“My mate was a recruiter… he knew I liked beer and numbers so he had the job for me,” says David Sheen, describing an unconventional entry into public affairs. The role — a statistician position at the British Beer & Pub Association — came with an unusual commission fee (“a pair of jeans”), but it marked the start of a career that has since spanned some of the most economically and politically sensitive areas of the UK’s hospitality sector. That background — rooted in data as much as policy — continues to shape how he approaches the role today. UKHospitality represents businesses across the hospitality sector, including pubs, restaurants, hotels and leisure operators. It plays a central role in shaping policy on taxation, employment, regulation and tourism, advocating for an industry that is both a major employer and a key part of the UK’s economic and cultural fabric. For Sheen, the policy landscape is broad — but one issue stands out. “Employment Rights — it’s so vast,” he says, ...