Entrepreneur and former nighttime economy advisor Sacha Lord has reiterated calls for the government to appoint a dedicated Minister for Hospitality, noting that the country’s fifth largest business sector deserves its own representative.

Hospitality currently falls under the remit of the minister for services, small businesses and exports at the DBT, but Lord told Insider Media that a lack of understanding about the sector has led to policymaking that actively harms businesses.

“Firstly, [the government] needs to appoint a hospitality minister,” said Lord. “That’s key. We’ve got a minister for tourism, but there isn’t a minister for hospitality, and it’s the fifth biggest industry in the whole of the UK. It needs to be someone who understands the sector.”

Lord’s comments came as part of a wider criticism of the government, in which he said “they’re doing some great things, but when it comes to business they’re stagnating growth.”

“The budget has most definitely stifled growth and reinvestment, which is a shame because I know so many people are looking at opening more and more outlets, but because of their increases coming out in April, they simply can’t.”

“We’ve got a double cliff-edge coming in April. It’s really going to affect independents.”