Night-time industry leaders ‘very positive’ following government meeting

Night-time industry leaders who met with government representatives yesterday to negotiate a recovery plan for the sector have said the meeting was “very positive” and “constructive”.

Paul Scully, parliamentary under-secretary in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), met eight industry leaders by video link to discuss a financial recovery plan to save the night-time economy from collapse.

Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association said: “It was a positive meeting and there were lots of takeaways. It was received well and government understands the position.”

Although he could not provide details of the discussions that took place, he said it was “very positive” adding he was “really pleased the meeting took place, everyone got a lot from it”.

Alex Proud, owner of London-based Proud Cabaret added that it was a “very constructive meeting” with Scully; while representatives of trade body UKHospitality said “the meeting was positive in tone and content, with discussions around next steps”.

Ahead of the meeting yesterday, night-time economy adviser for Greater Manchester Sacha Lord, who was also in attendance, said the end of furlough could be "catastrophic" for the sector, with “mass closures and mass redundancies” expected if the Job Retention Scheme is not extended.

Conservative MP and chair of the digital, culture, media and sport committee Julian Knight has also called on chancellor Rishi Sunak to extend the furlough scheme for the arts and leisure sectors; while shadow business minister Lucy Powell told The Guardian the furlough scheme “must be extended for hard hit sectors to save jobs now”.

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