Latest news with #AllenSimpson
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Death of the British summer holiday job: Hospitality job postings fall by more than 20,000 in a year as industry blames Rachel Reeves' Budget
Rachel Reeves ' budget has been blamed for killing the British summer holiday job with hospitality postings falling by more than 20,000 in a year. The drastic reduction comes despite a booming tourism industry which saw visitors in England spending £48.4 billion on day visits in 2024, a six per cent rise from the previous year. Job postings for temporary hospitality work is down 25% year-on-year, with 22,369 fewer unique postings for jobs this year compared to last, according to data from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC). In 2024 there were 88,414 hospitality jobs on offer, but that fell markedly to 66,045 in a single year. Meanwhile, the number of tourism jobs have also been largely reduced. This year there have been just 15,650 unique unique job postings, a 14 per cent drop from the 18,118 last year. The fall in employment opportunities will largely impact students and teenagers looking for their first jobs and will threaten the temporary job market as schools and universities break up for the summer, according to UKHospitality, a trade body for the industry. It will put at the risk the skills provided by having hospitality as a first job, they claim. Allen Simpson, Chief Executive of UKHospitality, said: 'This is the time when hospitality businesses would be frantically hiring staff for the busy summer months, when the sector expects to welcome families to their hotels, and serve millions of people with ice cream on the beach, fish and chips on the pier, and cold pints in the pub garden. 'I know from personal experience how important hospitality summer jobs are for getting young people experience of work, however hiring this year has fallen off dramatically, with 22,000 fewer jobs available compared to last year. 'It is sadly reflective of the impact we have seen from increased costs over the past nine months – less employment, less opportunity and less growth in the economy. The reduction in hiring comes after Labour chancellor Rachel Reeves hiked the National Insurance rates for employers. The October budget also lowered the threshold for when employers must start paying the tax, as she looked to raise around £20 billion. It has resulted in £3.4bn in additional annual cost for hospitality businesses, with 84,000 job losses, UKHospitality estimates. Mr Simpson added: 'Unless the Government acts, we could well be seeing the death of the great British summer job. That's not good for the economy, for businesses, or for the people that need this flexible work during the summer. 'We need to see action at the Budget to reverse this damage. That starts with fixing NICs, lowering business rates and cutting VAT for hospitality businesses.' Neil Carberry, REC Chief Executive, said: 'Hospitality is one of the UK's biggest entry points into work, but right now, we are shutting people out before they even get a foot in the door. 'A drop of over 22,000 job postings as we reach the height of the summer season is not just a staffing gap, it is a red flag for the wider economy. It puts recruiters, hospitality businesses and customers under massive pressure to make the most of the short-lived English summer. 'We cannot keep loading new costs onto employers if we want vibrant high streets, thriving pubs and strong local economies.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Minister wants to get more tourists to Cornwall
The tourism minister says he wants to get more British people going on holiday in places like Cornwall rather than abroad. Sir Chris Bryant visited Falmouth and Mylor to meet people who work in tourism locally and discuss the state of the industry. Hospitality leaders said the 2024 budget had been a "hammer blow" for the industry with changes to employer national insurance rates and many businesses were struggling even if their sites were full. The minister said he knew things were still "really tough" for people working in the sector and more needed to be done to highlight what areas like Cornwall could offer domestic tourists. The Labour MP said Covid had impacted the industry greatly but he remained confident visitor numbers could return to pre-pandemic levels. "I want many more British people to say 'what's the point of Spain - we've got this'," he said. More news stories for Cornwall Listen to the latest news for Cornwall Allen Simpson, chief executive of UK Hospitality, said the reality for businesses in the sector was "really stark" and had not been helped by the Budget. He said: "A third of businesses in the sector are losing money even if it looks like they're doing very well on the door." Bryant said the total number of jobs in the industry was rising and the government wanted to help traders "build resilience". Speaking in Mylor on Wednesday, he added: "We need to get more British people coming to resorts like this and experiencing the variety of tourism that we have in the UK. "I [also] want to get more international visitors coming into the UK and we've set a target of getting 50 million by 2030." Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ More on this story Calls for views on possible Cornwall 'tourism tax' Gearing up for bumper year as tourism hopes rise Struggling tourism industry 'keen to bounce back' Related internet links Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport UK Hospitality
BBC News
6 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Minister wants to get more tourists to Cornwall
The tourism minister says he wants to get more British people going on holiday in places like Cornwall rather than Chris Bryant visited Falmouth and Mylor to meet people who work in tourism locally and discuss the state of the leaders said the 2024 budget had been a "hammer blow" for the industry with changes to employer national insurance rates and many businesses were struggling even if their sites were minister said he knew things were still "really tough" for people working in the sector and more needed to be done to highlight what areas like Cornwall could offer domestic tourists. The Labour MP said Covid had impacted the industry greatly but he remained confident visitor numbers could return to pre-pandemic levels."I want many more British people to say 'what's the point of Spain - we've got this'," he said. Allen Simpson, chief executive of UK Hospitality, said the reality for businesses in the sector was "really stark" and had not been helped by the said: "A third of businesses in the sector are losing money even if it looks like they're doing very well on the door."Bryant said the total number of jobs in the industry was rising and the government wanted to help traders "build resilience".Speaking in Mylor on Wednesday, he added: "We need to get more British people coming to resorts like this and experiencing the variety of tourism that we have in the UK."I [also] want to get more international visitors coming into the UK and we've set a target of getting 50 million by 2030."
