It has been a relief to see so many industries get back into the swing of things in the last week or so.
Yes, we are still living in restricted times, but with further sectors and businesses still on track to open back up on the 17th May, it feels like ‘normality’ is just around the corner.
Hospitality is busy, despite the typical Scottish weather trying to put a dampener on things, and we now only have a week to wait until leisure businesses like cinemas can open back up alongside indoor hospitality.
It’s not plain sailing however for those industries who may feel that they are being left behind, as doors open across the country for customers. One in particular which has been hitting the headlines recently is nightclubs.
With enforced curfews at 8pm and no alcohol sold indoors, these businesses simply cannot operate. That’s why they have taken the unusual step of taking legal action against the Scottish government.
The trade body Night Time Industries Association Scotland (NTIA), on behalf of the hospitality sector, is to proceed with a judicial review over the country’s “no longer justifiable” strict coronavirus restrictions.
The move sounds like a last resort for the nightlife economy, but there is a lot at stake here.
Having surveyed its trade body members, NTIA Scotland says 39,000 jobs are at risk as a direct result of the restrictions. Keen to make the point, it set about last week projecting the warning onto various landmarks across the country, including the Scottish Parliament, to highlight the strain those operating in the industry are under.
Another worrying figure found in the association poll was that the average debt amassed by night-time venues has reached £150,000, whilst all government strategic framework funding available to help venues has now ended.
My nightclubbing days are behind me these days, however thousands frequent them every weekend, and it is sad that the late-night sector, many of whom are small traders, face the risk of collapse.
Looking at the sector down south, progress for night-time industries seems to be much more positive. Liverpool was recently the host for a government pilot to help assess how clubs across the country could reopen their doors.
With stringent testing before and after attending, 3,000 people packed into a two-day gig without wearing face coverings or practicing social distancing – a first in a very long time.
So far it seems to have passed off without major incident and it will be interesting to see how it progresses.
Such a pilot scheme however seems a long way off for Scotland, but many within the sector believe it is the only way to guarantee survival, with industry leaders such as TRNSMT Festival boss, Geoff Ellis, backing such a move.
It’s not just nightclubs who are in danger, with leisure attractions across Scotland facing the risk of closures including libraries, community halls and bowling clubs.
A leaked report last week from South Lanarkshire Council revealed dozens of leisure and culture venues were at risk, whilst there was uproar as Glasgow Life announced that only 90 venues across the city would reopen due to not enough funding.
Like music venues, these facilities are invaluable for those who frequent them. Whether it be for socialising or as educational resources, not only for individuals, but also for children and schools.
It is understandable that the pandemic has caused financial difficulties for councils across Scotland, but with many of the venues at the heart of the communities they serve, closures would bring about a huge loss to those areas concerned.
I’m hoping at the next national briefing we will gain further insight into what the future holds both for our culture and leisure facilities and night-time economy.
Whether legal action from NTIA Scotland will help move the process along is anyone’s guess, but music and the associated economy is huge business in Scotland, so I really hope that decisions are made quickly to allow these industries to get back on track, once it’s safe to do so.
Side
Social media is undoubtedly the leading online marketing tool for corporations and businesses. Brands are willing to pay ridiculous sponsorship fees to appear or to be tagged in a social media post, and its influence has proven to be the most effective asset for any major company of late.
Just look at the past year, when consumers turned online due to traditional brick and mortar establishments closing their doors. Those companies who were quick to engage with an online audience and provide an e-commerce service fared much better than those who did not adapt.
Despite online platforms becoming such a powerful tool in any marketing strategist’s toolkit, it can also be a dangerous and toxic environment if not monitored properly.
With that in mind, it was interesting to see so many UK sporting bodies take part in a social media blackout last weekend to raise awareness of the racism, sexism and discriminatory abuse that takes place every day online.
Major Scottish sports organisations such as the SFA, Scottish Rugby and Netball Scotland joined in on taking a stand against the online trolls, whilst holding social media companies to account on their inaction to deal with abuse.
It is not just a sports team’s problem however. Businesses need to be aware of their own roles in tackling this issue. In Scotland I have seen numerous companies now offering staff training on social media and educating their workforce on dealing with online hate.
Whether last week’s blackout will make social media organisations sit up and take notice it’s hard to say, however it’s started conversations that need to be had and I’m sure momentum will build to help create a safe space online for everyone.
It Made Me Weep
A worrying report from the Scottish Retail Consortium has shown that the number of empty shops in Scotland has hit a six-year high.
According to data compiled by The Local Data Company (LDC), vacancy rates rose to 15.3 per cent in the first quarter of the year. Even worse, Scotland is well above the UK-wide average of 14.1 per cent.
In simple terms, it means that nearly one in six Scottish shop units is currently lying empty – a disturbing statistic for the retail sector.
It just goes to show how much devastation the pandemic has wrought on our Scottish high streets.
Hopefully, as lockdown begins to ease, demand will build once again for physical retail – otherwise it could be a bleak year for Scotland’s high streets.
It Made Me Laugh
Following on from the Twitter fallout from the Marks & Spencer Vs Aldi war of words, I was shocked to hear that Colin the Caterpillar had been battered at a chip shop in East Kilbride.
Thankfully the M&S social media team hadn’t caught up with him – an entrepreneurial fish and chip shop owner has been deep frying the chocolate treat for customers.
It just goes to show the power of a social media campaign. Aldi recently announced that it will be bringing back a limited-edition Cuthbert (Colin’s long-lost twin) and donating all profits to M&S’s cancer charity partner – Macmillan Cancer Support – as well as Aldi’s own partner – Teenage Cancer Trust.
It has been great to watch this all unfold with a positive outcome, although the jury remains out for me in sampling this creation.
