NTIA Scotland has launched its new Northern Lights Manifesto at the Scottish Parliament, calling on the Scottish Government to take urgent action to support and safeguard the country’s night time economy.
The manifesto was launched this week at an event hosted by Pauline McNeill MSP at Holyrood, and signals the start of a national conversation about how Scotland supports its nightlife, hospitality and cultural venues sectors, which have faced rising costs, widespread closures and limited government support since the pandemic.
Among its key proposals, the manifesto calls for the creation of a national night time economy strategy, the appointment of a dedicated Cabinet-level minister, and immediate changes to business rates relief for hospitality and cultural venues. The strategy would bring together planning, licensing, transport, tourism and cultural policy under a single framework to better reflect the needs of Scotland’s late-night economy.
The document also proposes new statutory duties for local authorities to create their own night time economy plans, and calls for the creation of local ‘Offices for Nightlife’ to coordinate safety, best practice, and late-night transport services across the country.
Further recommendations include full business rates relief for cultural venues, a reduced VAT rate for hospitality, investment in workforce training and licensing board education, and national safety pilot schemes such as street ambassadors and drug testing at venues.
Mike Grieve, Chair of NTIA Scotland, said, “Scotland’s night time economy is one of our greatest cultural assets — a source of creativity, community, and economic strength, but it has been overlooked for too long. Northern Lights is our roadmap for recovery and renewal. We need a clear national strategy with a dedicated minister representing the sector at cabinet level, and immediate comprehensive rates relief to safeguard Scotland’s nightlife for generations to come.”