Bectu

Bectu The UK's media and entertainment union supporting staff and freelancers in the creative industries

BECTU is the UK trade union for staff and freelancers working in broadcasting, TV & radio production, film, digital media, theatre and live events. Our members include all non-performance production grades as well as support staff in a variety of roles. Background artistes in London and the South East also rely on us for support. The union represents workers, whatever the type of contract, who are

based primarily in the United Kingdom. (Workers assigned abroad but whose contracts originate in the UK are covered). From 1 January 2017, BECTU becomes the biggest sector of Prospect, the union for professionals. At that point Bectu will also encompass staff working in IT and telecoms and sector membership will swell to over 40,000 people.

29/07/2026

Just another day in the life working in film & TV 📺

Well not quite. This is part 2 of our day in the life series where we recreate member stories of working long hours in film and TV to highlight the endemic long hours culture many workers face day to day. This is a day in the life of a producer in Unscripted TV.

Our Broken Turnaround survey revealed widespread breaches of basic turnaround times, alongside testimonies that expose a culture putting workers at risk.

A worker is considered to have ‘broken turnaround’ when they are required by their employer to return to work within less than 11 consecutive hours in each 24-hour period. This is in breach of workplace rights.

Despite years of promises, the industry has failed to act. Talk of work life balance means nothing without real change. Enough is enough.

Video description: Day in the life video with various timestamps of working in Unscripted TV based on testimony

22/07/2026

Just a day in the life working in film and TV 🕰️

Well not quite. We recreated member stories of working long hours in film and TV to highlight the endemic long hours culture many workers face day to day. This is a day in the life of a worker in hair, make-up and prosthetics.

Our Broken Turnaround survey revealed widespread breaches of basic turnaround times, alongside testimonies that expose a culture putting workers at risk.

A worker is considered to have ‘broken turnaround’ when they are required by their employer to return to work within less than 11 consecutive hours in each 24-hour period. This is in breach of workplace rights.

Despite years of promises, the industry has failed to act. Talk of work life balance means nothing without real change. Enough is enough.

Make sure to sign our end long hours culture petition ✍️

Video description: Day in the life video with various timestamps of working in film and tv from testimony from a worker working in hair makeup and prosthetics

08/07/2026

Yes we Cannes? This is what international solidarity looks like 🎬

At Cannes Film Festival this year our union partners from France showed what solidarity across borders looks like by protesting long hours culture in film and TV.

Behind the glitzy image of working in film and TV is the punishing reality of long hours culture.

Bectu’s Big Survey reveals an endemic long hours culture in the creative industries, with
80% of freelancers working 10+ hour shifts and a quarter reporting 12-hour days as standard.

These long hours lead to severe burnout, unsafe travel, and frequent breaches of basic 11-hour rest breaks.

We are calling for an end to the practice of Broken Turnaround and for the entire industry to come to the table to finally end long hours culture so workers can have sustainable and enjoyable careers in the industry.

Video description: Talking heads discussing long hours culture to camera in French language. Intercut with shot of Cannes film festival.

01/07/2026

Can you imagine Britain without a BBC? 🤔

Luckily Max Profit isn’t real, but the threat is. A decade of cuts, including the latest round of 550 job cuts announced last month has hugely damaged our public service broadcaster and the morale of BBC workers.

The BBC’s Charter is up for renewal. Bectu members have had their say during the process, and the message is clear from all creative industry unions: the BBC is ours and we must protect it.

The BBC is also the hub at the heart of the creative industries ecosystem, without which the sector would hugely suffer.

The BBC provides a critical skills and talent pipeline for the entire industry, which risks being damaged beyond repair.

In an era of fake news and an industry that is becoming more concentrated in the hands of a few multinational corporations, the UK needs a sustainably funded BBC more than ever.

Charter Renewal must put the BBC’s funding on a secure, long-term pathway or the nightmare of Max Profit buying up the BBC could become real.

The BBC is more than just a licence fee. It’s ours. We need to protect it.

Video description: A man posing as a consultant for an American multinational media conglomerate approaches members of the public to mockingly consult them on its plan to buy the BBC. The public reacts with incredulity and questions the man’s motives. Eventually the man reveals it to be a ruse to highlight the need to keep the BBC publicly funded. Ends on an image that reads: Max Profit isn’t real but the threat is. It’s our BBC. Let’s protect it.

