www.mediaparents.co.uk is a new jobs and social networking website for people who want to work flexibly in media

Following the success of the Life Coaching session with Angus Fletcher, More Than Resolutions for 2011, Media Parents is delighted to be working with Lyn Burgess from The Magic Key Partnership who will be coaching on How to Network.

At this session for Media Parents members from 7 – 9pm on Tuesday 25th January in Soho, Lyn Burgess will be exploring limiting beliefs (and how to get rid of them), looking at feeling positive (and how to get there quickly) and discussing what to say.  There will be an experiential element to the session plus a Q&A – perfectly timed just before our next event where Media Parents members will have the opportunity to network with execs across the board at one of the UK’s largest indies (more details soon).  To reserve a place at Lyn Burgess’s lifecoaching session please email admin@mediaparents.co.uk

Life coach Lyn Burgess from www.magickey.co.uk

Lyn Burgess is a life coach running The Magic Key Partnership www.magickey.co.uk .  As a specialist in the film and television industry, Lyn has experience of working with hundreds of producers, directors, writers and actors since the company was established in 2002.

Having previously worked in various operational roles, including Human Resources Director, for a number of years within the financial services industry, her philosophy on management has always taken a coaching bias.

The client base for The Magic Key Partnership includes emerging talent as well as Bafta winners and her clients include those making films with micro to multi million pound budgets, and those working within continuing drama on television.

Much of Lyn’s work with clients revolves around career – keeping things in perspective, improving motivation for freelancers, transition from one role to another, building up confidence and networking for career development.

The Magic Key Partnership runs workshops on a monthly basis and one to one coaching for clients via email, telephone or Skype.

Lyn has offered a discount on one-to-one coaching sessions or workshops to members of Media Parents.

Lyn Burgess 0845 129 7401

07801 366418

lyn@magickey.co.uk

www.magickey.co.uk

If you would like to read more about networking, click here:

https://blog.mediaparents.co.uk/2010/12/how-to-network-effectively/

To reserve a place at the How to Network coaching session please email admin@mediaparents.co.uk

Please find yourself on the Christmas Party photos below and comment to identify yourself!  Thanks to all those who came and made it a great party!

2. Media Parents Director Amy Walker, centre and Jo Tracy, right.

3. Emily Freshwater, Will Bulman, Kylie McCarroll (lovely nails), Amy Walker, lady in pink, Jo Tracy.

4. Robin O'Sullivan and Elliott Cranmer, left, Rebecca Dowell and Michelle Dalton, right.

5. Sarah and Zain Sabur.

6. Amber Rose, the first Media Parents baby to be born, and Zoe Fryer.

7. Rear : Anna Brabbins, Clare Richards and Tim Allan. Front left, Media Parents Director Amy Walker, Julann Smyth, Emily Freshwater.

8. Jill Robertson tries to get away from Elliott Cranmer, right.

9. From left Mikhael Junod, Caroline Bourne, Rosie Bowen-Jones, Sarah Andrew. Foreground Benjamin and his mum.

10. Media Parents first baby-off. From left Linsey Winton and Raphy, Zoe Fryer and Amber Rose, Samantha Williams and Nyome.

21.

22. McCracken Jnr, Jean Manthorpe, Hazel Palmer

22. Jude Parker, Alex Evans, Eoin O'Shea.

23. Background Anna Bonnadio, Corinne Sweet and Teresa Nunn.

24. Teresa Nunn and Lubna Bhatti with some enormous glasses of white.

25. Karen Jenkinson and Heidi Cross

26. Toral Dixit and Angus Fletcher

27. George Hencken, left, Jane Lush, Alison Martin, Kate Gibbard

28. Alison Matthews.

29. Alison Matthews talks to Nina Ferguson, foreground.

30. Mikhael Junod, Angus Fletcher and Kat Hencken.

31. Erica Wolfe-Murray, Shurwin Harwood, Jean Manthorpe.

32. Gorgeous.

33. Amy Walker and Raphy talk to Jean Manthorpe and Carl Callum.

34. Linsey Winton, Lyn Burgess, Amy Walker and Raphy Winton.

35. Corinne Sweet and Iain Mitchell.

36. Nyome Williams and Donald.

37.

