The Skills, Economy and Growth Scrutiny Commission met to discuss the Evening and Night Time Economy Strategy and the Council's business support programmes. The Commission reviewed the findings of a public consultation on the Evening and Night Time Economy Strategy, which highlighted safety concerns, a desire for more diverse nightlife, and challenges with late-night transport. They also received updates on Hackney's business support initiatives, including Hackney Impact and London & Partners, and heard from local businesses about their experiences.

Evening and Night Time Economy Strategy

The Commission received an update on the Evening and Night Time Economy Strategy, which aims to balance economic growth with residents' needs. The strategy is built on three pillars: Safety, Security and Wellbeing; Promoting Inclusivity, Celebrating Diversity and Culture at Night; and Shaping the Evening Experience and Supporting the Economy.

A public consultation, which gathered responses from 1,403 residents, 192 visitors, 78 businesses, and 115 night workers, revealed key themes. Safety, particularly for women, was a paramount concern, with calls for increased police presence, better lighting, and action on anti-social behaviour. Residents and visitors expressed a desire for a more diverse and vibrant nightlife, including later opening hours, night markets, and outdoor activities. Transportation challenges, such as inadequate late-night services, were identified as barriers. Businesses highlighted issues with inconsistent customer numbers, licensing restrictions, and safety concerns, seeking support through business-friendly policies and improved infrastructure. Noise and anti-social behaviour from nightlife venues were significant concerns for residents. Inclusivity and diversity were also emphasised, with a call for more spaces catering to diverse communities, including LGBTQ+ and ethnic minorities.

The strategy includes commitments such as developing a joint action plan with the Police for crime and safety, promoting the Women's Night Safety Charter, and providing training packages for licensed premises through the Hackney Nights programme. It also aims to build a business case for better night transport options and lobby Transport for London (TfL) for improved provision. The strategy commits to creating a skills and work network to connect young people with night-time businesses, supporting venues to investigate community ownership, and piloting Hackney Lates events to encourage businesses to stay open later.

The strategy is designed as a cross-council framework, aligning with other council strategies and policies. It will inform service provision across departments, including Community Safety, Regulatory Services, Public Health, Highways & Transport, Skills & Economy, Markets & Shopfronts, and Culture. The strategy aims to balance growth with residential wellbeing, with commitments for businesses including free training and economic data support, and for residents, a new noise policy and improved street lighting.

The Commission also reviewed the GLA's report, London's Night-Time Economy, which highlighted challenges such as rising business costs, the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, and insufficient night-time transport. The report made several recommendations, including the Mayor initiating a new round of funding for Night Time Enterprise Zones and reviewing night-time transport provision.

Hackney's Business Support Programmes

The Commission received updates on Hackney's business support programmes, including Hackney Impact and London & Partners.

Hackney Impact was highlighted as a key provider of business support, with a focus on driving economic growth and community development. The programme is place-based and aims for long-term engagement, building resilient and sustainable economies. It aligns with the Economic Development Plan's missions, focusing on participant involvement, economic resilience, and fostering a fairer, more inclusive economy. The programme has shown increased diversity in its participants, suggesting outreach efforts are reaching priority groups.

London & Partners (L&P) presented its Grow London Local service, a concierge service designed to help businesses access support across London. L&P operates a platform of available support, offers face-to-face assistance, and has a dedicated team of business support managers across boroughs. They have supported over 29,000 businesses in person and have a website with approximately 500 providers listed. Hackney had supported 552 businesses through L&P, with marketing, finance, and planning being the primary areas of assistance.

Renaisi, as the learning and evaluation partner for Hackney Impact, shared insights from the first phase of the programme. They identified that participants consistently provided positive feedback, reporting boosted confidence, clearer business direction, and improved strategic planning. Renaisi noted that the consortium's collaborative effort achieved more than the sum of its individual parts.

Business owners Alpesh Patel of Refill Therapy and Joanne English of Queertopia Consortium shared their positive experiences with Hackney Impact. Alpesh Patel highlighted the personal value of weekly sessions, networking opportunities, and practical application of learned skills, particularly in understanding AI. Joanne English explained how Hackney Impact was instrumental in structuring her organisation, enabling her to secure funding and connect with agencies, stating that Queertopia Consortium would not be thriving without their support.