29/06/2026

Breaking BBC news coming this Wednesday 😧

Luckily Monolith Capital isn’t real. But the threat is.

Video description: Person posing as an American CEO proposes a new subscription model for the BBC as a tounge in cheek stunt.

Bectu Live Events Network members have started working another outdoor festival season and are running their annual Bett...
26/06/2026

Bectu Live Events Network members have started working another outdoor festival season and are running their annual Better Festivals Campaign to improve working conditions.

This year, reps and members will be handing out a new live events H&S and crew welfare leaflet to festival workers with a checklist of things to make sure are in place and to identify best practice.

With the extreme heatwave recently it is clear that employers need to take their duty of care seriously, ensure they proactively risk assess and do what they can to mitigate the risks of extreme heat for those working at festivals.

If there are areas of concern, or examples of things done well at festivals, then workers can report these using Bectu’s dedicated LinkTree reporting form here: https://linktr.ee/BectuFestivals

If you are working a festival this year and are interested in getting involved, then please let us know here: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=2Lp1HutZxU6auEMHxZPIgU9T35VNUu1Ouoy-u9k4Ai1UQjVENUNGMFpCVTNGU05YMTlUN1NUWjFEQi4u&route=shorturl

The more information live events workers share about working at festivals the better placed Bectu is when talking to festival organisers and stakeholders to get real changes in working conditions.

23/06/2026

A Bectu member from the Chaperones Branch met with their local MP Sarah Green to highlight the endemic issue of late payments in the creative industries.

For too long freelancers have lacked a voice in government, and their concerns and interests have been absent from government policy.

A full year has passed since the Freelance Champion role was announced, so it’s very welcome news that someone has now been appointed.

Their in-tray will be full of tricky issues, from pensions to employment rights, meaning time is of the essence if we are to capitalise on the momentum for change.

The government must now announce the appointee without further delay. Bectu and our members stand ready to work with them to support their important work.

Video description: Sarah Green MP in parliament asks a question regarding late payment in the creative industries, Lisa Nandy the Secretary of State refers to the appointment of a freelance champion due to be named soon as a voice for freelancers in Government

05/06/2026

This is what standing up to the far right looks like.

Bectu and members were out in numbers for the Together March earlier this year to unite against the far right with one voice 📣

We caught up with members on the march to hear exactly why we should reject narratives of racism and discrimination, build solidarity, and unite against the far right 🔊

Video description: Bectu and Prospect members outside marching for the Together March discussing why they have come to support the March, along with behind the scenes footage cut between the interviews.

02/06/2026

Panorama’s shocking report on Married At First Sight highlights the precarious position many workers face in the industry, the uneven power dynamics that can create toxic cultures and the very real fear creative workers face of losing work if they speak out against harassment.

Head of Bectu spoke to Noor Nanji on the wider issues the documentary raises, as well as, the “preposterous” claim by the production company CPL that workers who had come forward had a “axe to grind”.

Bectu’s Big Survey revealed 7 in 10 women in the creative industries had directly experienced workplace bullying and harassment in the last 12 months.

Our survey also found that only around half of those who have experienced bullying or harassment had reported the incident to their employer or engager. Just 12% reported the incident and were satisfied with the response.

It is clear that a radical step-change is needed for the industry to meaningfully tackle this issue.

Video description: A edited news clip of a report by Noor Nanji featuring various BTS scenes and an explanation of the panorama investigation into Married At First Sight, with central interview with Head of Bectu Philippa Childs

21/05/2026

The dire need for the overdue freelance champion to be appointed, and get to work immediately as a voice for freelancers in Government, is clear 🎬

Creative freelancers are routinely denied basic rights and protections, including access to sick pay, holiday pay, and redundancy support.

Freelancers are the backbone of the UK’s creative industries. But too many freelancers are working without rights, protections, or security.

To ensure the long-term sustainability of the UK’s world-leading creative industries, urgent action is needed to better support the freelance workforce at its core.

Freelancers deserve fairer, more secure conditions, including access to sick pay, pensions, and parental leave, regardless of contract length.

Bectu’s Maria Zani, disability rights advocate and activist, spoke passionately at the recently on her experiences as a freelancer working in film and TV, and why the playing field needs to be level for freelancers and employees now.

Address

100 Rochester Row
London
SW1P1JP

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 9:30am - 5:30pm

Telephone

+443006001878

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