38.

39. Anna Brabbins, Claire Grossmith and her dad.

40. Donald, Ronald and little cracker Nyome Williams.

Many thanks to all those who came along and made it a great event, and to ENVY for their kind hosting.  Happy Christmas from Media Parents.

17. Media Parents Director Amy Walker, shamelessly minesweeping. Julann Smyth was a graceful victim.

18. Lucy Sandys-Winsch, left.

19. Hello! Clare Richards, Tim Allan (as Curtis Brown), Anna Brabbins.

11. Jean Manthorpe and Erica Wolfe-Murray, right.

12. Angus Fletcher, foreground, Farrah Jaufuraully, centre, Corinne Sweet, rear right of frame.

13. Jane Lush and Kate Gibbard with Alison Martin.

15. This lady was not buying any of Jake Sumner's chat.

16. George Hencken foreground, with Alex Evans, Eoin O'Shea, Jude Parker and Hazel Palmer's hair.

In November Media Parents held a meeting in Bristol called “Can TV work more flexibly in the South West?”  Many employers and freelancers from across the South West gathered to have their say.   The overwhelming message of the evening?  If you want to work flexibly you’ve got to start by having the courage to ASK…

A full list of those attending can be found elsewhere on this blog: https://blog.mediaparents.co.uk/2010/11/media-parents-flexible-working-meeting-bristol-who-came/ It's worth looking at the attendance list to see some of the employers who support flexible working, and some of the talent that wants to work flexibly. They can all be found at http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/

Media Parents Director, Amy Walker :

“I hope we will be able to discuss the viability of flexible working from both a business and creative standpoint this evening, that we go away better informed and inspired to make positive changes.

http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/ is all about flexible work that suits you – as a freelancer or as an employer.

Mediaparents.co.uk is a new jobs and social networking website which collects short-term contracts, part-time, job share and regular hours media jobs in one place so experienced talent can find them.

We all know the hair-raising stat about 5000 women leaving TV and 750 men over 3 years.  But that’s not the only one –  compare the percentage of people in the national workforce as a whole who are parents – 62%  - with industry norms for TV:

% of men in TV who are parents : 34% And women in TV who are parents: 21%

Media Parents are now largely considered to be a diversity group. Within a relatively short time, the Cultural Diversity Network has named working with Media Parents as one way to fulfil its Diversity Pledge – the one which Channel 4 has said companies must be signed up to or Channel 4 will no longer commission from them.   So please GET INVOLVED!”

Chris Hutchins (centre) Head of Talent for Factual and the NHU at BBC Bristol

Chris Hutchins, Head of Talent for Factual and the NHU at BBC Bristol : “Our workforce doesn’t reflect the diversity of our viewers – and that includes parents.  We NEED to change. I’m committed to making flexible working work here at the BBC and I will persuade my colleagues to get on board.”

Chris is the new head of talent at the NHU and BBC factual.  He’s been in the new post since September and was Series Producing before that.  He claims that most of his team does or has worked flexibly, and that he’s always encouraged this.  It makes people happier.

“Parents are better time managers and so very desirable employees.” Chris admits that this is easier to achieve on some projects more than others, especially within the NHU it’s possible though – it can be a good use of budget to have part time workers.  Chris’s own mother was an actress, so he’s familiar with the problems she had juggling care of him and his brother.

Chris is trying to convince other BBC departments that flexible working can work for the employer. If anyone feels the BBC isn’t getting it right, let him know.

COMING NEXT : Annie Warburton from Skillset and the Bristol Anchor Partnership speaks.

With thanks to Chris Hutchins and BBC Bristol for hosting, to Harriet Wallace, Kate Edwards, and Rachael Power for taking notes, and to Amy Organ for taking photos.

On November 17th Media Parents Series Producer Alison Martin organised a debate for the RTS in Southampton called “TV – No Career for a Woman?”  Here’s Alison’s summary of who was there and what was said. http://www.mediaparents.co.uk is working to provide solutions to many of the issues raised below so do join us!

