Hospitality is no stranger to challenges. We’re an industry built on adaptability, creativity, and resilience. But we’ve also been in survival mode for several years now. We don’t need to tell you that, because you’re living it. Every day, you juggle rising costs, staffing shortages, and the ever-tightening wallets of customers. And this April, things are set to get even harder.

The budgetary changes coming into force in April will pile yet more financial pressure onto an already stretched industry. When the budget was announced we sent a detailed overview of what to expect, and here’s a recap of what’s coming:

• The employer NIC rate will increase from 13.8% to 15% – meaning higher wage costs for already squeezed businesses.
• National Minimum Wage increases, which is inarguably an extremely positive thing, but something that compounds the pressure that the additional tax rises places on employers.
• Business rates relief is reduced from a 75% discount to 40% for the hospitality sector starting April 2025.  forcing operators to absorb even more financial strain.
• A continued lack of tailored VAT support for hospitality, despite our sector’s unique challenges and contributions.

We know all too well what this means in real terms: fewer staff hours, fewer jobs, price increases just to break even, and even more independent businesses facing closure.

We cannot afford to stay silent.

This is where you come in.

MPs won’t act unless they hear from the people these changes affect the most. And that means YOU. As a hospitality professional, your voice carries weight. 

How do we make ourselves heard?

We’ve made it easy by putting together an email template that you can send directly to your MP. It outlines exactly why these changes are devastating for hospitality, how it affect YOU, and calls on them to take action on our behalf.

And NO, you don’t have to be a business owner to send this email. Everyone who works in our industry or who loves our industry, in whatever capacity, will be affected, That means everyone’s voices are relevant and vital.

USING THE TEMPLATE

• Open the email template via the link below, or copy and paste the text. 
• Personalise it! Add your name, business name, and any specific challenges you’re facing. We’ve put these fields in brackets – please read carefully before sending and remember to delete the holding text.
• Find your MP’s contact details via THIS LINK.
• HIT SEND.

SEND THE EMAIL

Copy and Paste:

Dear [MP’s Name],

I am writing as a [hospitality professional / a business owner] in your constituency to express my deep concern over the financial strain that April’s budgetary changes will impose on [my business / the business in which I work] and on the wider industry.

[a short description of your career and/or your business]

Hospitality is already under immense pressure. Rising produce costs, post-Covid and post-Brexit staffing shortages, and the increased minimum wage have significantly raised operational expenses. At the same time, the cost of living crisis has reduced customer spending power, making it harder than ever to sustain a viable business.

The upcoming increase in National Insurance will further escalate my wage burden, forcing me to cut staff hours, delay hiring, or make redundancies—decisions that directly impact our local economy and community. Additionally, the reduction in business rates relief will leave me no choice but to raise prices simply to break even, further limiting growth and accessibility for customers.

The 12.5% VAT rate introduced during Covid was a crucial support for our sector, enabling businesses like mine to stay afloat and invest in the future. I urge you to advocate for hospitality businesses by calling on the Chancellor to reconsider the planned changes to National Insurance and Business Rates Relief. Additionally, I ask you to push for the introduction of a permanent, lower VAT rate for hospitality—one that reflects the challenges we face and the vital contribution our industry makes to the economy.

As my elected representative, I ask you to stand with hospitality businesses in our constituency and campaign for policies that will allow us to survive, protect jobs, and continue serving our communities.

I look forward to your response.

Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Business Name]
[Your Contact Information]

Why should you?

YES, it’s that easy. Five minutes of your time could make a massive difference. If enough of us push back, we can fight for fairer policies – ones that actually support an industry that contributes so much to the economy, employment, and local communities.

We know how much you have on your plate, but this is too important to ignore. Let’s stand together and demand better for hospitality.

Send the email. SHARE this with your peers. Let’s make our voices heard.

Send the email.
SHARE this with your peers.
Let’s make our voices heard.