Productivity levels in hospitality are healthy and improving, but businesses continue to be held back by red tape, according to a report published this week by UKHospitality and out-of-home food & drink market data specialist CGA. The UKHospitality & CGA Future Shock Report examines productivity in the UK’s hospitality sector and the support needed to improve its levels.
The fifth edition of the report highlights the growing importance of technology in creating defining customer experiences and to an industry with a £130bn in annual turnover – bigger than the pharma, automotive and aeronautics industries combined.
As well as research from UKHospitality and CGA, Future Shock features insights from partners Heineken, Bidfood, NFS Technology Group, Alpha Rewards and Tahola providing analysis on using the latest technology to improve beer and cider waste reduction, food waste and climate change, promoting staff well-being to improve productivity, and driving productivity through analytics and motivation.
UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “The latest Future Shock report shows that businesses are moving in the right direction, but many are swamped by red tape. Businesses need flexibility if they are to thrive, some do not have the room in which to work. Productivity is, of course, a huge concern for all businesses and dynamic businesses at the cutting edge of hospitality, and switched-on businesses, are always looking to improve their levels.”
Karl Chessell, director of food and retail at CGA (pictured) added: “Hospitality has sometimes been perceived as less efficient than other industries, but this report makes clear that we are collectively much more productive than we might think—and getting better all the time. The sector is also productive in ways that no metric can demonstrate, with a valuable social currency that makes a positive difference to people’s lives every day.”
“In such a politically and economically unstable time, it is incredibly valuable to have this insight into the value and productivity of the hospitality sector. Hospitality has the potential to play a major part in shoring up the UK’s economy post-Brexit, if the regulatory burden can be lightened,” said Nicholls.
A link to the report can be found here: http://bit.ly/FutureShock5
For un update on the Save Our Pubs campaign’s battle against unreasonably high business rates see the next edition of Luxury Bed & Breakfast incorporating Innkeeper magazine
