Ufi Ibrahim, said: “We expect the introduction of the National Living Wage to be very challenging. Whilst larger companies might be able to alleviate the strain on their business more easily there are fears for smaller businesses, particularly outside of London.”
The BHA’s chief executive reasoned that whilst the industry wants to reward its employees there is uncertainty about what pace and what speed this should be done at.
Industry leaders at the event also spoke about targeting individual MPs and starting a dialogue with them to create more awareness of the industry’s work. There was a consensus in the room that more understanding of the foodservice industry needs to be created.
The BHA’s foodservice report found that hospitality, as a whole, is the fourth largest industry in the UK and is expected to generate more than 10,00 new jobs in the next 12 months.