Minimum Wage

Government set to announce living wage rise

15-Nov-2022 By Georgi Gyton

The Government is expected to announce a significant rise in the national living wage, from £9.50 an hour to around £10.40 an hour.

Hospitality workers under increased pressure as job satisfaction dwindles

04-Apr-2022 By James McAllister

Front-line teams in hospitality are feeling under increased pressure as the sector emerges from the Covid pandemic with industry staff shortages a major contributor, a new study shows.

National Living Wage rise comes into effect

01-Apr-2022 By James McAllister

The National Living Wage rise comes into effect today (1 April), alongside increases to the other rates of the National Minimum Wage.

Big investors shun Deliveroo as study finds some riders paid below minimum wage

25-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

A survey of more than 300 Deliveroo couriers has found that one in three made less than the national minimum wage.

One in three of the UK's Top 100 restaurant groups is now loss-making

05-Mar-2018 By Georgia Bronte

35 of the UK’s Top 100 restaurant groups are now loss-making, according to research by accountancy group UHY Hacker Young.

Restaurant insolvencies jump by one fifth

19-Feb-2018 By Joe Lutrario

The number of restaurant businesses going insolvent in England and Wales increased by 20% last year according to new data published by the Government’s The Insolvency Service.

TGI Friday's denies claims of "ethically dubious" changes to tips distribution

13-Feb-2018 By Georgia Bronte

TGI Friday’s has refuted claims by trade union Unite that it’s planning to save on payroll by using tips to improve the wages of back-of-house staff.

The Chancellor's 2017 budget and its implications for the industry

22-Nov-2017 By Georgia Bronte

Pubs had a reason to raise a glass to the chancellor’s budget today (22 November) with the announcement of a freeze in alcohol duty.

Most online takeaway customers would pay more to give riders “basic benefits”

19-Oct-2017 By Joe Lutrario

Nearly four in five online food delivery customers would pay more to give riders the same benefits and rights that people in permanent jobs enjoy, a survey has revealed.

Restaurant operating costs rise above 50% turnover

12-Jul-2017 By Sophie Witts

Average operating costs in the restaurant sector now account for over 50% of turnover, according to a new study in to the state of the licensed hospitality sector. 

Rising National Living Wage could put hospitality jobs at risk

07-Jul-2017 By Michelle Perrett

The Low Pay Commission (LPC) has been urged to show caution on further increases to the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage or risk future investment and jobs in the hospitality sector. 

BHA boss criticises political 'bidding war' over minimum wage

07-Jun-2017 By Sophie Witts

The chairman of the British Hospitality Association (BHA) has criticised politicians' plans to raise the minimum wage without considering the impact on businesses.

General Election 2017: Rights of EU staff biggest issue for hospitality

06-Jun-2017 By Sophie Witts & Hannah Thompson

Securing the rights of EU workers to stay in the UK is the most important election issue for the hospitality industry, BigHospitality has found.

BHA calls on Government for 10-year ‘phased approach’ on EU immigration

12-May-2017 By Hannah Thompson

The British Hospitality Association (BHA) has called on the Government to prioritise the hospitality industry by taking a 10-year phased approach to reducing immigration from the EU.

ASK THE EXPERTS

10 things you need to know about the new Apprenticeship Levy

03-Apr-2017 By Katee Dias

Katee Dias, senior solicitor in the employment team at Goodman Derrick LLP, outlines the key points of the new Apprenticeship Levy that hospitality businesses should be on to off.

Government reveals 10 most bizarre excuses for not paying minimum wage

11-Jan-2017 By Hannah Thompson

The 10 most bizarre excuses for not paying staff minimum wage have been revealed by the Government, as it launches a £1.7m campaign to ensure workers know how much they should be paid.

The biggest issues in hospitality in 2016

20-Dec-2016 By Sophie Witts

The hospitality and tourism industry faced numerous challenges in 2016, from the ongoing tussle with Airbnb to the rise of plant-based dining.