The "TV - No Career for a Woman?" panel in Southampton

• Mandy Cooper (Former TV Producer now Head of Communications at Dorset Cereals)
• Lorraine Heggessey (Former controller BBC1 and CEO Talkback)
• Dermot Caulfield (Series Editor, Bang Goes The Theory – a single dad with 3 small kids)
• Ruth Pitt (Executive Producer and Screen Yorkshire Board Member)
• Fiona Phillips (TV Presenter and Journalist)
• Jo Ball (MD Ricochet)

Here are the headlines:

• People were shocked by the Skillset report findings in terms of women leaving the industry over the last 3 years (750 men versus 5000 women)
• It may be easier for women to get into television, but it’s getting harder to keep them
• There was disagreement over whether the Miriam O’Reilly case shows ageism or not
• Women are making enormous sacrifices to stay in TV, and many are giving up because they can’t see a way to balance work and home
• Lorraine and Fiona had some great anecdotes about their struggle to the top
• A rough manifesto for change was put forward
  

Lorraine Heggessey (right)

LORRAINE HEGGESSEY: (making her first appearance on a public stage since leaving Talkback)

• “I know Jay and it’s not true she dislikes women” (re O’Reilly case)
• Argued that moving Countryfile to primetime was “a hugely courageous decision”, and you have to consider what’s right for the slot
• Says dozens of beautiful young women come to see her, wanting to be presenters, and they won’t stand a chance because they don’t have that special something
• Told a hilarious story about having to have dinner at short notice with the gangster Mad Frankie Fraser when one of her daughters was a baby – she took her to the restaurant and had to breastfeed her in front of him
• Was shocked at the Skillset figures and wondered whether women took redundancy because the blokes would fight, so the women would say “all right, I’ll go then”
• Said that earlier in her career she felt she had to “out-bloke the blokes”
• People assumed when she got the BBC1 job that she would be useless until proved brilliant, whereas people assume men are brilliant until proved otherwise
• Thinks women are getting better at asking for more money
• Describes one Sunday evening when she was trying to match her daughter’s white socks ready for school, and she thought to herself “I bet Alan Yentob doesn’t have to do this!”
• Has always paid to get the housework done, so she can concentrate on the kids
  

Fiona Phillips and the panel at RTS No Career for a Woman Event

FIONA PHILLIPS:

• Has battled to find a work/family balance, which often led to clashes with her husband over child-care
• Once had to interview Victoria Beckham at short notice and couldn’t find childcare, so took her baby with her and fortunately Posh’s mum was there and ‘scooped my baby up’ and looked after him. She recalls her son playing on a mat with Brooklyn
• Says she “finds it cringeworthy” to think about what Miriam O’Reilly is doing, because presenters “have to get on with it and take the good times with the bad”. But she laments that there are not more older women on screen (she loved watching Cilla Black) and asks why, by contrast, there are “so many wrinkly old blokes” instead
• Still feels guilty that she was working too hard when her mother was ill
• Recalled one former boss calling her into his room (he had his feet on the desk) and demanding “Phillips, darn my socks will you!”
• Says she sometimes wishes she had “a real profession…I always wanted to be a doctor”!
  

Jo Ball, MD Ricochet, right

JO BALL:

• Was a single parent from the start of her career
• Struggled to find a balance in the early years
• Thinks “maybe we should all have babies a bit younger”
• Recommends women move to the regions to improve their chances of getting a work-life balance
• Says work pressures are “probably the reason why I only have one child”
• Also thinks “you have to accept that having a child is going to eat into your time
• Argues strongly that age and beauty are not the issues around women presenters. “it’s not about how you look, it’s about personality”
• Points to Sarah Beeny as the quintessential woman on screen. “She’s a brilliant presenter with 4 kids. She does it her way”. Thinks women generally should be a bit more ballsy
• Fights hard to keep her top women staff whatever their domestic commitments – “Some people are just too valuable to lose”
  

Mandy Cooper, ex TV Producer, left

MANDY COOPER:

