SME

Hospitality Business Rates Reform: What Changes To Expect
Hospitality Business Rates Reform: What Changes To Expect 1000 667 James Hallam

Following a Government report, certain UK hospitality businesses may pay lower business rates from April 2026.

In this post we will outline the contents of the Government report, and assess what they might mean for your business.

What’s in the Transforming Business Rates: Interim Report?

On 11 September 2025, HM Treasury published an interim report detailing their findings from the Transforming Business Rates Discussion Paper. The report sets out some key areas for reform with a view to removing certain barriers to investment.

The key points include:

  • In the Autumn Budget 2024, the Chancellor announced lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure businesses with Rateable Values under £500,00, which would come into force from April 2026.
  • It’s not a final policy or set of recommendations but the interim report provides an update on the Government’s findings while outlining their next steps.

Proposed Changes

The report is not a set of policy recommendations. Businesses will have to wait until the Autumn Budget 2025 to get any specific details about exactly what is going to change.

Some proposed changes, though, are:

  • The removal of business rate “cliff edges”, meaning that there will no longer be significant jumps in rates bills between bandings.
  • Possible enhancements to the Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) scheme, and to the Improvement Relief scheme, to support growth and investment in the industry.

You can read the full interim report.

How Has The Industry Reacted?

UKHospitality has described the report as “positive”, saying that the removal of cliff edges and other barriers to investment will help rebalance the system. But they have urged the Government to “level the playing field” through applying the maximum possible discount to the multiplier for all hospitality properties under £500,000, along with a zero rate for hospitality properties over £500,000.

They have also suggested that, along with lowering business rates, the Government could further help the high street through fixing National Insurance Contributions and cutting VATs. The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has called for similar reforms, suggesting that they could “unlock investment, safeguard jobs, and give small businesses the confidence to scale.”

Other trade bodies have suggested additional reforms that could help the hospitality sector. For example, certain organisations in the spirits industry are petitioning for a freeze on alcohol duty.

Is Your Business Ready For Reform?

The Autumn Budget 2025 will take place on 26 November, during which the Government will presumably announce the rates for the new multipliers. Depending on the size of your business, you may start paying lower business rates from April 2026. However, depending on the size of your business, these reforms may result in you paying higher rates.

The interim report suggested that the government will fund the discount through applying a higher rate to all businesses with a rateable value over £500,000. According to the report, this would affect less than 1% of all UK hospitality properties, and would mainly affect “retail giants” with “large distribution warehouses”.

According to Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures, the hospitality figure has suffered up to 89,000 job losses since the Autumn Budget 2024. While some are expecting the 2025 budget to provide a lifeline, it is understandable that others may be wary of what is to come.

At James Hallam, We Can Help You Protect Your Hospitality Business

We understand that these are trying times for hospitality businesses. That is why we are committed to helping you protect your business, through getting true value out of your specialist insurance cover.

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with access to a hand-picked selection of A-rated insurance providers. We can help you safeguard your business against whatever the coming years may bring, with tailored insurance cover at a competitive price.

Find out how we can help you today.

Tattoo Aftercare: The Role and Responsibility of Tattoo Artists
Tattoo Aftercare: The Role and Responsibility of Tattoo Artists 1000 665 James Hallam

As a tattoo artist, you have a duty of care to your customers. This extends to aftercare.

In this post we will outline your responsibilities as a tattoo artist when it comes to advising on, and providing, aftercare to your customers.

The Importance of Aftercare for Tattoos

Good aftercare is vital for making sure that a tattoo heals properly. It can also help ensure that the tattoo looks good for the long-term. Without aftercare, tattoos may eventually start to look faded or distorted.

As a tattoo artist, you might not provide the aftercare procedures yourself. But you can certainly advise your customers on how they can best take care of their tattoo in the days, weeks, and months following the process.

Good Tattoo Aftercare Starts With Understanding Your Customers

The specific aftercare advice you provide should vary depending on:

  • tattoo location
  • tattoo size
  • your customer’s skin type and medical history

This is why it is important to enquire about your customer’s medical history as part of the initial consultation. Not only will this help you keep them safe during the process, but it can also mean you can provide tailored aftercare instructions.

What Sort of Aftercare Advice Should Tattoo Artists Give?

There is some basic aftercare advice you should share with your customers:

  • Cover the tattoo
    The customer should keep their new tattoo covered with a bandage or a plastic wrap for the first few hours following the process. How long precisely will depend on the size, complexity, and location of the tattoo.
  • Keep it clean
    After this, the main thing is that the customer keeps the tattooed area clean. This will help prevent infection while also promoting healing. Advise your customers to avoid using any harsh chemicals, including exfoliants. Instead, they should use lukewarm water and the mildest possible soap. Customers should avoid scrubbing the area, and they should avoid submerging it entirely in water for at least two weeks following the application.
  • Moisturise and Relieve itching
    New tattoos can get itchy. Some tattoo artists provide their customers with specialist balms or ointments to help relieve itching while promoting healing. The product should be light and fragrance free, and you can advise your customers to apply a thin layer periodically during the first few days following the procedure.

