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The Atlantic Brief - Issue 1
- Jasper van der Zalm
- Apr 12
- 3 min read
Updated: May 4
Launch Edition
Your summer season starts now — are you ahead of it?
Practical insight for South West hospitality operators — straight to your inbox.
Dear Subscriber,
Welcome to The Atlantic Brief — a monthly newsletter for hospitality business owners and operators across the South West who want to stay ahead, not just keep up.
I'm Jasper, founder of Atlantic Consultant. With decades of hands-on experience across hospitality and business management, our focus is simple: practical, honest advice that makes a real difference to how you run and grow your business.
No corporate jargon. No filler. Just the insight that matters.
This issue:
Are you summer-ready?
For hospitality businesses across Devon, Cornwall and the wider South West, summer is everything. The margin between a strong season and a disappointing one is often decided months before the first guest arrives.
Here are three areas worth reviewing now:
1. Staffing structure. With the National Living Wage increase bedded in and recruitment costs rising, now is the time to assess whether your current staffing model is as efficient as it could be. Are you relying too heavily on agency cover? Is your rota truly aligned with your demand patterns?
2. Menu and pricing. Food and drink costs remain under pressure. A structured menu engineering review — looking at contribution margin, not just popularity — can meaningfully improve your profitability without touching your prices.
3. Guest journey. Small operational inconsistencies compound into poor reviews. A fresh set of eyes on your guest journey from booking to departure often reveals quick wins that cost nothing to fix.
Legislation watch
The Employment Rights Act 2025: What changes now
The Employment Rights Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 18 December 2025 — the most significant overhaul of employment law in a generation.
Three changes took effect on 6 April 2026 and require your immediate attention.
Holiday records — formal record-keeping is now a legal requirement. For each employee you must document leave taken, leave carried over, holiday pay paid, and any payments in lieu. Records must be retained for six years. If your current system is informal, that is no longer sufficient.
Paternity and parental leave — both are now day-one rights. The one-year qualifying period for parental leave has been removed entirely, and the notice period for paternity leave has been temporarily reduced to 28 days.
Statutory sick pay — payable from day one of illness, with the three-day waiting period abolished. The lower earnings limit has also been removed, meaning more of your workforce — including part-time and casual staff — will now qualify.
Review your policies, brief your managers, and check in with your payroll provider if you haven't already.
Zero-hours contracts and flexible working amendments are scheduled for 2027. We'll cover both in upcoming issues.
South West spotlight
Tourism across Devon and Cornwall continues to perform strongly, though the mid-market accommodation sector is seeing increased competition from short-term lets. Operators who differentiate on experience, service quality and direct booking rates are holding their position most effectively.
A thought to close with
The businesses that grow sustainably are rarely the ones that work hardest. They're the ones that work most clearly — with the right strategy, the right systems, and the right advice at the right time.
If anything in this issue prompts a question or a conversation, reply directly to this email.
I read every one.
If this is useful, please pass it on to a colleague in the industry.
If you would like to see how we work before getting in touch, visit atlanticconsultant.co.uk
Until next time,
Jasper Atlantic Consultant | North Devon
📞 +44 (0)7772 528 958
The Atlantic Brief is published for general informational purposes only. Nothing in this newsletter constitutes legal, financial or professional advice. Readers should seek independent advice tailored to their specific circumstances before taking or refraining from any action.
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