• Left the industry (was a series producer at the BBC) because she wanted a better work-life balance
• Moved to Dorset to raise her family
• Laments the collapse of TV jobs in the regions, which afford many women a better balance and often give them access to relatives who can help with childcare
• You also avoid long commutes, ie wasting hours on the train when you could be at home with the kids
• “TV’s not the only job there is”!
• Loves her work in PR
• Mentors are a really useful way of helping women stay on track in their TV careers
  

DERMOT CAULFIELD:

• Became a single dad of three kids under 10 when his wife died a couple of years ago
• Was treated “like a minor celebrity” by other people, which single mums never get
• Culture of presentee-ism is problematic: “doing the job well is not about how long you stay in the office”
• Admits he rarely goes filming in order to manage his family commitments better
• Says he became a dad very early and felt isolated from the other blokes he worked with, because they were always going out while he stayed in
• Didn’t quite realise how much support he’d had from his wife (a doctor) until he lost her
• Argues that it’s easier for people in the higher echelons to manage family commitments, because they have the cash to sort childcare etc
• Competition for jobs doesn’t help women with restricted working hours: “I advertised for a runner and had over 100 applications. With that kind of competition you’re going to employ the person best placed to give you 100%”
  

Ruth Pitt chaired the panel and invited comment from the audience

• One woman said she had an abortion so she could take a job
• One said she had just left the BBC at 42, disillusioned, had sacrificed having kids for her career – and now feels she made a big mistake
• One said she felt ‘over the top’ at 35 and was wondering ‘what next’
• One was a PHD student, investigating the gender gap in TV with Skillset
• Several people said the collapse of ITV in the regions had been devastating for many women
• One man said “let’s face it, women are better than men!”
  

MANIFESTO FOR CHANGE

The panel agreed the following could help keep women in TV:

• More flexible working (but NOT full-time work for part-time pay) http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/ is a great place to find flexible working options – or any jobs – we let the talent choose if the work is right.
• Good mentoring schemes The Women in Film & TV scheme is up and running but full for this year,  Media Parents has been approached by companies offering to mentor so if you’re interested either as a mentor or mentee please email admin@mediaparents.co.uk

• More opportunities in the regions, where work-life balance is easier to achieve Media Parents is going regional – join us at one of the Christmas Parties, and watch out for much more regional activity from early 2011
• Support for women to set up their own companies Media Parents blog, facebook and watercooler are all great places to share information and resources
• More high-profile role models not afraid to talk openly about their commitments Read the Media Parents blog to see some of the great events that have given people a platform to talk about their experiences this year – and if you have something to say please make contact admin@mediaparents.co.uk
• More job-sharing http://www.mediaparents.co.uk enables you to find other freelancers with a similar skillsbase, and indicate to employers who your chosen jobshare partners would be.  See elsewhere on the Media Parents site and https://blog.mediaparents.co.uk for information about companies who support flexible working in media, and how to approach them.

Media Parents member Alison Martin

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Alison Martin trained as a journalist at ITN. She reported and presented for Meridian’s regional politics programme and ITV – “…on the day Diana, Princess of Wales died I was part of ITV’s presenting team tasked with telling the nation the terrible news.”

A life on the road beckoned… After a stint as a Senior Producer at GMTV Alison switched to the BBC producing Watchdog and then Rogue Traders. “Whilst making Rogue I fell pregnant. I spent the nine months squeezing my bump into cramped vans as we filmed undercover. When it came to confronting the rogues I was ordered to stand behind a burly security guard!”

Alison was part of the start up team for the BBC’s flagship early evening magazine – The ONE Show where she was responsible for the topical and current affairs output. Now she freelances in TV and is developing her writing and presenting work.  Find her at http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/

http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/ is a new jobsite for people who want to work flexibly in media. 5,000 women and 750 men have left TV in the last 3 years (Skillset figures), and the other creative industries are following this pattern. Media Parents wants to help change this trend and keep hold of talent by creating a platform for employers to find experienced workers.

To find out more, why not join us at one of the Media Parents Christmas Parties – they’re not just for Media Parents members so do bring friends and introduce them. There will be a healthy mix of companies, freelancers and broadcasters!