More Aftercare Tips Tattoo Artists Can Give Their Customers

Beyond the basics, here are some additional aftercare tips you can give:

  • Wear loose clothing to help the tattoo breathe, and to avoid irritating the area.
  • Avoid direct sunlight for a few weeks, along with sunbeds.
  • Try to avoid scratching and picking at the tattoo, as this can lead to infections.
  • Keep the tattoo area moisturised, even after it has healed. This will help prevent the tattoo from prematurely fading.
  • If the tattoo does start to fade or blur, the customer can always come back for a touch-up.

What Happens If a Tattoo Artist Does Not Give Aftercare Advice?

If you do not advise your customers on how best to take care of their tattoos, then it could result in:

  • Infection
  • Tattoo flaking, blurring, or fading.
  • Customer complaints, poor reviews, and refund requests.
  • Claims against you on the grounds of negligence, or breach of your duty of care.

And in the case of legal claims, if it transpires that you did not provide adequate aftercare advice, you could be liable to cover compensation payments, along with some costly legal fees.

This is why it is a good idea to have your aftercare advice in writing. This could be included in the consent form. Give your customer a printed copy of the consent form, including aftercare advice, and ask them to sign it and date it. This means there will be a record of their consent and the exact advice you gave, which could help you avoid any costly claims.

Specialist Insurance Services for Tattoo Artists

If a customer ever does make a claim against you, dedicated tattoo artist insurance can cover any compensation payments, along with your legal fees.

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with access to a hand-picked selection of A-rated insurance providers. We can help you understand the unique risks you face as a tattoo artist, and we can help you access the specialist cover you need at a competitive price.

Find out how we can help you today.

24 Hour Gym Induction Checklist – What To Include
24 Hour Gym Induction Checklist – What To Include 1000 625 James Hallam

We recently published a guide to the sort of insurance you should consider if you are running a 24 hour gym. In this post we will take a closer look at a key aspect of your 24 hour gym risk management – your induction process.

Why 24 Hour Gyms Need to Take Induction Seriously

All gyms should offer their new members an induction process. It is an opportunity to show new members how things work, and the processes they should follow in the event of an accident or emergency.

But in their inductions, 24 hour gyms will have to account for the fact that the gym will be unsupervised at certain times. Most gyms can instruct their members to report to a member of staff if something goes wrong. But what should your members do if something goes wrong, and there are not currently any staff on the premises?

Below we will outline some of the items that should be included in every gym’s induction, along with some special considerations for 24 hour gyms.

  1. Operating Hours and Entry Procedures

If your gym is open round the clock, you should make it clear to your members when there will be staff on the premises, and when the gym will be unsupervised.

For security reasons, it may be necessary for members to use certain entrances and exits outside of your standard operating hours. During induction, you should make it clear which entrances and exits your members should use, and at which times they should use them.

  1. Use of Facilities

Tell members where they can find:

  • Toilets, including the accessible toilets
  • Dressing rooms
  • Other facilities.

Be sure to highlight any special procedures or restrictions concerning the use of any facilities outside of your standard operating hours. For example, members may be required to use their pin or fob to enter the changing rooms while the gym is unsupervised.

  1. Etiquette

How do you expect your members to behave in the gym?

Here are some of the etiquette points you might cover in your induction:

  • Wear appropriate clothing and shoes.
  • Wipe down equipment after use.
  • Return all weights and other equipment after use.
  • Use headphones when listening to your own music, or when watching videos on your phone.
  • Be courteous and polite to other members, and to staff. As well as looking after your own safety, also look after the safety of others.

 

  1. Safety and Security Procedures

As a 24 hour gym, you will likely have slightly different safety and security procedures depending on whether there are any staff on site.

All members should be aware of your gym’s evacuation plan. During your standard hours, you can instruct members to follow the staff’s directions in the event of an emergency. But what about when your gym’s unsupervised?

