By Lana Gasimova, Head of Business Development, ETC Finance   I come from hospitality, not finance. I’ve worked the floor, managed pressure, dealt with last-minute curveballs and made decisions in real time, often with a guest standing right in front of me. So, when I talk about finance, I don’t talk in spreadsheets. I talk in service, standards, and survival. ·      Do I comp that table to save the relationship? ·      Do I bring in an extra staff member to protect service?

By Lana Gasimova, Head of Business Development, ETC Finance I’ve spent my entire career in hospitality - working alongside operators, founders and leadership teams in an industry where decisions are made fast and the margin for error is small. Over the years, one thing has become very clear to me - hospitality teaches you about risk in a way few other industries can. I didn’t learn about risk from textbooks or financial theory. I learned it through real conversations with peo

By Lana Gasimova , Head of Business Development, ETC Finance  As we step into 2026, the UK hospitality sector faces both challenges and opportunities.  Rising costs, staffing pressures, and fluctuating consumer demand mean businesses must be strategic. Setting clear resolutions for your business - now - can make the difference between just surviving and truly thriving this year.Use the quieting downturn of January to reset your mindset, focus on your goals for the next 12 mon

Andrew Carr ,   ETC Finance Last Sunday, my wife and I made our annual visit to Waddesdon Manor  to enjoy the Christmas Market and the lights display. It’s a National Trust property we’ve been visiting for more than 30 years now – first as a couple, then as a family, and now once again as a couple. And, of course, no visit would be complete without my traditional treat of the old fashioned sweets - Pineapple Chunks. Walking around, I found myself reflecting on how the busines

Today, 17 December 2025, The newly reported figures on inflation offer some small relief for the hospitality sector.  At ETC Finance, we are analysing the implications of this situation and how it impacts you. This comes with the expectation of an interest rate cut next week, which should offer some relief to the hospitality sector. 1) Demand & Pricing: Falling inflation helps real incomes, but growth is still fragile What’s changing: Headline CPI fell to 3.2% in Nov-25; food

By Andrew Carr , ETC Finance All views shared are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of ETC Over the weekend, I found myself celebrating my 30th wedding anniversary in a charming Cotswold pub. As I enjoyed a beer or two with my wife and family, the pleasurable experience reminded me of a recent BBC article about the trend of adult-only pubs. It made me pause and reflect. Having worked in the hospitality sector for the most of my career, I have seen t

By Andrew Carr,  Operations Director, ETC All views shared are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of ETC Recent political events have shown how quickly the landscape can shift at the highest levels of government. In that sense, the hospitality sector is, for now, somewhat fortunate: the Chancellor remains in post and will deliver her next budget on 26th November . Interesting timing in the sense of how close that is to the peak season for hospitality

Making the most of the glorious sunshine this weekend, I took the opportunity to enjoy a refreshing pint in my local pub garden and take some uninterrupted thinking time. About Christmas. Future planning is essential for businesses, as it enables them to anticipate challenges, adapt to market shifts, and position themselves for long-term success.   In the hospitality industry the festive season can literally make or break a business.  The next 6 months from September to March

Whilst taking a well earned break recently I was in the fortunate position to spend some time in France, and was considering the potential impact of a Young Persons Movement Scheme for people under 30 from the UK to the European Union. Free movement  between the UK and the European Union ended on 31 December 2020 and on 1 January 2021, the UK implemented a points-based immigration system that prioritises skills and talent over where a person comes from. Since the end of free

As a hospitality business owner, effective accounting practices are essential for managing your finances, making informed decisions, and ensuring the financial health of your business. Hospitality accounting comes with its own unique challenges, but with the right strategies in place, you can streamline your financial processes and maximize your profitability. We’re sharing some of our top tips to help you find your footing in the world of hospitality accounting. Many of the

In a recent article published by Propel, a spotlight is cast on the ever-evolving nature of the hospitality industry in the UK. The data...

In the world of business, trust is a currency more valuable than gold. Your employees, especially those in positions of authority, hold the keys to your company’s success. In reference to a recent article published in the Morning Advertiser which discusses BrewDog’s employment of a fraudulent employee, serving as a stark reminder that even the most successful companies are not immune to the threat of insider fraud. Despite BrewDog’s CEO and co-founder James Watt looking back

Following on from this article from Restaurant Magazine. We’ll discuss the potential of employee career changes amidst the increase in...

The past year has been fraught with rail strikes as the ASLEF union(which represents train drivers) dispute over pay and working...

The recent Autumn Statement, delivered on the 22nd of November 2023 by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt mentions many changes that are set to...

As we traverse further into the 21st century, the buzzword ‘sustainability’ is no longer a mere trend but an essential aspect of modern...

As we’ve entered into 2024, following on from the busy festive season, many businesses will take this downtime to look towards what the...

In a recent article from restaurant online we saw that there has been an increase in the number of restaurants that have been affected by...

The whole of Hospitality was watching intently throughout the day to hear news on what hope the Spring Budget 2024 could bring to the...

Hospitality business owners are about to witness a significant shift in operations come July 1, 2024. The Employment (Allocation of Tips)...