On the eve of the most pivotal general election for a generation —with the result, and thus the state of the nation, looking less than clear — one subset of the population's future looks a little brighter. The newly formed Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) is a body that's aiming to protect nightlife in London and beyond from the swathes of closures and regulatory tightening that's blighted clubs and pubs nationwide in recent years.
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Formed by, "independent bar, nightclub and restaurant owners, pubs, festival and live music event operators as well as music managers and other supporters of the benefits of the Night Time Industry from the world of business, culture, media and politics," the NTIA is set to conduct research into the importance of sustaining a culture that provides proven economic benefits in a time of widespread financial difficulty.Given that the slightly nebulous 'Night Time' industry generates around 66 billion pounds per year — which equates to 6% of the UK's total revenue stream — and employs almost 8% of the nation's workforce, it seems amiss that a trade association and membership organisation has only just been formed to hopefully provide some form of protection for an industry that, like many others, has been hit by the dismal realities of Austerity Britain. Still, rather than assuming it's too little too late, let's think of NTIA's formation as the beginning of a fairer, more equal, better understood period in clubbing, one that recognises both the cultural and economic importance of people hitting clubs weekend after weekend.With founding members including staff from Egg, fabric, and the Hydra, and a board of directors that includes Dan Beaumont, from Dance Tunnel, and the Proud Group's Alex Proud, the NTIA has clearly got the right backers. Only time will tell if they'll be able to halt closures and keep things thriving, but it signals the start of something potentially massive. Who knows, in a few years we might have the NTIA to thank for the best nights of our lives.To find out more about NTIA and to sign up, head here.Josh Baines is on Twitter