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HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, PUBS & CATERING
www.catererlicensee.com
October 2017
Issue 205
Outdoor Spaces
Ovens - Microwave, Combi & Convection
Festive Ordering
Design and Refit
Property and Professional
Page 17
Pages 18 - 23
Products and Services
Pages 24 - 27
Pages 27-28
Pages 29 - 35
Pages 36 - 38
Culture Secretary Seeks to Reassure Industry’s Brexit Concerns
KAREN BRADLEY, the Culture Secretary, has sought to allay the hospitality industry’s fears over Brexit, when she spoke at the British Hospitality Association’s (BHA) annual Hospitality day reception in Parliament.
Mrs Bradley said the government was listening to industry concerns over the shortage of EU workers. She said: “I’ve heard you, I know that you are concerned about it, we are very aware of this – acutely aware. The Prime Minister, you will have heard in her Florence speech, talked about EU labour and I recognise you want certainty, I want certainty, as soon as possible on this really important issue. She continued: EU nationals have contributed an incredible amount to the UK economy and to your sector in particular and we want to make sure that you have the labour you need, and that you have the people you need to enable you to thrive and continue…. I know full well that the reason people come to Britain is because of all we have to offer and we have none of that to offer if we don’t have you providing them with great accommodation, great food, great places to drink, great places to socialise, and just making that whole experience wonderful.” Over 200 BHA members visited Parliament to discuss the current situation with more than 40 MPs in a series of meetings, and at the reception. The BHA told MPs that it welcomes the government’s
ambition for a two-year transition period after Brexit, but still voiced concerns over the uncertainty surrounding what may follow. Research commissioned by KPMG for the BHA shows that the UK hospitality sector is ‘highly reliant’ on EU workers, with up to 24% of its workforce made up of EU migrants. The BHA used this report to warn MPs that there any drastic change to immigration from the EU would change everyday life in the UK. The BHA also highlighted earlier this month concerns that plans to encourage more British people to consider a career in hospitality and tourism post Brexit were hampered by the government’s decision to delay introducing new technical qualifications in England for the industry until a year and a half after the anticipated end of free of movement, say the British Hospitality Association.. Expressing her concern, Ufi Ibrahim, the BHA chief executive, wrote separate letters to the Immigration Minister and the Education Minister expressing her “dismay” at the decision and urging them to “reconsider this oversight.” She fears the delay will cost jobs and growth, pointing out that the BHA has already outlined a 10year-strategy to encourage more British workers into an industry which, according to a KPMG report commissioned by the BHA, will need an additional 60,000 workers per year to power growth in addition to the 200,000 workers needed to replace churn each year. A key plank to this strategy is attracting people straight from education. In her letter to Immigration minister Brandon Lewis, Ms Ibrahim said, “We are not in a position to fill these vacancies without hiring non-UK workers. This is due to the fact that the UK is currently at near full employment
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and because the educational system does not encourage young people to consider a career in hospitality. It was my hope that the new Catering and Hospitality T-Level would address the latter point and so I was dismayed to find out that these qualifications have been delayed until the second round, with the first teaching of the Catering and Hospitality T-Level starting in September 2022, a year and a half after the anticipated end of freedom of movement. I would hope that your Ministerial colleague (in Education) Anne Milton can be persuaded to reconsider this oversight.” She continued: “If migratory flows for workers from the EU and beyond are severely curtailed, particularly non-highly skilled routes, the hospitality industry will be forced to contract, costing jobs and economic growth. Automation is not a viable alternative in our sector.” Following the Culture Secretary’s speech Ms Ibrahim said: “The BHA was heartened to hear the Secretary of State’s comments and we are thankful to her for ensuring that the government is listening industry. Businesses urgently need to see government taking the next steps to ensure hospitality, a top 6 employer in every region, is supported. This will mean redesigning the vocational education system so that young British people have the skills we need, including through the hospitality and catering T Level which has been delayed to two years after Exit Day. We are optimistic about the role our industry can play in recruiting more British workers, and this is something we have set out in our 10-year strategy. However, with near full employment, this cannot be done overnight and we will work with the government to shape a post Brexit immigration system that works for our industry and for the nation.”
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