Specialist Procedures for 24 Hour Gyms:

  • Outline the procedures your members should follow if an alarm sounds outside of your standard hours. Specify which exits they can use, and request that they remain calm and look out for anyone who may need assistance.
  • Also outline the procedures for members to sound their own alarms should they discover a fire, or if they spot a security risk. As well as sounding an alarm, you may need them to notify your CCTV team through calling a certain number.
  • Provide a “safe room” for any members who may feel threatened while the gym is unsupervised. Some 24 hour gyms use their accessible toilets for this purpose, in which members can activate duress alarms to alert security personnel.
  • In the event of a fire, make it clear that the priority should be for members to evacuate, and that the fire extinguishers should only be used when the fire is blocking their escape.
  • If a power cut occurs while the gym is unsupervised, instruct all members to leave the premises immediately.
  • You may also instruct members on the correct use of first aid kits and defibrillators if a medical emergency occurs while the gym is unsupervised.

 

  1. Incidence Reporting

If an incident occurs outside of your standard hours, instruct your members on how to report it. You can provide dedicated first aid and incident reporting forms, and instruct members on when they should complete them.

These forms do not have to be too complicated. All the member has to do is outline what happened, when it happened, and what actions they took. You can then review the incident, talking to anyone involved where possible, which may help prevent future incidents.

You should have a similar process to allow members to report faulty or damaged equipment when there are no staff around to notify.

Get Specialist 24 Hour Gym Insurance From James Hallam

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with access to a hand-picked selection of A-rated insurance providers. We can help you understand the unique risks you face as a 24 hour gym, and we can also tailor a comprehensive insurance package to cover you for these risks at the best price.

Find out how we can help you today.

 

 

Top Targeted Industries For Cyber Attacks
Top Targeted Industries For Cyber Attacks 1000 620 James Hallam

2024 UK Government statistics showed that 50% of all UK businesses experienced some form of cybersecurity breach or cyberattack over the previous 12 months. The figure was much higher for medium businesses (70%) and for large businesses (74%).

No matter how big your business, and no matter what sector you are in, you are at risk of cybercrime. However, criminals might be more likely to target some industries over others.

What Are The Top Targeted Industries For Cyber Attacks?

According to data from the World Economic Forum, the top targeted industries for cyberattacks are:

  • Healthcare (accounting for 14.2% of all attacks)
  • Financial organisations
  • Telecommunications
  • Transport companies
  • Energy companies

The WEF defines these sectors as “critical infrastructure”. Cybercriminals are most likely to target such sectors because it is here where they are most likely to access huge amounts of valuable confidential data. Also, some cybercriminals are simply looking to cause chaos, and targeting critical infrastructures is an obvious way to cause as much damage as possible.

Top Targeted Businesses For Cyberattack in the UK

In the UK, sectors which appear to be particularly vulnerable to cyber attacks are:

  • HR
  • Recruitment
  • Manufacturing
  • Hospitality

Businesses in these sectors will process lots of sensitive customer and client data. They’ll run on a network of laptops, smartphones, and tablets, offering multiple areas of attack for cybercriminals.

Plus, businesses in these sectors may be less likely to have invested in cybersecurity, meaning that they may be ill-prepared to effectively respond to a cyberattack.

For a case study in how cybercriminals may target a business in the hospitality sector, consider Marriott’s 2018 data breach. Criminals accessed nearly 400 million customer records, including 9.1 million credit card numbers and over 23 million passport numbers, resulting in huge regulatory fines and restoration costs for the chain.

The Most Common Types of Cyberattacks

According to the UK Government’s latest cybersecurity survey, these are the most common forms of cyberattacks in the UK:

  • Phishing – 84% of businesses have experienced a phishing attack. This usually involves cybercriminals sending an email that appears to come from a trusted, genuine source, such as a bank, or an online retailer. This message will prompt the recipient to take action, usually by clicking a link. But clicking this link could give cybercriminals access to your system.
  • Social Engineering – 35% of businesses have experienced social engineering attacks. This is similar to phishing, in that the cybercriminals will send messages that appear to come from a trusted source. But in this case, they may impersonate a trusted individual, such as a manager or a tech support worker, in order to trick recipients into sharing sensitive data such as passwords.
  • Malware – 17% of businesses have experienced a malware attack. Malware is malicious software that can give cybercriminals access to your system. Particularly damaging for businesses are ransomware attacks. With ransomware, cybercriminals can encrypt your systems or your data and demand a payment to remove the encryption. If the business does not pay this “ransom”, the cybercriminal may delete the data, or they may sell it to other cybercriminals.

Consider Your “Cyber Hygiene”

Because most cyber threats are comparatively unsophisticated, the UK Government advises businesses to protect themselves through adopting some “cyber hygiene” measures.

These include:

  • Installing effective antivirus and malware protection, and keeping this software up to date.
  • Restricting admin rights and enforcing robust password policies and authentication systems.
  • Imposing network firewalls, and secure cloud back-up for the most valuable business data.
  • Staff training on spotting phishing emails, with an agreed process in place for responding to them.

