Chichester MP Jess Brown-Fuller has called on the government to reform business rates to help hospitality businesses employ more young people.
The issue was raised in Parliament this week during an Urgent Question on the Interim Milburn Report, which looked at the growing number of young people who are not in employment, education or training (NEET). The report highlighted a sharp rise in the number of young people classed as NEET, with the figure now surpassing one million across the country. Jess Brown-Fuller told Parliament that hospitality can play an important role in helping young people take their first steps into work. She highlighted her own first job in a café, as well as her experience running a restaurant, as examples of how the sector can provide young people with confidence, skills and income. However, the report also found that the number of vacancies in hospitality has halved over the last four years. The Chichester MP says that pressure on businesses, including business rates, is making it harder for employers to create opportunities for young people. Following the statement, Jess said: “The opportunities available to young people in Chichester and across the country are diminishing. Growing up, hospitality provided a crucial step into employment for me. “But given the pressures being felt across the industry, it is no surprise that alongside shocking levels of youth unemployment, there has been a huge fall in the number of vacancies in the hospitality sector. “The government must get serious about supporting hospitality by reforming business rates, enabling businesses to provide young people with vital skills and income while helping to prevent them from falling into the damaging NEET cycle.” She is now urging ministers to take action to support hospitality businesses and improve employment opportunities for young people. Get the latest BREAKING NEWS for the SOUTH on your phone by downloading the V2 RADIO APP today! Read with ease, no annoying pop-up ads. V2VOUCHERS.CO.UK is offering half-price deals on a wide range of experiences across the South, from meals out at local restaurants to tickets for some of the region’s biggest events.
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