Media Parents MediaCity UK networking gallery

Beth Whittal Williams' mum looked after her 2 and a half week old baby in the car nearby so she could come and meet some people. Amazing!

Huge thanks to the sixty people who came along on November 13th and made it a great night, and to BBC North for hosting at MediaCity. It was great to meet so many people and hear some inspiring stories of how people are working flexibly, or can arrange it.

Listening to Sinead Rocks, BBC Director of Learning, the Media Parents crowd was full of talent managers, freelancers and MDs.

BBC Creative Director for Learning, Sinead Rocks, kicked off the evening.

Liz Bayliffe, Production Executive for Shine North, works part time.

Question from the crowd: "What can I do in TV with a young child?" "Development, position yourself as someone who can use social media to bring an audience to a show. Don't ask for flexible working, present solutions to a company."

Ian Bradshaw from Title Role said that their company embraces flexible working.

Sarah Murch, left, MD of Blakeway North told freelancers to ask for flexible working, but be realistic in their choice of programmes to target. "Great turnout, really good bunch of people. Sarah said "Media Parents is a really good organisation and very worthwhile. On the flexible working topic, I thought the evening worked really well. The key point is that no one does it for you, you have to work out what's best for you."

Danny Morrisey, Talent Executive for BBC Children's was hugely supportive in getting this event off the ground, special thanks to him and Aesha Zafar for their hard work and persistence. "We met new talent, which was really good, and all my colleagues at the BBC said the same. The topic of flexible working worked really well. I think it was demonstrated that sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't, but that there is a real appetite for it. Especially in BBC children's as it helps to get access to our audience!"!"

Helen Tonge, MD Title Role, with freelancer Fiona Greig. Helen "Great Evening, Amazing turnout. Really pleased that everyone is now aware of what we do at Title Role, so that they can make contact and we can grow our freelancer pool. There could be some jobs coming up... we will definitely be in touch with Media Parents then".

Amy Boscombe, Head of Development from LA Productions talks to Claire Brown from Media Parents.

Louise Blythe from the BBC Academy North spoke about FastTrain.

Carol Mackenzie, True North: "Great to meet new faces. Now we know Media Parents and who you are, we will be in touch as soon as we need to advertise. We are growing really fast, we have 35 people in Cardiff for the Valleys and have 18 Edits already in for next year."