The Skills, Economy and Growth Scrutiny Commission met to discuss Hackney's Evening and Night Time Economy Strategy, review business support provision, and consider its work programme. The Commission agreed the minutes of its previous meetings and discussed future site visits and focus groups.

Evening and Night Time Economy Strategy

The Commission reviewed Hackney's Evening and Night Time Economy Strategy, which aims to foster a vibrant, safe, and inclusive night-time economy. The strategy acknowledges the significant economic and social contribution of the night-time economy to the borough, encompassing sectors such as hospitality, culture, and retail. Discussions highlighted the importance of balancing economic growth with community well-being, addressing issues such as noise, public safety, and transport. The strategy also seeks to support businesses within this sector, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), by providing resources and guidance. The Commission considered the implementation action plan for the strategy, which outlines specific initiatives and timelines for achieving its objectives.

Business Support Provision

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to reviewing Hackney's business support provision, with presentations from London & Partners, Hackney Impact (Allia), and Renaisi. London & Partners outlined its Grow London Local service, a concierge initiative designed to help small businesses access support across London. They highlighted their extensive online platform, face-to-face assistance, and a dedicated team of business support managers. Hackney Impact presented its place-based approach to business support, focusing on long-term engagement and building resilient SME ecosystems, aligning with the borough's Economic Development Plan. Renaisi, as the learning and evaluation partner for Hackney Impact, shared insights from the first phase of the programme, emphasizing the positive impact on participants' confidence and business direction.

Business owners Alpesh Patel of Refill Therapy and Joanne English of Queertopia Consortium shared their experiences, detailing how Hackney Impact had provided crucial support in structuring their organisations, accessing funding, and developing practical business skills, including the use of AI. They stressed the importance of personalized support and networking opportunities.

The Council's own efforts were presented by Councillor Sam Pallis, Deputy Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy, and officers from the Regeneration, Economy and Housing Development teams. They detailed the Economic Development Plan's focus on inclusive growth, the use of external funding for business support, and initiatives like the 'Love Hackney Shop Local' campaign. The Regeneration Team's work on town centres and high streets, including the development of affordable workspace and public realm improvements, was also discussed.

Members raised concerns about the accessibility of business support for disabled entrepreneurs and customers, particularly regarding cashless payment systems. They also inquired about the support available for the night-time economy and how the financial benefits of business support are quantified. Questions were also raised about potential duplication between Hackney Impact and London & Partners, and how businesses should navigate approaching each organisation.

The Council acknowledged the challenges in engaging with hard-to-reach businesses and outlined plans for increased street engagement and printed materials. Discussions also touched upon the integration of licensing activities with economic development plans and the need for consistent decision-making across different council teams. The definition and provision of affordable workspace were also debated, with a focus on ensuring benefits for local residents.

Skills, Economy and Growth Scrutiny Commission Work Programme 2025/26

The Commission reviewed its work programme for 2025/26, which is a dynamic document. Members were encouraged to gather feedback for the business voice survey, with a focus group planned for early February and survey results to be presented in March. The dates for upcoming meetings were adjusted due to external guest availability, and two site visits were confirmed: one to Green Skills Hub Build East in Hackney Wick and another to the Hoxton campus of New City College to examine the Green Skills Hub. The Commission noted that future meetings would focus on green skills, construction, and an update on the night-time economy strategy.

Minutes of Previous Meeting

The draft minutes for the meeting held on 10th November 2025 were agreed by the Commission. The minutes for the meeting held on 9th December 2025 were to follow and would be presented at the next meeting.