UKHospitality has been appointed a Core Participant in the Covid-19 Public Inquiry as the preliminary hearing into the economic response to the pandemic begins. The role involves supporting the inquiry and seeing evidence, making submissions, and suggesting questions that the inquiry can ask. No other industry is directly represented in this way.
Chief Executive Kate Nicholls and Deputy Chief Executive Allen Simpson were both in attendance for the two-hour opening session today, and although no formal evidence was given, UKHospitality will be the voice of the hospitality sector next year when the inquiry examines the interventions taken by the Government in areas such as support for business, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, and business rates relief and grants.
UKHospitality said that they are taking on the role “to make sure our voice is heard and that the inquiry fully reflects the impact of the Covid-19 response on the hospitality sector.”
Kate Nicholls, Chief Executive of UKHospitality, said, “We were pleased to attend the opening session today and be confirmed as the only Core Participants from any industry. The fact hospitality has been recognised in this way is encouraging. We look forward to providing oral evidence to the inquiry in due course. Our job is to be a conduit for the sector, and we welcome anyone to be in touch.”