BFI Launches Program to Boost U.K. Screen Industry Practices

The British Film Institute (BFI) has unveiled a new £1.5 million ($1.9 million) pilot program aimed at enhancing workplace conditions and practices in the U.K. screen sector.

Titled WorkWise for Screen, the initiative will provide resources and guidance to support equity, inclusion, and respect in the industry.

The program will offer a free online portal, podcast series, and peer-to-peer network targeted at screen sector small and medium-sized enterprises and department heads across production, animation, VFX, gaming, distribution and exhibition.

The program, developed in consultation with industry stakeholders, will be delivered by Counterculture and led by creative industries lawyer Keith Arrowsmith. It aims to help the industry navigate changes to U.K. employment law under the government’s new Employment Rights Bill and provide legal contracting and policy templates, e-learning modules and relevant advice.

WorkWise for Screen will cover topics such as people management, inclusive leadership, wellbeing approaches, contracting practices, and inclusive recruitment. The initiative responds to findings from the BFI Skills Review and research such as the Film and TV Charity’s Looking Glass Surveys. Funded by BFI National Lottery funding, the program will evolve based on industry needs and will be guided by an industry advisory board, an HR technical group, and a producers group.

Sara Whybrew, BFI’s director of skills and workforce development, said: “We produce world-class screen content in the U.K., much of which is down to our talented workforce; brilliant people doing fantastic work in a dynamic and creative sector. However, widespread reports of people struggling with working conditions, mental health and their work-life balance, demands action, and we want to support industry to build fairer, safer and more inclusive workplaces.”

Arrowsmith added: “WorkWise for Screen has been created with, by and for the industry to look after all the people who give the screen sector the winning edge. The program is strongly rooted in current legislation to provide everything the industry needs to keep it on safe ground.”

John McVay, CEO of Pact, the U.K. screen sector trade body for independent production and distribution companies, welcomed the initiative, saying that the pilot will “complement the many industry led initiatives that seek to ensure that the U.K. film and television industries continue to offer amazing jobs, careers and attract talent from across the U.K.”

The initiative was developed in consultation with a wide range of organizations, including BAFTA, Bectu, BFI Filmmaking Fund, British Board of Film Classification, British Screen Forum, Create Central, Creative Wales, Film London, Great Point Seren Studios, Institute of Cultural and Creative Industries, Manchester Animation Festival, Northern Ireland Screen, Pact, Production Guild, Reeltime Media, Screen Alliance North, Screen Manchester, ScreenSkills, Sgil Cymru, Talent Trust, Tape Collective, TV Human Rights, U.K. Screen Alliance, and We Are Parable. Additionally, several freelancers from various roles in the industry were also consulted.