What a fast year it has been, can you believe it, less than 2 weeks until Christmas day!
This year has certainly flown in, or maybe I am just getting older? Hopefully you are not as tired as the polar bear in the photo!
It has been some year, another particularly difficult one for the hospitality industry with many closures and difficult trading times. Staff shortages & retention, cost of living crisis, increased running and ingredient costs, environmental considerations, no VAT reduction, none or very limited rates relief in Scotland.
A recent report highlighted that one in 10 restaurants are at imminent risk of closure. Hospitality closures are running at their all-time highest in over a decade.
All businesses are hoping for a bumper festive season to end the year on a high, however there are fears for the future as a New Year looms. The increase in minimum wages and when Employer NI contributions are in place, there will be further strains on the business.
What an end to the year.
However, on a positive note…..we know how resilient this industry can be and has been over the past few years in particular. We seem to have a hidden strength, especially at the times when it is needed most.
This is a time when guests are happy to pay that little extra for special experiences, locally sourced ingredients, memories that matter.
It is a time for a final push towards the Festive period and the New Year celebrations, when we are looking for the team to go the extra mile, find that extra ounce of energy.
It is also a time of reflection on the year gone by, the ups and downs, the lessons learned, the great achievements, the targets that were hit, the plans for next year.
Hospitality Health have just to relaunched our Wellness Charter in November, a fresh look for 2025…..look out on the socials for the new Charter brand, we are indebted to Gemma at Arden Marketing https://ardenmarketing.co.uk/who has led the campaign. Ed and Pete at Thiss Away https://www.thissaway.co.uk/ have been instrumental in the creating the digital assets. An exciting time for us as we head towards a New Year.
We will be continuing with our fully funded Mental Health First Aid certificate places for the New Year, the dates have just been confirmed as follows
- 17th & 18th February
- 31st March & 1st April
- 19th & 20th May
Please get in touch if you would like to reserve any places for your team members. enquiries@hospitalityhealth.org.uk
Before I sign off, all at Hospitality Health would like to wish you a fantastic festive season, hopefully managing to find some time to relax and recharge. Wishing you an amazing 2025, with good health and lots of happiness.
Gordon McIntyre
Founding Chairman
Hospitality Health