LONDON : from 4pm on Tuesday December 14th we will be at
ENVY, 50a Rathbone Place, London W1T 1JW
Children are welcome in the afternoon (please bring your own toys!)
Adults only from 6:30pm. Drinks and mince pies for early birds.RSVP : admin@mediaparents.co.uk
http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/downloads/party-invite.jpg

BRIGHTON : from 6:30pm on Tuesday December 7th we will be at
Madame Geisha, 75 – 79 East Street, Brighton BN1 1NF
Annabel Laister and Gilly Smith are organising this and all are welcome.
RSVP : brighton@mediaparents.co.uk

BRISTOL : from 6:30pm on Thursday December 9th we will be at
Goldbrick House, 69 Park Street, West End, Bristol BS1 5PB
in the Champagne & Cocktail Bar on Level One
It’s a paying bar but mince pies at least are on me!

Please RSVP marking your email with the location of the party to
admin@mediaparents.co.uk You can also RSVP by clicking the contact button on the Media Parents site.

Wrap up warm!

Media Parents Bristol meeting : people who attended* http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/ is a jobs and social networking site for great talent and flexible jobs in media.

1. Amy Walker : Site Director, Media Parents
2. Chris Hutchins : Head of Talent, NHU & Factual, BBC Bristol
3. Amy Organ : Talent Management Assistant, BBC Bristol
4. Harriet Wallace : Development Producer, Media Parents
5. Kate Edwards : Producer, Media Parents
6. Jane Lomas : Executive Producer, RDF Television West
7. Angela Oakhill : Head of Production, Diverse Bristol
8. David Postlethwaite : Head of Production, Touch Productions
9. Sas Bonser : Project Manager, South West Screen
10. Annie Warburton : South West Manager, Skillset
11. Annette Sloly : PM / Project Manager, Freelance
12. Chiara Bellati : PD, Media Parents
13. Laura Abrahams : AP, Media Parents
14. Lucy Swingler : PD, Media Parents
15. Marina Traversari : Producer / Director, Media Parents
16. Jen Saguaro : Production Designer, Media Parents
17. Bernard Walton : Executive Producer, Aqua Vita Films
18. Helen Cooper : Head of Production, 3Days
19. Lisa Walters : Production Coordinator / PM, NHU
20. Charlotte Cross : Head of Development, NHU Children’s Dept
21. Wendy Bowden : Producer, Media Parents
22. Adam White : Producer, NHU
23. Lisa Lipman : PD, Available Light Productions
24. Jane Greenford : Production Management Ass. / Coordinator – BBC
25. Imogen Haigh : Production Assistant, Aardman
26. Tamsin Summers  : Executive Producer, Talo Development
27. Emma Peddie : PD, Freelance
28. Rachael Power : Production Manager, Media Parents
29. Stephen Leigh  : Series Producer, Keo Films
30. Lorraine Molloy : PD, Media Parents
31. Kate Blackmore : Production Co-ordinator, Freelance
32. Jo Shinner : Series Producer, Freelance
33. Gaynor Scattergood : Talent Manager, NHU
34. Jane Atkins : AP, NHU
35. Mitch Turnbull : Producer, Bramble Media
36. Tom Stubbs : Director / Producer, Biggerhouse Films
37. Leyla Pope : Screenwriter, Freelance
38. Polly Rose : Film Editor, Freelance
39. Nell Denton : Script Editor / Writer, Freelance
40. Elaine Tucker : Media Manager, BBC Information & Archives
41. Marcus Rowland : Employment Lawyer, Wiggin LLP
42. Caroline Blackadder : Series Editor, RDF Television West
43. Rebecca Gatward : Drama Director, Freelance
44. Amy Twomey : Production Manager, Freelance
45. Alix Wiseman : Head of Sales, Aardman
46. Nicole Kruysse : Production Co-ordinator, BBC Bristol
47. Javotte Flatman : PD, Media Parents
48. Emanuelle Maclean : AP / Producer, Media Parents
49. Paul Deane : Senior Web Producer, BBC
50. Kirstie Deane : PM, Aardman Features / Freelance
51. Gaynor Davies : Series Producer, Freelance
52. Jennifer Hegarty : 1^st AD, Freelance
53. Debbie White : PM, RDF Television West
54. Vivia Tognieri : Production Assistant, BBC
55. Clare Brook : PD, BBC
56. Mark Fielder : MD, Quickfire Media sent apologies but wanted people to know that Quickfire Media welcomes working flexibly with freelancers.