Foreign nationals make up 43% of UK hospitality's workforce

15-Dec-2016 By Mark Wingett

Currently more than two-­fifths (43 per cent) of workers in the restaurant, QSR, hotel and pub sectors in the UK are foreign nationals, according to latest figures from Fourth Analytics.

Over 5,000 restaurant firms could go bust, study warns

05-Dec-2016 By Mark Wingett

A total 5,570 restaurant companies have at least a 30 per cent chance of going insolvent within the next three years as Brexit raises costs and disposable incomes stagnate, BigHospitality's sister site MCA has reported.

The top 5 stories in hospitality this week 14/11 - 18/11

18-Nov-2016 By Sophie Witts

What were some of the top stories in hospitality this week? Here's our pick

Le Gavroche to cut opening hours following investigation

18-Nov-2016 By Sophie Witts

Michel Roux Jr’s restaurant Le Gavroche is to further reduce its opening hours after several former employees claimed they were paid less than minimum wage.

Hourly hospitality pay outstripping minimum wage

21-Oct-2016 By Mark Wingett

Hourly pay for UK hospitality workers is already significantly outstripping new legal minimum wage thresholds, research by Fourth Analytics has revealed.

Rising payroll costs squeeze UK hotel profits

09-Sep-2016 By Emma Eversham

Rising staff costs are hampering the ability of UK hoteliers to increase profit, a study by intelligence firm HotStats has revealed. 

Deliveroo says controversial pay-per-delivery plan is optional

15-Aug-2016 By Hannah Thompson

Restaurant delivery service Deliveroo has responded to the controversy over its new rider pay-per-delivery plan, saying the new plan is optional and has only been offered as a trial in London.

Hospitality warned of consequences of not paying National Minimum Wage

12-Aug-2016 By Hannah Thompson

Hospitality businesses have been warned of the name-and-shame consequences of not adhering to the Minimum Wage in the wake of new National Living Wage rates.

Hospitality paying staff more than NLW survey finds

19-Jul-2016 By Emma Eversham

The hospitality industry is paying workers over 25 an average of 27p above the National Living Wage (NLW) a wage survey has reveal

Hospitality leaders: Living Wage shows Government's 'contempt' for businesses

28-Jun-2016 By Sophie Witts

Hospitality leaders have criticised the Government’s ‘disgraceful’ decision to introduce the National Living Wage (NLW) without consulting businesses first.

Hospitality & Tourism Summit 2016: Low Pay Commission chair to discuss National Living Wage impact

27-Apr-2016 By Emma Eversham

Sir David Norgrove, chair of the Low Pay Commission, will talk about the impact the National Living Wage is having on the hospitality industry at this year's Hospitality & Tourism Summit. 

Restaurant chains cut staff perks to meet National Living Wage

26-Apr-2016 By Sophie Witts

Restaurant chains including Zizzi, EAT and Café Nero have faced criticism for appearing to cut staff perks following the introduction of the National Living Wage (NLW).

Could the National Living Wage make eating out more expensive?

31-Mar-2016 By Sophie Witts

The National Living Wage (NLW) comes in to force on 1 April, but what does this mean for the hospitality sector?

The top five stories in hospitality this week 14/03 - 18/03

18-Mar-2016 By Sophie Witts

What were some of the top stories in hospitality this week? Here's our pick.

Budget 2016: Hospitality industry reacts to 'disappointing' reforms

16-Mar-2016 By Sophie Witts

The hospitality industry gave a lukewarm reception to today’s budget, with many trade bodies calling for greater support from the Chancellor.

Minimum Wage to rise in 2016: Hospitality industry responds

15-Mar-2016 By Sophie Witts

The National Minimum Wage and Apprenticeship Rate are set to rise again in October 2016, but what does this mean for the hospitality industry?

Rising hourly pay will minimise impact of National Living Wage

11-Mar-2016 By Sophie Witts

Rising hourly rates of pay for hospitality workers means the Living Wage could cost the industry far less than originally predicted, according research from Fourth Analytics.

