The recent UK EU trade agreement, which was finalized in May 2025, had a direct impact on the UK hospitality and events sector, introducing several changes. The agreement aims to ease trade and mobility barriers, but also presents a mix of opportunities and ongoing challenges, particularly in regards to staffing, cost and regulatory compliance.
Positive development
Reducing trade barriers:
The elimination of certain border checks under the new trade agreements streamlined the import process of goods from the EU. For event organizers, this means less delays and less documentary when sourcing supplies of catering materials, staging equipment, decorations, and more. These improvements will help reduce operational costs and improve planning efficiency for large events, exhibitions and meetings.
Youth Mobility Scheme:
The proposed “youth experience scheme” included in the contract is designed to allow EU youth to live and work in the UK for a limited period of time. If implemented, the initiative could ease some of the acute staffing shortages that have impacted the hospitality and events industry since Brexit. This scheme offers the potential to bring much needed labor and energize the talent pipeline, especially as many entry-level and seasonal roles are not filled, especially in the role of event support and service.
The challenge continues
Staff shortage:
The end of the freedom movement between the UK and the EU has significantly reduced the available pool of EU nationals for the role of the hospitality and events sector. This is especially felt at entry level and seasonal positions, including catering staff, event setup crews and front of house teams. A recent survey found that 9.6% of companies reported a significant impact on Brexit adoption, while 90.6% struggle to fill the key entry-level roles that hinder their ability to provide high-quality services during peak periods.
Increased operating costs:
While easing some border checks has helped to reduce delays, the introduction of import fees to goods from the EU continues to keep costs down. For the event sector, this has resulted in higher prices for imported foods, drinks and event materials. These rising costs can affect both the profitability of event operators and the overall cost experience of clients and participants, which can affect consumer demand and pricing strategies.
Regulation Complexity: Event Organisers face additional management responsibilities due to new customs procedures and post-Brexit compliance requirements, which impact the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of event planning.
In summary, the UK EU trade agreement introduced measures that could benefit the hospitality and events sector, but the challenges associated with shortages of staff, increased operating costs and regulatory complexity persist.
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