UK screen freelance sector needs greater regulation and a government minister, says report

The UK’s freelance workforce in the screen sector requires industry-wide standards and dedicated government ministers, recommended by the Reading University.

Supported by organizations including BFI and Bectu, the Screen Industry Voices report found that freelancers face several challenges, including lack of professional assistance and illegal employment practices.

This report will develop four key recommendations to help freelancers and to avoid employees leaving the country.

• The government should appoint dedicated ministers for self-employed and unstable workers.
• The screen industry must implement a sector-wide system that follows consensus and approved standards to attract freelance screen industry workers.
• The screen industry must work with researchers to urgently develop comprehensive, adaptable online resources for freelancers.
• The screen industry, supported by government and related institutions, needs to urgently improve the collection and analysis of data on the freelance workforce.

We conducted a survey of data from previous reports, including Bectu’s 2024 survey, which is considering leaving, as well as an online forum, workshops, meetings and interviews with 25 freelancers. BFI, film and television charities, Bectu, and the New Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA) were one of the organizations consulted.

“Freelancers make up almost half of the UK’s film and television workforce. Without freelancers, there’s no industry,” said Lisa Purse, one of the lead researchers at Screen Industry Voices.

“The UK film and television industry is worth £11 billion and the government is rightly aware of the value of the world-class film and television sector to the UK economy.

“Without immediate action to support freelancers, we risk losing the industry a highly valuable and talented workforce.”

The report comes after government recommendations from the Culture, Media and Sports (CMS) Committee were released earlier this month, followed by further funding and resources.