Budget 2016: Five things the hospitality industry wants to see

02-Mar-2016 By Helen Gilbert

With Chancellor George Osborne set to unveil his 2016 Budget Statement on 16 March, BigHospitality rounds up the key issues the industry would like addressed. 

Tips scandal: Unite protest targets STK at ME London Hotel

05-Feb-2016 By Liam Garrahan

Trade union Unite staged a protest against STK London at its ME London Hotel on Friday, amidst claims that its 15 per cent service charge is being used to increase the salaries of four senior managers by as much as £50k a year each.

Bar Soba adopts Living Wage early to support 'relentless' expansion plans

28-Jan-2016 By Sophie Witts

Asian restaurant group Bar Soba is to pay its staff the National Living Wage two months early in order to support its ‘relentless’ expansion plans.

Competition for restaurant sites to heat up in 2016

20-Jan-2016 By Emma Eversham

The disparity between the supply of and demand for restaurant sites will remain in 2016 and will stretch to more parts of the UK as the market continues to swell says property agency Christie & Co. 

The Gallivant scraps service charge and gives staff a cut of company profits

19-Jan-2016 By Sophie Witts

The Gallivant restaurant with rooms in Camber has scrapped its service charge and announced plans to share company profits with staff at the end of the financial year.

2016: The year of the IPO, the taco and Brazilian food

06-Jan-2016 By Stefan Chomka

The Rio Olympics, the continued rise of grab-and-go food and a growing number of restaurant groups weighing up their exit strategies will each have an impact on the eating-out sector in 2016, according to predictions from industry experts.

BigHospitality's top 5 stories of 2015

23-Dec-2015 By Emma Eversham

Another busy year has passed in hospitality with employers forced to deal with an ever increasing number of staff shortages and mulling the impact of next year’s National Living Wage.

Best Western warns of price rises and job cuts to combat Living Wage

21-Dec-2015 By Sophie Witts

Hotels could be forced to raise prices and cut staff jobs when the National Living Wage becomes compulsory next year, the boss of Best Western Great Britain has warned.

Employers ‘unprepared’ for National Living Wage, Government warns

07-Dec-2015 By Sophie Witts

A majority of Britain’s employers are risking legal action by failing to prepare for the introduction of the National Living Wage next year, the Government has warned.

Apprenticeship levy will cause 'extreme irritation' to businesses, pub boss warns

27-Nov-2015 By Sophie Witts

The boss of the Oakman Inns pub chain has criticised the Government’s planned apprenticeship levy as an ‘extreme irritation’ to businesses.

Diners will pay the price for the Living Wage, Mitchells & Butlers warns

24-Nov-2015 By Sophie Witts

Mitchells & Butlers has warned that customers could see a hike in prices as the company faces rising costs from the National Living Wage (NLW).

London Living Wage rises to £9.40 per hour

02-Nov-2015 By Sophie Witts

The London Living Wage will rise to £9.40 per hour from next year, Boris Johnson has announced.

Rick Stein backs BHA over tipping transparency

27-Oct-2015 By Sophie Witts

Rick Stein has warned that the rising minimum wage could see restaurants attempting to use staff tips to make up the new rate.

Hospitality employers named and shamed for failing to pay minimum wage

23-Oct-2015 By Sophie Witts

Thirteen hospitality employers who failed to pay their staff the National Minimum Wage have been named and shamed by the Government. 

Rejecting Living Wage damages hospitality's image, warns industry leader

19-Oct-2015 By Sophie Witts

The hospitality sector must welcome the introduction of the Living Wage or risk sending out ‘the wrong message’, a leading industry figure has warned.

Living Wage will cost hospitality £13.2m by 2020

16-Oct-2015 By Ruth Williams

The hospitality and leisure sector will be hit with a £13.2m increase in wages by 2020 when the National Living Wage (NLW) comes into force.