Specialist Cyber Insurance For Your Business

Finally, specialist cyber insurance can give your business the cover you need to effectively respond to cyberattacks and data breaches.

Though your insurance will not prevent attacks and breaches from taking place, your cover will prove invaluable if you ever fall victim to cybercrime. Your policy can cover the costs associated with managing and securing the breach, along with any compensation that may be due.

Read our full guide to how cyber insurance works, and what it covers.

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with access to a hand-picked selection of A-rated insurance providers. We can help your business find the cyber insurance you need at the best possible price.

Get in touch for a free quote today.

 

What Happens If I Do Not Have Catering Insurance?
What Happens If I Do Not Have Catering Insurance? 1000 665 James Hallam

Catering insurance can cover your business for many of the unique risks associated with preparing and serving food and drink to the public. On top of this, your catering insurance policy can cover you for some of the risks faced by all businesses in all sectors, such as loss or theft of your equipment.

You do have a legal obligation to get some forms of cover. But beyond this, catering insurance is entirely optional. However, in this post we will outline what might happen if you do not have catering insurance, to highlight how dedicated cover is something no caterer should do without.

What Insurance Do Caterers Need By Law?

Employer’s liability insurance is a legal obligation for any businesses that employ staff. This will cover any compensation payments that may arise should any of your employees sustain any illnesses or injuries while working for you.

Even if you just employ your friends or family, you still need to get employer’s liability insurance. Failure to do so could result in hefty fines from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) – this can be up to £2,500 per day for each day that your business goes without adequate cover.

Buildings insurance may also be required for your business premises as part of your mortgage or leasing agreement. This can cover the costs of repairs if your premises are ever damaged by fire, flood, theft, vandalism, or other events.

Mobile catering businesses, such as a catering van, you will also need to get at least third party insurance for every vehicle you use as part of your business.

What Happens If I Do Not Have Catering Insurance?

Apart from the forms of cover we listed above, you have no legal obligation to get any kind of catering insurance. However, without adequate cover, even the smallest setback could quickly spiral into a huge issue with the potential to sink your business entirely.

Think about the following situations:

  • Loss of stock – A power cut in the night could cause your fridges and freezers to fail. When you arrive at your premises in the morning, you find that all of your stock is ruined. You will not be able to trade that day, and you will have to order new stock before you can open again.
  • Premises damage – A fire or a flood could cause significant damage to your business premises. If you have buildings insurance, you may be covered for repairs. But will not be able to trade again until the repairs are complete. How will you manage with the loss of income in the meantime?
  • Equipment loss – A major piece of equipment is lost, damaged, or stolen. Could you get by without it? Would you be able to afford a replacement?
  • Customer compensation – A customer gets food poisoning having eaten food prepared on your premises. If they take legal action against you, would you be able to afford the legal fees, and the possible compensation payments?

Catering Insurance Would Cover You For All of These Scenarios, and More

The above situations might seem unlikely, but they are the sort of things that could happen to any catering business. And unless you have adequate cover in place, any one of these scenarios would have the potential to ruin your business.

The following insurance products could give you total peace of mind that you would be covered for all of these situations, and more:

  • Public and Product Liability Insurance – This can cover most accidents, injuries, and illnesses members of the public may sustain as a result of interacting with your business. This can include claims arising from cases of food poisoning or allergic reactions.
  • Contents Insurance – This can cover for your cooking equipment and furnishings, along with your stock and your ingredients. In cases of loss, damage, or theft, your insurance can cover the costs of repairs or replacements.
  • Business Interruption Insurance – If a fire, a flood, or a similar event means you are temporarily unable to trade, business interruption insurance can cover all of your overheads for as long as it takes things to get back to normal.

Get Specialist Catering Insurance From James Hallam

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with access to a hand-picked selection of A-rated insurance providers.

We know that no two catering businesses are quite the same. This is why we take the time to get to know our clients, so that we can design a catering insurance package that truly meets your needs at a competitive price.

Get in touch for a free quote today.

Issues and Challenges Facing the Restaurant Industry
Issues and Challenges Facing the Restaurant Industry 1000 667 James Hallam

The restaurant industry is going through some trying times. Recent industry figures suggest that 10 restaurants closed every day over the course of 12 months. This means that in one year, the total number of licensed premises in the UK fell by 3.6%, from 103,682 to 99,916.

In this post we will discuss some of the major issues and challenges currently facing the restaurant industry.

Hospitality Staff Shortages

For some years now, there has been talk of a staffing crisis in the UK hospitality industry. In early 2024, the industry has a staff shortfall of 107,000. This was an improvement over the peak of 176,000 the industry experienced post lockdown in 2022. But this figure was still high enough to make hospitality the third worst sector for staff shortfalls, after healthcare and retail.

