At present, there are 24 directly elected mayors in England, with several inaugural elections planned in May that will introduce another three across the north east and East Midlands. What you may hear about less often are the “night-time economy mayors” that have been introduced to major cities in more recent years. I do believe that having more of these night mayors as a common entity could prove to be a ground-breaking move towards solving the sector’s nightmares (see what I did there).

 

The largest mayoral area is, unsurprisingly, London, with a population of more than eight million citizens. Manchester is the third-largest city with 2,848,300 citizens (as measured in 2020). These are the only two to have recognised a need for, and appointed, a night mayor. London and Manchester are the trendsetters going forwards, recognising the importance of the after-hours hustle and bustle.

 

Sadiq Khan first initiated the idea in 2016, appointing Amy Lamé as his night czar, and Andy Burnham joined the party in 2018 with Sacha Lord as his night-time economy adviser. These night-time mayors operate on a grand scale, extending their influence far beyond a single local authority. The larger the geographical influence, the more effective they can be.

 

At the Night Time Industries Association’s recent Night Time Economy Summit in Manchester, attendees had the opportunity to sit in at a session of international “night mayors” chaired by Mirik Milan (former Amsterdam night mayor, and widely considered to be the first night-time economy mayor).

The panel, a diverse blend of night-time-centric minds, included Ariel Palitz (former night-time economy advisor in New York City), Tak Umezawa (director of Japan’s Night Time Economy Association), Camilo Ospina Guzman (president of Asberos Columbia), and Michael Rodrigues (New South Wales’ 24-hour commissioner).

 

I had the pleasure of attending this meeting and discovered that regardless of their title or country of origin, it was striking how similar the challenges were across the globe. The mayors had a wealth of experience in the industry, which led to a clear understanding and passion for the night-time economy. 

 

At this session, I noticed that none of the mayors called for a change to legislation or tax breaks. Instead, they proposed a variety of measures which, in their opinion, would improve overall customer experience, and in turn contribute to the overall growth of the night-time economy itself.

 

Michael Rodrigues serves as the 24-hour commissioner for New South Wales (NSW) and had a pivotal role in shaping its 24-hour economy strategy, published in September 2020. The Office for the 24-Hour Economy is housed within the NSW Treasury, which is a crucial government department responsible for financial allocations and deciding the most impactful use of taxpayers’ money.

Treasury ministers must constantly assess where the money they spend will deliver the most positive impact. However, when it comes to the night-time economy, I’ve noticed that a cohesive strategy is often lacking among Treasury ministers. 

 

The night-time economy in the UK grapples with the diverse and occasionally conflicting goals of various ministries. Being under the umbrella of the Treasury undoubtedly enhances the prospects of bringing about genuine transformation in NSW.

 

The Office for the 24hr Economy in NSW describes its task as to “work with other government partners, local councils, industry and the community to build vibrant, diverse, inclusive and safe hospitality and entertainment precincts”.

 

The number of strings that must be drawn together to achieve this goal must be colossal. The night-time economy is impacted by a whole range of factors including (but not limited to) policing, regulations, business taxes, transportation, staffing and so forth.

 

NSW’s 24-Hour Economy Strategy could be read as a blueprint for most night-time economies across the globe. The strategy has five pillars:

1. Integrated planning and place-making

2. Diversification of night-time activities

3. Industry and cultural development

4. Mobility and improved connectivity

5. Changing the narrative

 

The wider scope of the NSW document promotes a strategy that the industry should adhere to – steering clear of mere quick fixes or a haphazard approach. Instead, it focuses on connecting the dots and crafting a cohesive plan to address fundamental challenges. Within each “pillar” are a number of “actions”, which aim to promote “the strategy” and implement the changes and improvements needed.

 

London and Manchester also have their strategies but are undoubtedly hindered by the fact that they are not part of the central government apparatus. Despite the night-time mayors overseeing areas with more than 11 million people, numerous regions and businesses lack representation and are subjected to too many “local initiatives” that can often miss wider issues.

Although the challenges tackled by the mayors include structural issues such as policing and transport, they also grapple with crucial problems such as women’s safety, a cause championed by Amy Lamé. This movement spans local authority boundaries and gains clarity through the advocacy of a single figure, a lone advocate.

 

Here in Sheffield, we are part of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, with a total population of 1.4 million people. Although there are numerous exceptional and passionate candidates, mayor Oliver Coppard has not yet appointed a night mayor.

 

It’s noteworthy that only Labour mayors have chosen night mayors so far, but the next mayoral elections are on the horizon, with London and Manchester due to hold theirs on Thursday, 2 May. We hope to see the next mayors of these major cities, whether fresh-faced or familiar, advocate to the prime minister that Cabinet representation for the hospitality industry, particularly the night-time economy, would be highly worthwhile.