FEBRUARY | OPINION
Night Time Industries
Association 2019: The Future
To kick start 2019, NTIA CEO Michael Kill, with his members,
partners and sponsors looks out on some challenging issues
T
o all those within our industry
who were the very last to close
your business doors to 2018, whilst
balancing a well-deserved break, enjoying
festive moments with family and friends
and preparing to embrace the opportunities
and challenges ahead for us in 2019. The
NTIA welcomes you to a very exciting and
prosperous New Year!
For many operators, across the portfolio
of businesses within the sector, there is a
clear misunderstanding on why or what the
PPL / PRS have a right to collect royalties
for, and in this a genuine distrust in the
transparency that has been afforded the
industry when the question has been asked.
2019 will bring a new era, challenging the
current position in terms of operator tariffs,
and artist royalty payments. With PPL
intimating that its members have requested
a long-awaited levy increase, the industry
asks where is that money going?
The subtle groans of Security Operators
over the festive period re enforced the
current issues surrounding security
resource within the sector. Growing concern
in terms of overall resource with increased
demand has been voiced across the sector,
within many circles. We have established
working groups around accreditation, and
licensing infrastructure, with key operators
and the Security Industry Authority to
generate some realistic short term and long-
term solutions to a potential issue, which
poses a threat to the sector. Establishing a
basis for change will allow us to lobby key
interested parties.
The growth of the events and festival
sector has been just short of amazing, with
the UK hosting some ground-breaking
experiences across the country. With a
changing landscape, in terms of growth and
the constant requirement for event/festival
space, the licensing infrastructure and
cultural relevance in terms of communities
will need to evolve. For events to be assessed
on impact within communities there
needs to be a clear understanding of the
cost vs benefit! Our work alongside Mash
Media and the events sector to establish
clear guidelines and consideration will
allow event/festival operators to establish
a foundation for future business! Looking
forward to a preview of our Research Paper
at EPS on 26-27 February 2019.
The sectors consistent evaluation of harm
reduction strategy, development of safety
schemes, drug testing and the training of
not only the operators, but of the authorities
and the police who guide and assess their
impact is important to developing and
growing a sustainable industry. We are
within an evolutionary period, where
authorities need to further their cultural
understanding and align themselves to the
industry in terms of the changing landscape,
impact, market requirement and levels of
accountability within it.
Anyone who has spent time in our capitals
can agree the Referendum itself appears
to have had little impact on the consumer
with festivals, events, restaurants and
bars continuing to be as busy as normal.
However, our cities rely on our innovation
and drive to ensure we develop culture
and entertainment within all night time
and creative industries. We believe that
the events and retail licensed sector has a
fundamental part to play in the regeneration
of the High Street. Question is, will our
sectors continue to be nourished and
allowed to improve on our cultural identity
and maintain our status, not only in the UK
but globally?
Looking forward to discussing more at the
Event Production Show 26-27 February 2019
where we will be speaking on behalf of the
NTIA on subjects that effect our trade sector,
and how we will be challenging these issues
in the future.
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