Staff shortages impact service quality, which may compound issues for restaurants: If customers are not satisfied with their service, then they may be less likely to return to the restaurant. They may also leave a bad review, which could mean the restaurant will struggle to attract any new customers. Dissatisfied customers may even choose to dine and dash in protest.

What are restaurants doing to tackle staff shortages?

Some restaurants and bars have turned to tech to try and address the staffing crisis. Self-service terminals and QR menus, for example, can automate certain processes, meaning that the staff may feel less strained and better able to focus on delivering a good customer service. Other restaurants are addressing their recruitment and onboarding processes in order to better attract and retain staff.

Rising Restaurant Costs

The UK’s “cost of living crisis” has hit every sector. For restaurants, rising energy bills and the growing cost of food and drink has led to increased overheads, which many restaurants will struggle to afford.

Poor crops, supply chain issues and, most recently, import tariffs, have all resulted in food inflation. This will hit restaurants twice: Buying stock will become more expensive but, as their customers will also feel the pinch, they may experience fewer sales too. A combination of rising costs and falling sales can spell doom for any business in any industry.

What are restaurants doing to tackle rising costs?

To address these rising costs, some restaurants have chosen to tweak their menus. In some cases, this is simply a case of raising prices. But seasonal menus and a focus on local ingredients can help lower costs for both you and your customers, as it means your stock will be less vulnerable to crop issues and supply chain problems.

Technology and Cyber Threats

In recent years, technological advances have driven a rise in home delivery orders. In 2024, the UK food delivery market was valued at £3.8 billion, and was forecasted to rise by 15.2% over the following five years.

When ordering online, customers expect high quality food, delivered quickly. Many restaurants have restructured their business to meet these changing customer preferences and expectations. For some restaurants, this has meant shifting from traditional table service to a dedicated food delivery service, where processes that once conducted face-to-face are now conducted almost entirely online.

Embracing tech may have enabled restaurants to meet changing customer expectations, but at the same time, it may have made them more vulnerable to cybercrime. The more processes that are conducted online, the more possible vulnerabilities there are for cybercriminals to target.

What are restaurants doing to tackle cyber threats?

In response to this, restaurants should consider bespoke cybersecurity technologies to help keep their systems, and their customers, safe. Tailored cyber insurance can also help restaurants recover from the many costs they may incur as a result of a cyberattack.

We Can Help You Safeguard Your Restaurant Through These Trying Times

We know that times are tough for restaurants. This is why we are committed to protecting your business.

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with access to a hand-picked selection of A-rated insurance providers. We can help you get a specialist restaurant insurance package that truly meets your needs at a competitive price. Our restaurant insurance can include cyber cover, which will help you withstand the growing threat of cybercrime.

Get in touch for a free quote today.

 

Hotel Maintenance Checklist – A Guide to Preventing Future Issues
Hotel Maintenance Checklist – A Guide to Preventing Future Issues 1000 667 James Hallam

As a hotel manager, you probably already feel like you have thousands of things to do every day. But taking the time to create and follow a hotel maintenance checklist can help you fix many potential issues long before they become serious problems. In this way, your hotel maintenance checklist will save you a lot of future headaches. And potentially, a lot of money too.

In this post we will outline how to design and implement an effective hotel maintenance checklist that will help you prevent costly breakdowns and potential guest dissatisfaction in the long-term.

Preventative Hotel Maintenance Checklist

Step 1 – Itemise All of Your Hotel’s Assets and Systems

To begin with, make a list of every asset and system in your hotel that you know will require ongoing maintenance.

This will include:

  • Plumbing, electrical, and heating systems
  • Elevators and escalators
  • Fire safety systems, including alarms and sprinklers
  • Catering facilities, including ovens, fridges, and freezers
  • Guest amenities, including gyms, pools, saunas, etc.

Then you should make a separate list for every system you identify:

  • Relevant regulations and standards – for example, the fire safety regulations concerning extinguishers, sprinklers, and other systems.
  • Recommended maintenance schedules as specified in the manual.
  • Warranty details.
  • Servicing contacts – i.e. Who specifically would you contact if each system were to break down? Gathering this information in advance would save you from having to source support in an emergency.
  • Special considerations. For example, the older each system is, the more often it may require servicing. An asset’s location may also affect its maintenance schedule. If you are near the sea, for instance, then any assets located outdoors may be vulnerable to corrosion from sea salt.

Step 2 – Assign Maintenance Roles & Responsibilities

The good news is that you do not have to oversee every aspect of hotel maintenance by yourself.

Assign roles for every key aspect of maintenance throughout your hotel, and you will create accountability. Everyone will know what is required of them, and when.