London Borough of Hackney (LBH) representatives outlined their commitment to an inclusive economy, noting Hackney's rapid economic growth but acknowledging that it's not experienced equally by all residents. The Economic Development Plan aims to broker connections and deploy resources to assist enterprises, with a focus on social and responsible businesses. The Economic Development Team manages borough-wide programmes, while the Regeneration Team focuses on inclusive growth across five priority areas, including affordable workspace and business support. The Hackney Business Network has nearly 5,000 members, serving as a channel for information sharing and promoting local businesses through the 'Love Hackney Shop Local' campaign. The Hackney Responsible Business Charter is being reviewed to simplify the joining process and increase benefits.

The Commission engaged in a detailed question and answer session with the presenters and business owners. Key discussion points included:

• Support for Start-ups and Established Businesses: Both Hackney Impact and London & Partners confirmed they support businesses at all stages, from start-ups to established enterprises. Hackney Impact offers programmes like Start Strong and mentorship, while L&P provides a lighter touch approach and referrals.
• Accessibility for Disabled Business Owners and Customers: L&P acknowledged the feedback and noted they have online resources and networking events for entrepreneurs with disabilities. Hackney Impact has a strict policy on venue accessibility for their events.
• Quantifying Financial Benefits: Both organisations track turnover and use post-programme surveys to measure qualitative factors like confidence and knowledge gained. Hackney Impact aims for sustained value over time, akin to a pension pot, while L&P focuses on referrals and impact on operations.
• Reach and Awareness: Business owners noted that personal outreach, like Hackney Impact Programme Manager visiting Refill Therapy, was crucial for awareness. Engagement remains a challenge, with word-of-mouth and referrals from organisations like Grow London Local being important.
• Duplication and Referral: Hackney Impact, L&P, and other organisations collaborate to avoid duplication. L&P often acts as a primary access point, referring businesses to organisations like Hackney Impact, ensuring pre-qualified referrals.
• Support for the Night-time Economy: L&P is planning a campaign targeting the night-time economy next quarter. Hackney Impact has hosted events in partnership with night-time economy businesses and aims to collaborate further with the Night-time Economy Team.
• Support for Underrepresented Groups: Hackney Impact's programme has a focus on underrepresented businesses, and the council monitors the contractor's equalities reporting. The East End Trades Guild is effective in engaging underrepresented communities, and Hackney Impact is reviewing venues to ensure accessibility, with a future event planned at the Turkish Cypriot Centre.
• Future of Business Support Post-UK SPF Funding: The Economic Development team is mapping existing business support from various organisations and exploring corporate support. Allia is keen to continue delivery, and elements like peer support networks could be sustainable.
• Engagement with Hard-to-Reach Businesses: Hackney Impact is commissioned for frontline service delivery and conducts engagement in town centres. The council plans to produce printed materials and increase street engagement through the newly appointed Town Centre Growth Manager.
• Integration with Licensing: The Director of Regeneration, Economy, and Housing Development acknowledged the need for better coordination between teams, including Markets and Street Trading, and encouraged direct contact for specific business inquiries.
• Affordable Workspace Definition: Affordable workspace is generally defined as 40% below market rate, adjusted for Shoreditch at 60% below market rate, guided by Hackney's Local Plan. Data collection on the demographics served by affordable workspace is an area for future development.
• Impact Measurement: Hackney Impact has helped safeguard/create over 120 jobs and tracks participants' turnover. The value is cumulative and sustained over time.

The Commission also discussed the Skills, Economy and Growth Scrutiny Commission Work Programme for 2025/26, noting that it is a working document. The deadline for the business voice survey was extended, with a focus group planned for early February. The date for the next SEG meeting was rescheduled due to half-term, and two site visits were planned: one to Green Skills Hub Build East in Hackney Wick and another to New City College's Hoxton campus. The final meeting of the municipal year in March 2026 would focus on the night-time economy.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 19th January 2026 were agreed. The minutes for the meeting held on 23rd February 2026 were to follow.

The Commission agreed the minutes for the meeting held on 10th November 2025. The minutes for the meeting held on 9th December 2025 were to follow.

No other business was raised. The meeting duration was from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.