UKHospitality and over 200 CEOs from across the UK’s hospitality sector have called on the Government to provide immediate support for businesses.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, the trade body has said that, unless financial support is swift, then the sector is looking at unprecedented levels of closures and job losses across the nation.
Hospitality is calling for:
- Extension of the business rates and NIC payment break to all hospitality businesses for at least six months;
- The UK to follow the lead of other countries such as the USA, France and Denmark by committing to additional working capital support while funding salaries and retaining staff and;
- Pressure on landlords and banks to avoid forfeiture of rent payments.
UKHospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said: “This is by far the greatest crisis we have had to face as a sector. Venues are already closing and people are already losing their jobs. Unless we get immediate financial support from the Government, the country’s hospitality sector will cease to exist in any recognisable capacity.”