BECTU Scottish Freelance Branch

01/10/2024

To learn more about our film & TV negotiations, and how you can get involved visit our website: https://www.equity.org.uk/news/2024/equity-begins-negotiations-with-pact-producers-alliance-for-cinema-and-television

10/05/2024

24/04/2024

👨‍💻 Setting up as a Sole Trader 👨‍💻
Thursday 23 May | 1000 - 1700 | Glasgow

Designed specifically for creative people who have been in employment, but are now looking to set themselves up as self-employed for the first time.

- Learn the difference between employed & self-employed;
- How HMRC treats Sole-Traders;
- How to agree work & get paid on time and;
- How to reduce stress with cash flow planning

Apply: https://bit.ly/sole-trader-24
Deadline: Wednesday 9 May, 9am

24/04/2024

With the Lives Behind The Lens campaign we want to:

🟢 Increase flexible working opportunities
🟢 Improve freelancers' understanding of rights at work
🟢 Secure improved rights for film and TV freelancers who are parents and/or carers

Fill out the survey and find out more: https://bit.ly/3w8uYz9

29/03/2024

The SFB committee wanted to flag support available to members during this difficult period:

Bectu
*Reduced membership rates & pauses in membership* can be requested via the membership teams on [email protected]

Prospect Union
*Benevolent-Fund*
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1upmyNRDvrAsaC5hQJeh7AfCAq4xeqgZT/view?usp=sharing

*Union Financial advice*
https://prospect.org.uk/money/

The Film and TV Charity
*Mental Health support*
https://filmtvcharity.org.uk/get-support/mental-health-wellbeing/
*Financial support*
https://filmtvcharity.org.uk/get-support/finance/

*UK Gov*
Universal Credit – which includes support for those set up as Limited Companies. https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit

If you want to talk through any issues in confidence please contact the committee via messenger or the branch email.

From access to financial advice, insurance offers and even university discounts, being a Prospect member helps...

24/03/2024

💻 Did you know we offer more than just grants? From financial tools to guidance, we are here to help you during tough times.

📊 Our free Benefits Calculator can help you find what benefits you might be entitled to.

💷 And for freelancers, we’ve collaborated with MoneyHelper to create a useful guide to applying for Universal Credit if you’re self-employed.

https://bit.ly/3vI92KC

24/03/2024

Over a week ago the Regional Production Division Committee at Bectu posted the below statement over the proposed Ofcom quota changes for Channel 4's license.

Channel 4 has a remit to deliver content for the whole of the UK, and to fully do this, productions need to be dispersed across the Nations and Regions. At a time where the industry is struggling, there needs to be larger commitments outside of London to ensure those working outside of the M25 are given the same opportunities as those inside. Fostering and retaining talent that is genuinely based in the Nations and Regions at every level of the workforce is a responsibility of those commissioning content.

Without this talent, there would be nothing to put on air.

Without these commitments, this talent would be lost as jobs are lost across the Nations and Regions.

The Regional Production Division of Bectu, representing members in the UK’s Nations and Regions working as...

18/03/2024

From our friends at The TV Mindset:

Ghosting is a problem in our industry.

At a time when freelancer mental health is at an all-time low and people are fighting to survive, there is nothing more crushing than the promise of an opportunity - only for it to be taken away in the cruellest manner.

We understand that hiring managers (execs, MDs, talent managers, & more) cannot reply to everyone who submits an application.

However if you’ve done an availability check with someone, or interviewed someone either in person or by phone, the least they deserve is a follow-up and some closure.

For you, it’s two minutes of your day.
For us, it’s knowing whether or not we might be able to put food on the table that week.

So today, we’re asking people to and reply to people they’ve interacted with.

And freelancers, start adding a line like this in your email signatures:
“As a freelancer, a reply is important to my wellbeing - I hope you can support the campaign and get back to me either way.”

We urge you to share, like, and repost this campaign so that those in power see it.

Courtesy costs nothing. It's time our industry doubles down on its rhetoric and gives us the bare minimum respect.

18/03/2024

All members should have received an email relating to Friday's All Branch Meeting. Please get in touch if you've not received this.

18/03/2024

https://bectu.org.uk/news/bectu-rpd-statement-on-ofcom-quotas?fbclid=IwAR11mPOkjsbzHhHfp2KG8oL-fwsGRGLUwkhWbwmlkUy-lSFNyu9_e63M2-g

The Regional Production Division of Bectu, representing members in the UK’s Nations and Regions working as...