THANKS TO BBC BRISTOL FOR HOSTING, AND TO AMY ORGAN FOR TAKING THE PHOTOS.

COMING SOON… WHAT WAS SAID…

* or at least said they were coming – we didn’t call a register!

www.mediaparents.co.uk - the jobs and social networking site for short term, part time, job share and regular hours jobs in media

The next Media Parents flexible working meeting will be held at BBC Bristol at 6pm on Tuesday 23rd November. It’s an open meeting where freelancers and employers are invited to share their experiences of flexible working. Please RSVP to admin@mediaparents.co.uk with your full name and job title, entitling your email Bristol.

http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/ is a jobs and social networking website for parents and others who want to work flexibly in TV.  5000 women and 750 men left TV over the last 3 years – Media Parents is hoping to stem this talent drain and keep talented people working in media.

Media Parents is currently organising a meeting : Can TV Work More Flexibly in the South West? which will take place on Tuesday November 23rd at 6:00pm at BBC Bristol. The simple aim of this meeting is to share information on best practice of flexible working as a partial and positive solution to some of the problems we are facing in TV, as outlined by Skillset’s recent data.  We hope that the meeting will result in more media employers and freelancers being open to the idea of job sharing and  flexible working, and seeing a way to make this happen.

Freelancers and employers representing the following companies and more will be attending the meeting in Bristol on the 23rd: 3 Days, Aardman, Aqua Vita Films, Available Light Television, BBC, Bristol Anchor Partnership, Quickfire Media, RDF Television West, Skillset, South West Screen, Touch Productions and Media Parents.  To join us please email admin@mediaparents.co.uk We are currently in process of trying to set up a creche for the event so let us know if you would be bringing your children.

To read about the first Media Parents Flexible Working meeting please see https://blog.mediaparents.co.uk/2010/11/

Amy Walker created www.mediaparents.co.uk to help freelancers to work more flexibly and to enable employers to benefit from a highly experienced flexible talent pool

www.mediaparents.co.uk held a flexible working meeting attended by some of the employers and freelancers in media who support flexible working – a list of them can be found on this blog. Herefollows the final part of a series of articles summarising comment from that evening.  Media Parents will be announcing another flexible working meeting very soon.

Amanda Rice BBC Head of Diversity

“It’s not just about educating and showing benefits. Be clear about what the package is that’s on offer.  If we are going to solve this we need to take a three pronged approach:

1) COMMISSIONERS need to change the culture of commissioning  – ie. giving green light at last minute, so companies cannot plan ahead easily, which inhibits a more creative approach to employment  (late commissioning is currently working against more diverse talent and flexible opportunities).

2) JOBSEEKERS actively asking about opportunities and packaging themselves up in a way that will appeal to indies (as described by some of the job shares at the meeting).

3) INDIES being more open to the benefits of flexible working and taking ‘the risk’ to gain eg. 2 brains  for the price of 1, or more diverse talent.

Amanda Rice, BBC Head of Diversity speaks out

Jessica Sharkey, joint Director of Production at Hat Trick

Writing teams work well together, could there be other jobs that share perhaps?

Audience REAX to this – Writers aren’t the same kind of jobs, it isn’t a job share, but a partnership.

Amy Walker Director, Media Parents

Amy worked for a tiny Indie in a creative role, where she effectively job shared with the Exec Producer. The company allowed her to work flexibly because they benefitted from her skills and it cost them less – “if you work with a like-minded creative who has similar experience then there’s no reason you shouldn’t share a project as long as you can both communicate, and you are working to a brief that you both understand in the same way.”

