The NTIA is a new trade association that aims to be “The Voice of The Night Time Industries”. With members from across the UK and a board that reflects the innovation and diversity of one of Britain’s greatest contributions to culture and the economy, the NTIA seeks to re-position the national and local conversation about operators and owners in the night time sector.
Recognition of the enormous contribution
The NTIA is being led by Alan D Miller, Co-Founder of London’s Old Truman Brewery who was CEO of The Vibe Bar for almost 20 years before its recent closure, along with several other key industry players such as Steve Ball, Jonathan Downey and Alex Proud. Their goal is to ensure the recognition of the enormous contribution the night time industries makes in terms of employment, business rates, regeneration of areas and tourism to the UK.
Night time industries must be protected
The night time industries are a great British success story, with an annual contribution of 66 billion pounds in revenue and employing around 6% of the country’s work force through many successful small businesses.
Culturally too, clubs and music venues are an incubator of British talent for which the country is known globally and this creativity will be stifled without proper outlets to develop.
Ultimately, the NTIA asks what kind of country the UK wants to be? To compete on the world stage and continue to attract visitors, the night time industries must be protected.
Lobbying
The NTIA will lobby politicians and senior decision makers nationally and locally, as well as aiming to have an impact on a number of key areas including:
- Provide a voice for the night time economy and to create and communicate a good news narrative about the industry
- Commission and publish research highlighting the benefits of the night time economy – economic (tax paid, jobs created, etc.), cultural and urban regeneration.
- Campaign to get existing use brought into planning law, which will protect existing music venues from the negative effects of nearby residential development
- Offer a powerful voice which can put forward a strong counter point view when the night time economy is vilified
- Provide a framework for sharing best practice information to allow those in the industry to become better operators
- Provide real effective support, if ever an operator gets into serious trouble
Owners and operators needed to sign up
“We want to provide a voice for those in the Night Time Industries who range from the single venue operator to those with numerous venues. We need our fellow owners and operators to sign up with us so that we can be an even stronger voice in the UK. This is the first step of creating something that can be enormously influential,” says Alan D Miller, Chairman of the NTIA.
Sir Harvey Goldsmith, who sits on the Advisory Board, adds, “The Night Time Industry is the life blood of music and entertainment in the UK. The night time economy is also very important to the economy of cities and towns. It is where the next generation of talent develops… We need to encourage our entrepreneurs and make sure we do not stifle creativity by imposing overly restrictive measures on one of Britain’s most productive sectors”.
At a time when late night operators are increasingly coming under pressure from a range of challenges, the NTIA feels it is vital to join forces to protect and promote one of the most valuable sector, both culturally and economically in Britain today.
More information on how operators can sign up can be found on the NTIA’s website click here