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The operator of Pizza Hut’s restaurants in the UK is looking to raise more than \u00a310m to help it cope with increased costs after tax rises on business were announced in last month’s Budget.<\/p>\n
The money could come from a sale of part of the business, or new investment from existing shareholders.<\/p>\n
It comes amid growing backlash from business owners who warn<\/a> rises in employers’ national insurance contributions and the National Living Wage will push up costs for business which employ lots of low-wage workers.<\/p>\n Heart With Smart (HWS) – which operates all 140 UK dine-in Pizza Hut restaurants – will use the money on new technology including touch-screen ordering kiosks and contactless table ordering.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The new features would allow restaurants to save money by operating with fewer staff and are already being trialled successfully in some Pizza Hut outlets, a company insider told the BBC.<\/p>\n They said it would result in reduced staff levels, but the store does not expect a major redundancy programme.<\/p>\n From April 2025 the rate of employers\u2019 national insurance contributions, which are paid by businesses on top of workers\u2019 salaries, will rise from 13.8% to 15%, and the level where contributions start will fall to \u00a35,000.<\/p>\n