The Skills, Economy and Growth Scrutiny Commission met on Monday 09 March 2026 to discuss Hackney's Evening and Night Time Economy Strategy and the Council's business support provision. The Commission reviewed the progress of the Hackney Nights Accreditation Scheme and the proposed objectives of the new strategy, which aims to balance economic growth with resident needs. They also heard updates on business support programmes, including Hackney Impact and London & Partners, and discussed the challenges and opportunities for high street businesses.

Evening and Night Time Economy Strategy

The Commission received an update on the Evening and Night Time Economy Strategy, which was approved by Cabinet in June 2025. This strategy outlines a vision for Hackney's nighttime economy between 6pm and 6am, with objectives focused on safety, inclusivity, and economic support. The strategy was informed by a public consultation, including a survey and Night Forum sessions, which gathered feedback from 1,403 residents, 192 visitors, 78 businesses, and 115 night workers.

Key themes emerging from the consultation included:

• Safety Concerns: A paramount concern for all groups, with an emphasis on increased police presence, improved lighting, and addressing anti-social behaviour. Residents generally felt fairly safe but noted a decline in perception in Dalston and Hackney East.
• Hackney's Appeal and Desire for Vibrant Nightlife: Residents and visitors value Hackney's current offerings but desire a more diverse and vibrant nightlife, including later opening hours, night markets, and outdoor activities.
• Transportation Challenges: Inadequate late-night transportation options, particularly limited Overground and bus services, were highlighted as barriers to enjoying the night-time economy.
• Business Needs: Businesses face challenges with inconsistent customer numbers, licensing restrictions, and safety concerns, requiring support through business-friendly policies, financial incentives, and improved infrastructure.
• Noise and Anti-Social Behaviour: Noise from nightlife venues and anti-social behaviour are significant concerns for residents, particularly in residential areas, necessitating quicker and better enforcement.
• Inclusivity and Diversity: A need for more inclusive spaces catering to diverse communities, including LGBTQ+ and ethnic minorities, was emphasised.

The strategy is structured around three pillars: Safety, Security and Wellbeing; Promoting Inclusivity, Celebrating Diversity and Culture at Night; and Shaping the Evening Experience and Supporting the Economy. Commitments within these pillars include a joint action plan with the Police for crime reduction, the Women's Night Safety Charter, a Hackney Nights accreditation scheme for licensed premises, and a new noise policy. The strategy also aims to build a business case for better night transport and promote inclusive cultural offerings.

The strategy is designed as a cross-council framework, aligning with other council strategies and policies, and involves collaboration across various departments, including Community Safety, Regulatory Services, Public Health, Highways & Transport, Skills & Economy, Markets & Shopfronts, and Culture. The Hackney Nights team offers free training packages to licensed premises and a pre-application licensing and noise advice service.

Hackney's Business Support – Town Centres and High Street Businesses

The Commission received an update on Hackney's business support provision, building on previous scrutiny work from 2018. The discussion focused on the impact of changes in the funding landscape and the introduction of the GLA's London-wide business support for SMEs.

London and Partners (L&P) presented their role as London's Growth Agency, a social enterprise focused on generating resilient, inclusive, and sustainable growth for London. They highlighted their Grow London Local service, a concierge service designed to help small businesses access support through a platform of available services, face-to-face assistance, and a digital platform. L&P reported supporting 552 businesses in Hackney by the end of Quarter 2, with primary assistance sought in marketing, finance, and planning.

Hackney Impact (HI) / Allia presented their place-based approach to business support, focusing on long-term engagement to foster relational connections. Their objectives include driving economic growth, supporting the Economic Development Plan (EDP), and building a more resilient SME ecosystem. HI's work is aligned with the EDP's four core missions: economic growth, a resilient and sustainable economy, a fairer and more inclusive economy, and borough-wide regeneration. They highlighted their Green Business Action initiative, which has provided free energy audits and allocated funding to Hackney businesses for premises and process improvements. HI also noted that their outreach efforts are successfully reaching priority groups, with a notable increase in diversity in their second phase.

Renaisi, as the learning and evaluation partner for Hackney Impact, shared key insights from the first phase. They identified that participants consistently provided positive feedback on Hackney Impact's activities, reporting boosted confidence, clearer business direction, and improved strategic planning. A key challenge identified was the need to develop collaborative infrastructure among partner organisations.

Business owner testimonials from Alpesh Patel of Refill Therapy and Joanne English of Queertopia Consortium highlighted the significant positive impact of Hackney Impact on their businesses. Alpesh Patel noted the personal value of weekly sessions for networking and learning, particularly about AI, and the practical application of learned techniques. Joanne English described Hackney Impact as instrumental in structuring her organisation, enabling successful funding applications and providing crucial business and partnership support for other LGBT+ organisations.

London Borough of Hackney (LBH) presented its commitment to cultivating an inclusive economy, acknowledging that economic growth has not been experienced equally by all residents. The Council's approach involves acting as a broker to foster connections and deploying resources to assist enterprises, including leveraging procurement programmes and promoting local businesses. Particular emphasis is placed on championing social and responsible businesses. Key themes from consultation for the Economic Development Plan included area-based communication, breaking down procurement barriers, and addressing needs for space and grants. The Economic Development Team oversees borough-wide business support programmes, while the Regeneration Team focuses on inclusive growth across five priority areas, including affordable workspace and business support.

The Commission engaged in a Part 1 Question, Answers and Discussion session, where members sought further details on the support provided by Hackney Impact, its role in the night-time economy, and how sectoral relationships compare to granular relationships. Questions were also raised about quantifying the financial benefits of support, the reach of services to immediate neighbours, and how duplication between Hackney Impact and London & Partners is avoided. Members also inquired about support for disabled business owners and general accessibility for disabled customers.

In response to questions about duplication and referral pipelines, it was clarified that Grow London Local acts as a primary access point, directing businesses to organisations like Hackney Impact. Hackney Impact, in turn, refers businesses not eligible for their programme to Grow London Local.

Regarding support for the night-time economy, L&P is planning a campaign targeting night economy businesses next quarter, while Hackney Impact has hosted events in partnership with businesses in this sector and aims to collaborate further with the Nighttime Economy Team.

The quantification of financial benefits was discussed, with Hackney Impact tracking participants' turnover and using post-programme surveys to measure qualitative factors like confidence and knowledge gained. L&P tracks metrics such as turnover and productivity, though they are in the early stages of data collection.

The reach of support services was highlighted by Alpesh Patel, who found out about Hackney Impact through a direct visit to his business. He acknowledged that many business owners are focused on day-to-day operations and may not be aware of available support.

The support for disabled business owners and general accessibility was addressed by L&P, who noted they have online resources and networking events for entrepreneurs with disabilities. Hackney Impact has a strict policy of holding events in fully accessible spaces and invests in technology for hybrid attendance options.

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

The Commission reviewed the work programme for 2025/26, noting it is a working document. The deadline for the business voice survey was extended, with a proposal for a focus group in early February and survey results to be fed back in the March 2026 SEG meeting. The date for the next SEG meeting on 16th February 2026 was changed due to an external guest's unavailability, with alternative dates of 23rd and 25th February 2026 proposed. Two upcoming site visits were announced: one to Green Skills Hub Build East in Hackney Wick on 6th February 2026 AM, and another to New City College's Hoxton campus on 11th September 2026 between 3 and 4pm to view the Green Skills Hub within the construction site. The next SEG meeting in February will focus on green skills and construction, and the final meeting of the municipal year in March 2026 will provide 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 will be available at the next SEG meeting.