Glasgow’s new night-time economy commission has been formed with an independent panel of
experts recruited to drive forward the city’s night-time economy.
To be chaired by Mike Grieve, Managing Director of Glasgow’s legendary Sub Club and Chair of
the Scottish Night Time Industries Association, the new commission will provide leadership for
Glasgow’s after dark industry, lobby for change across the sector and work collaboratively with Glasgow City Council and other stakeholders to grow Glasgow’s night time economy.
Members of the Night Time Commission will include Fiona Ellis from DF Concerts, Katie Dupy,
Head of Art and Music at Glasgow Life, Stephen McGowan, Head of Licensing, TLT LLP and
representatives from important sectoral stakeholders including Music Venues Trust. Other local
representative bodies will be added in due course. Members of the new commission gathered at
a launch event at the Art House Hotel in Glasgow on Monday, July 13th, where Councillor Susan
Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council, also attended.
The newly formed night-time commission will also be supported by the creation of a new post,
Glasgow Night-Time Economy Manager. A first for Scotland, the Night-Time Economy Manager
will be recruited by Glasgow City Council and will act as a key link between the commission and
other stakeholders to ensure detailed action plans are delivered upon.
Councillor Susan Aitken expressed her delight over what she sees as a watershed moment for
Glasgow’s night-time economy.
Councillor Aitken said:
“Glasgow’s after dark industry is the life and soul of the city. No-one can
possibly underestimate the importance of our night-time oper to Glasgow, whether that’s
culturally, socially or economically.
“The creation of a Night-Time Commission ensures an industry that’s vital for the well-being of
the city now has its own dedicated champion to push for change. In true Glasgow style, there’s a collective spirit to the new commission that I believe will serve the city extremely well.
“Every member of the commission has made a great commitment to the city by stepping
forward for the greater good of Glasgow’s nightlife. The creation of the new post of Night-Time
Economy Manager underlines the council’s own commitment to Glasgow’s night-time economy
and we are now at the start of what will be an enduring partnership with the new commission.
“We share a common goal of a confident, innovative and thriving night-time economy that
ensures Glasgow is recognised globally for its fantastic nightlife.”
Both the Night-time Commission and Night-time Economy Manager were key recommendations
in a new strategy for Glasgow’s after dark sector that was produced through the Night-Time
Economy Sub-Group of Glasgow’s City Centre Taskforce, which involved wide representation
from Glasgow’s night-time sector.
Mike Grieve led the City Centre Taskforce group that produced the new strategy, Nightshift
Glasgow, following extensive research and engagement with key stakeholders in Glasgow
nightlife by Make Associates, renowned experts in the field of NTE management worldwide.
Mike Grieve said:
“The NTE Sub Group of the City Centre Task Force has been working over the last two and a half years to develop a strategy for the advancement of Glasgow’s night time
economy, with a focus on the after dark experience in the city centre. This group is an
amalgamation of industry professionals and other stakeholders including public and third
sector bodies.
“After extensive consultation, the Sub Group’s primary recommendations include establishing a
permanent commission to oversee Glasgow’s NTE and creating the position of a NTE Manager
for the city.
“It is truly exciting that we have now reached the stage where we are able to announce the next
stage of this initiative and we look forward with enthusiasm to putting in place the building
blocks which will drive forward this vision for nightlife in the city. There are many components to
the new NTE strategy, but already we have seen significant developments in terms of new
transport initiatives and other recommended actions which will help to promote the fantastic
nightlife that Glasgow is so renowned for.
“Glasgow City Council has put it’s money firmly where it’s mouth is in allocating significant
budget to appoint a full time officer and establish the permanent commission to manage the
emerging strategy.
“I have no doubt this resource will prove to be money very well spent for the whole of our city
centre, and especially for the vital hospitality, music, arts and entertainment sector which
brings so much cultural identity and value to Glasgow.”
An initial focus for the Commission will be to develop an action plan that seeks to implement
the findings of the Nightshift Glasgow strategy.
Councillor Angus Millar, Co-chair of Glasgow’s City Centre Taskforce and City Convener, said:
“Glasgow has a superb night-time oPer and the ambition to become a globally recognised 24-
hour city. The Night-Time Commission and the new night manager will help Glasgow’s night-
time economy reach its full potential.”
Mike Kill, Chief Executive of the Night Time Industries Association, said:
“It’s fantastic to see Glasgow take this huge leap forward in establishing the new NTE Commission and creating a fulltime NTE Manager role which will be vital to the development of the city’s night time and
hospitality oPer. Glasgow has been punching well above it’s weight for a very long time, and it’s
great for the sector now to have the tools to take the next step in the evolution of the city as a
world class hospitality, entertainment and music destination”
In Glasgow City Council’s budget for the 2026-27, the council allocated £100k to support the
delivery of the forthcoming Night Time Action Plan.
The Nightshift Glasgow strategy can be found via this link as part of papers presented to the
council’s City Administration Committee.
