to allow for a more flexible approach to development in our teams, are hugely welcome steps.
“Our sector has always been a place for entrepreneurs and people who make a difference to their communities and teams every day, so to enable further professional development and removing barriers to business growth will help us do even more.
“Our members already recognise the importance of fair wages, but we must impress on Government the need for support and investment in their small, essential businesses at the heart of communities to be able to afford this.”
He added: “With no mention of the extension of the business rates relief due to end in March 2025, they now need an assurance that this will be continued until a full reform of the outdated system has been actioned. We also need an overall rebalancing of the unfair taxation of our bricks and mortar businesses, to allow them to invest in and grow.”
