Southend hospitality leaders warn Government is ‘Taxing Out’ jobs and growth
Business leaders in Southend have recently joined forces with UKHospitality to warn that recent tax rises, reduced business rates relief and sharp increases in the National Minimum Wage are hitting jobs and investment hard. Southend East and Rochford MP, Bayo Alaba, recently met with hospitality leaders at Rossi’s Ice Cream Parlour and was told how the Government’s 2024 Budget has created unsustainable pressures on hospitality businesses. The round-table talks, organised as part of UKHospitality’s #TaxedOut campaign, brought together Philip Miller MBE (Stockvale Group, Adventure Island and Sea Life Adventure), James Sinclair (Partyman Group and Rossi’s), other Southend business representatives, and leaders from UKHospitality. Discussions highlighted how the Budget has created more than £3.4 billion in extra annual costs for the industry through:• Employer NICs changes costing the sector £1 billion.• Increases in the National Minimum and Living Wage adding £1.9 billion.• A cut in business rates relief from 75% to
