Kate Nicholls, Alastair Storey and Nisha Katona appointed to government’s hospitality council

Industry heavyweights including Robin Hutson, Kate Nicholls, Alastair Storey and Nisha Katona have been appointed to the government’s new hospitality council to steer the sector’s recovery.

The council will support the delivery of the government’s hospitality strategy, identifying and overseeing actions related to its 22 commitments.

Co-chaired by business minister Paul Scully and Prezzo chair Karen Jones, the first meeting of the council takes place today.

Other members include Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA); Nando’s UK & Ireland chief executive Colin Hill; Greene King chief executive Nick MacKenzie; Will Beckett, Hawksmoor co-founder and chief executive; and the Restaurant Group chief executive Andy Hornby.

Scully said: “The hospitality industry has shown incredible creativity and resourcefulness through the pandemic, pivoting to new ways of doing business, like alfresco dining and takeaway pints to stay safe, meet changing consumer demands and protect livelihoods.

“With the launch of this council, we’re taking the next step in the journey to build back better from the pandemic by unveiling the experts who’ll be driving the reopening, recovery and resilience of the sector. It’s a real ‘Avengers Assemble’ moment for the industry.”

Jones added: “I think the lockdowns have shown us many things, particularly the importance of our people and our teams and the key role hospitality has to play in lighting up our high streets and city centres. We now need to capitalise on our combined energy, creativity and innovation to continue the creation of a world-class hospitality industry: the hospitality sector council will aid in making that a reality.

“I am honoured to be co-chair alongside minister Scully and, together with a group of hospitality leaders, to put in place all that our wonderful industry need to flourish.”

Since the strategy was launched on 16 July, the National Employers and Partners Team has created a steering group to support employers in filling vacancies. The Department for Work &d Pensions has also been helping with vacancies by using work coaches and Plan for Jobs programmes, including Kickstart and sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs).

The department for has also added catering qualifications to Free Courses for Jobs, offering adults without Level 3 qualifications a range of free courses which now includes food and beverage supervision, professional cookery, and patisserie and confectionary.

The full council membership is:

• Paul Scully, business minister (co-chair)
• Karen Jones, chair of Prezzo (co-chair)
• Kate Nicholls, UKHospitality chief executive
• Emma McClarkin, British Beer & Pub Association chief executive
• Steve Alton, British Institute of Innkeeping chief executive
• Nick Summers, the Nationwide Caterers Association managing director
• James Calder, Small Independent Brewers Association chief executive
• Andy Hornby, the Restaurant Group chief executive
• Colin Hill, Nando’s UK & Northern Ireland chief executive
• Robin Hutson, chief executive and chairman of Lime Wood Group and Home Grown Hotels
• Simon Emeny, Fuller’s chief executive
• Nick MacKenzie, Greene King chief executive
• Rob Pitcher, Revolution Bars Group chief executive
• Jane O’Riordan, Turtle Bay, Caravan and Flight Club Chair
• Rich McGinnis, nightclub and events entrepreneur
• Nisha Katona, Mowgli Street Food founder and chief executive
• Will Beckett, Hawksmoor co-founder and chief executive
• Alex Rayner, Starbucks UK, Austria and Switzerland vice president and general manager
• Emma Simmonds, Deliveroo vice president, consumer
• Tim Doubleday, Burger King UK chief financial officer
• Paula Lindenberg, Budweiser Brewing Group UK, Ireland, Spain and the Canary Islands president
• Alastair Storey, Westbury Street Holdings chairman and chief executive