‘Make Freelancing Pay’, a new report on improving financial security, workforce diversity and retention in the UK screen sector, supported by Bectu and a number of other creative industry bodies and unions, was launched today.
The research shows that innovative tax and benefits policies could dramatically improve financial security for freelancers in the UK screen industries, potentially reversing a talent drain from the sector.
Head of Bectu Philippa Childs said: “The skills and talents of UK film and TV workers are the envy of the world – yet far too many have told us they don’t see themselves in the industry in 5 years’ time, driven out by a host of challenges.
It’s clear that improved and sustained support for the workforce is badly needed to stem the skills exodus, and we welcome this timely report which scrutinises a number of ways in which the UK government could provide such support.”
The report was launched in London with a panel discussion hosted by the Film & TV Charity and the British Screen Forum.
Head of Bectu Philippa Childs joined journalist and chair Samira Ahmed, Extended Ventures co-founder Tom Adeyoola and report co-author Professor Doris Ruth Eikhof to discuss how the models scrutinised in the research might be applied in the UK to better support screen industry freelancers.
Panelists discussed the ongoing precarity faced by much of the UK’s film and TV workforce, as well as the need for greater governmental understanding of how freelancing operates in the UK. Bectu reiterated its call for the government to appoint a dedicated freelance commissioner to advocate for freelancers, a proposal which has also received support from the likes of Creative UK and the Culture, Media and Sport Committee.
‘Make Freelancing Pay: Can we use taxes & benefits to boost competitiveness, and improve workforce diversity and retention in the UK screen sector?’ is available to download here and you can read more here.
Source: Make Freelancing Pay: new report shows what UK could learn from international tax and