Sometimes, the maintenance could become a simple ongoing responsibility for an employee. Housekeeping staff could check furniture for signs of wear and tear, and ensure that all appliances in all rooms are in good working order. And your kitchen staff are probably already perfectly aware of the condition of each key item of equipment they use.

For some systems in your hotel, such as your plumbing, electrical, and fire safety systems, you will probably have to enlist expert help for most service checks and maintenance tasks. In which case, your maintenance checklist should specify who is responsible for ensuring you stick to the servicing intervals, and who is responsible for arranging the specialist maintenance.

Step 3 – Organise Maintenance Tasks By Frequency

Create a list of maintenance tasks, and organise them by how frequently they will need completing.

This will include:

  • Daily Tasks – Including routine inspections, cleaning rotas etc.
  • Weekly Tasks – Including fire alarm, emergency lighting, and security system tests.
  • Monthly Tasks – Including more detailed and comprehensive inspections of key systems, and deeper cleaning procedures.
  • Quarterly Tasks – This may include certain professional servicing procedures of heating systems, elevators, fire safety equipment, and other systems.
  • Annual Tasks – This may include assessing your hotel’s structure for signs of wear and tear, along with annual service checks for all of your key systems.

Step 4 – Ongoing Recording and Monitoring

Your preventative hotel maintenance checklist should be just that – a checklist. This means you should be able to check off once each daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annual task has been completed.

As well as a tick, the checklist should indicate which specific member of staff conducted the test. There should also be space to add notes, so you can record any emerging issues with a date that they were first identified.

You may wish to invest in hotel maintenance software, which can help you keep on top of preventative maintenance with automated reminders, real-time monitoring of progress, and other features.

Specialist Hotel Insurance From James Hallam

A good hotel maintenance checklist can help you prevent many future issues, from a case of food poisoning due to a faulty fridge, to customer slips and trips due to worn carpets. And if you can avoid these issues, you can also avoid any resulting costly claims that may arise.

Nonetheless, accidents do happen. Which is why comprehensive hotel insurance can give you total peace of mind that you will be covered for all costs should anything ever go wrong.

Read our full guide to hotel insurance.

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a dedicated team of experienced insurance specialists. We are committed to protecting your hotel, your staff, and your guests from every risk you might possibly face.

Find out how we can help you get a bespoke and cost-effective hotel insurance policy today.

Construction Skills Shortage: The Impact of Worker Shortages
Construction Skills Shortage: The Impact of Worker Shortages 1000 667 James Hallam

The UK has been dealing with a construction skills shortage for some years now. The latest CITB Construction Workforce Outlook report suggests that the UK needs 47,860 extra construction workers per year for the 2025-2029 period. This is a total of 293,300 extra workers over the next five years.

In this post we will outline the underlying causes for the UK’s construction skills shortage. We will also explore the impact this shortage is having on the sector.

Why Is There a Construction Skills Shortage in the UK?

There are a number of underlying causes for the UK’s construction skills shortage:

Aging Workforce: Too Many Retirees, Too Few New Recruits

A recent CITB Workforce Skills and Mobility in the Construction Sector report revealed that:

  • 50% of the UK’s construction workforce is aged 25 to 44.
  • 25% are aged 45 to 59.
  • Just 19% of the workforce are aged 25 or under.

Each year, more and more of these workers will reach retirement age, meaning that more people leave the sector than join it.

Changing Expectations of Work

During lockdown, many people got used to a more flexible way of working. As large parts of the workforce were working from home, many workers were relatively free to choose how and when they wanted to work.

Traditionally, the construction sector has not offered such flexibility, which may be putting off a lot of people from entering the sector.

Bad Reputation and Negative Perceptions

Construction has a reputation for being physically demanding, dirty, and unsafe. None of this is necessarily true, but this persisting perception may be turning away many potential candidates.

Many may also believe that construction work is poorly paid. Again, this is not necessarily the case. A recent CIOB report suggested that many construction workers earn around £33,000 a year, which is higher than the average annual earnings in many other sectors.

Global Events

Brexit brought an end to free movement from Europe to the UK, which may have impacted the construction sector, as recruiters struggle to access the international workforce. Similarly, the sector may still be feeling the effects of lockdown. Many who left the sector may not have returned once restrictions were lifted.

The Impact of Worker Shortages on the Construction Industry

The worker shortage means that the construction sector as a whole will face:

  • Project delays caused by a struggle to meet demand
  • Burnout for anyone who works in the sector due to overworking.
  • Rise in mistakes and accidents because tired and stressed construction workers may be more likely to make mistakes, which could lead to more on-the-job accidents.
  • Rising costs from errors that may need reworking, which may also drive up the cost of insurance for construction firms.
  • Difficulties in staff retention caused by an overstretched workforce, which of course would exacerbate the problem for many businesses.