Business News Wales
09-06-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
UKHospitality Strengthens Executive Team with Dual Promotion
UKHospitality has announced that current CEO, Kate Nicholls OBE, is to step up to the new role of Chair, while current Deputy CEO, Allen Simpson, will transition to CEO. At the same time, current non-executive chairman, Steve Cassidy, will move to become President. The organisation said the move will enable Kate Nicholls and Allen Simpson to deliver a new, bolder strategy as it looks to turbocharge further growth and deliver even more for members and the wider sector. The new structure follows an 'extraordinary' period of growth since the organisation was formed. The details of the enhanced strategy will be announced in the coming months. UKHospitality said it will build on its achievements to date and will continue to deliver policy change, while growing the organisation's operational capacity in areas such as skills, as demonstrated by the recent launch of the Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPS) scheme, working with the UK Government to train new starters in the sector, in 26 regions. Kate Nicholls will be the organisation's first paid and full-time Chair. She will build on her work as a leading advocate and ambassador for the sector. The organisation said this 'natural' next step reflects the increased size and scope of the organisation and her position as a champion of the sector and its leading voice with successive governments. The changes will allow her to devote even more time to championing the sector in both the political and media landscapes, and deepen Government engagement and understanding of the sector and its challenges. The day-to-day leadership of UKHospitality will pass to Allen Simpson in his new role as CEO. He brings a wealth of experience across tourism and leisure and expertise in global investment and economic policy, UKHospitality said. The move follows 18 months as Deputy CEO, in which time he has led on ESG and conceived and delivered the Social Productivity Index to highlight the sector's worth to people and communities across the UK. Steve Cassidy, President of UKHospitality, said: 'UKHospitality has grown incredibly over the last few years in terms of membership, influence and impact. Having both a dedicated, full-time Chair and a CEO in place, UKHospitality can become even bigger and better, and go further, faster. Kate has transformed the organisation into a formidable force for the good for the sector, most notably during the worst crisis the industry has ever faced – Covid. Together, Kate and Allen, will continue to champion the industry and drive change for the benefit of our members and the economy of the UK.' Kate Nicholls OBE, Chair of UKHospitality, said: 'This new chapter reflects the impact, status and ambition of UKHospitality, which continues to be the vital voice for our broad and important sector. We have established strong and effective influence for the country's fourth largest economic sector and have a seat at the highest table alongside other core business groups on the macro-economic issues of today. 'Together we will work alongside Government on some of the most pressing developmental policies for this country and its key industries. Top of my list is to ensure Government continues to listen to our calls for sector support, following the £3.4 billion of costs that hit us in April, root and branch reform of the business rates system, as well as building longer-term momentum for the compelling rationale for creating a dedicated VAT rate for hospitality. 'I look forward to working ever-more closely in partnership with Allen as our team delivers a new and emboldened strategy, and maximum positive change for our sector.' Allen Simpson, CEO of UKHospitality, said: 'I'm excited to step up to CEO and to have the opportunity to build further on the team's significant body of work for this crucial industry, continuing Kate's momentum. My focus will be to drive growth, services and a platform for success, for – and with – our members. The economic context is shifting fast, and as a sector we need to take greater control of our own destiny.'
