NTIA Scotland launches manifesto to revive night-time economy
The manifesto called for a dedicated minister for Scotland’s night-time economy, as well as VAT and business rates relief for venues and a cultural protection fund.
The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) Scotland has launched a manifesto geared towards reviving the night time economy, which it warns is at “serious risk”.
The report, titled Northern Lights: A Manifesto for Scotland’s Night Time Economy 2025, lays out 31 recommendations aimed at boosting the future of the country’s night time industries.
The night-time economy, which includes bars, clubs, live music and late-night transport, £43.5 billion in GVA to the UK and supports more than 137,000 jobs in Scotland across 12,600 businesses.
But the manifesto warned that “this ecosystem is at serious risk”.
Night time economy is the ‘soul’ of cities
But, for Mike Grieve, chair of NTIA Scotland, it isn’t just about bars and clubs, but about “the creative soul of our towns and cities”.
Without immediate government support, he said Scotland risked losing “venues, voices and businesses that define Scotland’s global cultural identity”.
The manifesto highlights this perspective, calling for a shift in how the government interacts with the sector. It recommends VAT and business rates relief for venues, a cultural protection fund and changes to licensing laws that currently penalise hospitality venues.
It also calls for the appointment of a dedicated minister for the night-time economy, and statutory duties for all local authorities to develop their own night time economy strategies.
Partner Content
Government relations
The NTIA is also calling for Offices for Nightlife in major cities, more financial and regulatory reform, and initiatives to boost safety, inclusion and late-night transport.
Commenting on the manifesto, Gavin Stevenson, vice-chair of NTIA Scotland, said the manifesto created an opportunity to reset the relationship between the private and public sectors, and a roadmap for tackling the regulatory and financial obstacles that are currently crippling the late night sector.
With 85% of Scottish hospitality businesses report “low or no trust” in government, the NTIA is calling for coordinated action on both a national and local scale.
It is urging the Scottish Government to adopt the recommendations, host a national summit on the future of the night time economy, and embed the sector within Scotland’s wider economic transformation plans.
‘Scotland must not be left behind’
Michael Kill, CEO of NTIA UK, added: “Across the world, cities are embracing nightlife as a key component of economic resilience and cultural diplomacy. Scotland must not be left behind. Northern Lights offers a forward-thinking, detailed and locally adaptable plan for national recovery. It is not just a wish list, it’s a working document for a sustainable future.”
Speaking to the drinks business, Kill recently claimed that nightclubs need more protection from government, with operators ‘hugely worried’ about the future of their venues.
Jenn Nimmo-Smith, NTIA Night Time Economy Ambassador for Glasgow, added that the night time sector was not only an economic engine but the “beating cultural heart of the city”.
“The Northern Lights manifesto rightly recognises that the night time economy is not a problem to be managed, but a powerhouse to be supported. We need leadership that puts regeneration, not just regulation, at its core,” she said.