Government Plans to Address The Construction Skills Shortage

In March 2025, the government revealed its plan to “unleash the next generation of construction workers”, with an aim to build 1.5 million new homes.

The aim is to recruit and train up to 60,000 more specialist construction workers by 2029. This is less than 25% of the 293,300 new workers the latest CITB Construction Workforce Outlook report suggests that the UK needs.

What Can You Do To Deal With A Staff or Skills Shortage in Your Construction Business?

This is not the sort of problem you will be able to solve overnight. But there are a number of strategies you can adopt to help your construction business deal with staff shortages and high turnover.

  • Offer flexibility where you can. The tight schedules of many construction projects mean you cannot offer the same flexibility that employees enjoy in certain other sectors. But you could still help your staff enjoy a better work/life balance through being as flexible as possible – with part-time or job-sharing opportunities, staggered start and end times, and through giving workers more say in when they take their breaks.
  • A focus on wellbeing. Support your employees in any way you can. Look to introduce the sort of benefits and initiatives that encourage wellbeing, and aim to reward loyalty and high performance. The aim is not just to support your staff, but also to dispel the myth that construction work is inherently difficult and unrewarding.
  • Build a better construction culture. Treat your staff well, offer competitive pay and other rewards, and be as flexible as possible, and over time the word might spread that you are an employer that respects your staff. This could help with recruitment and retention in the long-term.

Specialist Insurance Cover For Construction Firms

At James Hallam, we can help you protect your construction business with specialist risk management and insurance support.

We are an independent Lloyd’s broker with a dedicated team of experienced insurance professionals who are committed to getting you the cover you need at a competitive price.

Find out how we can help you today.

 

What Should Be In Your Restaurant Health and Safety Policy?
What Should Be In Your Restaurant Health and Safety Policy? 1000 667 James Hallam

Under UK law, every business must have a health and safety policy. In a restaurant or café, a health and safety policy can help prevent many common accidents and injuries. It can also help you ensure that your staff will know what to do should anything ever go wrong.

In this post we will outline the key components of a restaurant health and safety policy.

Key Health and Safety Risks in a Restaurant

  • Food and Drink Risks – Unless you follow stringent hygiene practices, your customers could get ill from eating your food.
  • Fire – Restaurants have more fire hazards than many other businesses, including open flames, electricals, and numerous flammable substances. These can cause burns and scalds for your staff, along with more serious fire outbreaks that could affect your entire premises.
  • Knives and Sharp Objects – Some members of staff will need to handle sharp objects as part of the work, whether this is in food preparation or in washing and storing utensils. Broken glassware is another major hazard, which can affect both your staff and your customers.
  • Slips and Trips – Restaurants and their kitchens can be cluttered and chaotic places. A spillage, or a misplaced item in a walkway, could result in a slip or a trip. And if a waiter falls while carrying a trayful of food or drinks, the damage could be considerable.

What Should You Include In Your Restaurant Health and Safety Policy?

When compiling your restaurant health and safety policy, you should start with a thorough risk assessment.

How to do a Restaurant Risk Assessment

Identify all of the possible risks to both staff and to members of the public, and consider the steps you could take to mitigate those risks. The steps you outline will form the basis of your health and safety policy.

Restaurant Capacity

The more people there are in your restaurant at any one time, the greater the chances are that something will go wrong. It is important to:

  • Set a maximum cap for the number of people who can be in your restaurant at any one time.
  • Set a cap for your venue space, if you ever host events such as weddings in your restaurant.

Setting a maximum capacity can help prevent slips, trips, and falls, as it can ensure that your restaurant will never get so crammed that staff and customers will struggle to move.

Fire Safety

  • Make sure at least one member of staff gets dedicated fire safety training, and appoint them as your restaurant’s fire marshal.
  • Identify your restaurant’s fire escapes, and ensure that all fire escape routes remain clear of obstructions at all times.
  • Ensure that there are appropriate fire safety signs and equipment throughout your restaurant.

Staff Training

Your health and safety policy should detail all of the training you require your staff to undertake. As we mentioned above, this should include:

  • Fire marshal training for at least one member of staff
  • Essentials of fire safety briefing for all employees
  • Appropriate First Aid training for a dedicated first aid responder, which you should appoint.
  • Where necessary, staff should receive training on safely handling potentially hazardous objects such as knives and cooking appliances.

Ventilation

Good ventilation is essential in the restaurant environment, as it can stop fires from spreading while clearing areas of smoke and other hazardous substances should a fire break out. Proper ventilation can also prevent germs and other infections from spreading among both staff and customers.

For more information on ventilation regulations in catering establishments, read the HSE guidance.

Health and Safety Checklist

Finally, your restaurant health and safety policy should include a checklist to help you ensure that you have measures in place to address all of the common risks you face in your catering business. Complying with this checklist will also help you pass your routine health and safety inspections whenever a Food Safety or Environmental Health Officer visits.

Here are some of the items you should include on this checklist:

  • The entire restaurant is clean, with no pests.
  • You regularly clean all equipment to professional standards, with separate sinks for washing equipment and hands.
  • You comply with all food storage requirements, ensuring that your fridges and freezers are at the right temperature. There is also a stock control system in place, to ensure that you never store, prepare, or sell food once it has expired.
  • You have a cleaning procedure in place which includes guidance on the use of cleaning products, along with the use such as protective equipment such as hair nets where necessary.
  • There is a first aid kit available, along with at least one member of staff who knows how to apply essential first aid. You also have all necessary fire safety signage and equipment, with a trained fire marshal onsite at all times.

Get Specialist Insurance Cover For Your Restaurant

Your health and safety policy can help you manage many of the common risks associated with running a restaurant. But if anything does go wrong, then dedicated restaurant insurance can give you all the cover you need.

Read our full guide to restaurant insurance.

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with access to a hand-picked selection of A-rated insurance providers. We can help you get a specialist restaurant insurance package that truly meets your needs at a competitive price.

Get in touch for a free quote today.

Do I Need Motor Trade Insurance?
Do I Need Motor Trade Insurance? 1000 665 James Hallam

Anyone who is involved in the motor trade in any capacity should consider getting specialist motor trade insurance. This will cover you for many of the risks that all businesses face, along with the unique motor trade risks that many other businesses never have to think about.

What is Motor Trade Insurance?

Motor trade insurance is dedicated cover for professionals involved in the motor trade.

A motor trade insurance package can cover many standard business risks, such as:

  • Public and employer’s liability cover
  • Premises and contents cover
  • Industry-specific risks. For example, road risk insurance can cover you and your staff to drive customers’ vehicles to and from your premises.

Read our full guide to what motor trade insurance is, and what it covers, here.

Who Needs Motor Trade Insurance?

Any business involved in the motor trade sector should consider getting specialist motor trade insurance, including:

  • MOT testing centres.
  • Car dealerships – whether you are selling new cars or used cars, and whether you run a small independent dealerships or a nationwide franchise.
  • Car detailers and valets.
  • Auto-electricians.
  • Vehicle diagnostic specialists.
  • Tyre and exhaust fitters.

Do I Need Motor Trade Insurance?

Yes, you need dedicated cover to protect your business against the unique risks associated with the motor trade.

You have a legal obligation to get some forms of cover:

  • Employer’s Liability Insurance: If you employ any staff, you need employer’s liability cover. This will cover your staff for any accidents or injuries they sustain on the job.
  • Road Risk Insurance: It is illegal to drive any vehicle on UK roads without at least third party vehicle insurance in place. If you need to move customers’ vehicles as part of your work – whether this is to move them around your premises, or to transport them to and from your premises – then you will need at least third party road risk cover.
  • Buildings insurance: You may be required to get some form of premises or buildings cover as part of your leasing agreement.

Beyond this, there is no legal requirement to get any insurance. However, if you do not have appropriate cover in place, then even a small mistake could potentially bring your entire business down.

What Happens If I Do Not Have Motor Trade Insurance?

Think about the following situations:

  • Pay out of pocket for legal fees and compensation: A customer is dissatisfied with your work, or a system or component you have worked on subsequently fails. This customer may make a claim against you with allegations of negligence or poor workmanship. Without professional liability cover in place, you would be personally liable to cover all subsequent legal fees and compensation payments.
  • Cover loss or damage to tools: Thieves break into your garage in the night and steal or damage your tools and equipment. Contents insurance could cover you for this loss or damage. But without this cover, would you be able to afford repairs or replacements?
  • Pay for damage caused by fire or flood: A fire or a flood breaks out at your garage. Would you be able to afford the necessary repairs? And would you be able to survive the loss of income while your garage is closed for the duration of the repairs?

Motor trade insurance could cover you for all of these scenarios, and more. With comprehensive insurance in place, you could rest assured that you will be covered for almost anything, leaving you free to focus on your business.

Specialist Motor Trade Insurance Services From James Hallam

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with access to a hand-picked selection of A-rated insurance providers. We can help you understand the unique risks you face as a motor trade business, before helping you get the specialist cover you need at a competitive price.

Get in touch for a free quote today.

 

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