Laura Clark Director, Indie Training Fund

Laura Clark (centre left) and Liz Mills (centre right)

The Indy Training Fund funds causes and helps people with on the job training. Could the ITF do more recruitment awareness?  Should the Indie Training Fund be looking at training techniques for managers and recruiters so they bring more flexible working into the workplace?

Emily Booth Deputy Editor, Broadcast

Roundtable discussion said there should be raised awareness and think laterally

Mentoring, and the process of mentoring that helps both parties.  Could it be cross-industry too? Could senior women in other industries help TV? Women in Film & TV is currently piloting a mentoring scheme for members.

Liz Mills MD, Red Spider Productions

Liz believed a lot of companies have a long way to go, as an Executive Producer, she thinks it may be hard to consider taking two SPs. Proving yourself as a team if you want to job share is important. But she couldn’t see that job sharing as a Director would work either.

Should there be an ‘idiot guide’ for companies on things to consider for flexible working?

Jane Manning Head of Production, October Films

Jane Manning, Head of Production from October Films is a single parent who works flexibly

The problem with taking on flexible workers is that quite often Broadcasters keep the Indies waiting until the 11^th hour for the commission. Possible freelancers can’t wait, and have to take other work.

Joyce Adeluwoye-Adams Diversity Advisor, PACT

This goes back to the three sides working together – Broadcaster, Production Company and Freelancer.

Justine Field job sharing PM  “It should be a change from the bottom up, if people ask for flexible working, they may change employers’ attitudes.”

Jude Winstanley Director, The Unit List

“There are so many in agreement here tonight, the more people approach Indies, the less they will be frightened by flexible working. More Indies are meeting more people too so get in there and ask for what you want”.

Joyce Adeluwoye-Adams Diversity Advisor, PACT

Joyce Adeluwoye-Adams had everyone smiling by the end of the meeting

The Cultural Diversity Network is all about increasing diversity in TV– job sharing comes amongst that.  Feel free to contact Joyce with CVs and she will pass to companies who are interested in employing people on a flexible basis.  “Men are generally much better at asking for what they want – women with children don’t under-estimate yourselves! If you’re talented I can’t wait to see your CV.  I would love it if people approached companies as job share packages”.

To contact Joyce please send an email to be forwarded to admin@mediaparents.co.uk  Since this meeting the Cultural Diversity Network has added “working with www.mediaparents.co.uk” to its list of ways that indies can endorse the CDN’s diversity pledge.  Channel 4 has stipulated that it will only commission from companies endorsing the CDN pledge.  Please log on to www.mediaparents.co.uk to start working flexibly now!

With thanks to Envy Post Production for hosting this event, to Lorraine Molloy for taking the photographs, and to all those who attended and contributed to this event.

www.mediaparents.co.uk held a flexible working meeting attended by some of the employers and freelancers in media who support flexible working – a list of them can be found on this blog. Herefollows part 7 of a series of articles summarising comment from that evening.  Media Parents will be announcing another flexible working meeting very soon.

Helen Matthews, Director of HR at Tiger Aspect (centre) and Naomi Carter, Director of Production at Mentorn (left)

Helen Mathews HR Director, Tiger Aspect

Helen works part-time, 5 “short” days, “it’s all about partnership with people.”

Helen agreed “it is a good idea to come as a package, or come with a solution. It’s much easier for an HR person to sell to their bosses.” Helen asked the floor – if you take on a job sharer, a problem can come when a one wants to leave. Where does the responsibility lie then?

Audience reaction to this: Some said employer, some said employee.

Chi Ukairo speaks about her experiences of working flexibly as a PD

Chi Ukairo Freelance PD and flexible worker

Chi said she has worked p/t 4 days a week as a P/D, then as a Director for 3 days a week.  She would make sure her team knew where she was, and be available on the days she wasn’t in the office. “We’ve all got technology now, staff can always get in touch.”

Joyce Adeluwoye-Adams Diversity Advisor, PACT

“The fact is, it is not a prevalent practise in television. Tonight has mostly been discussion about staff jobs, which are easier to make flexible. For freelancers it is hard, and also it’s tough for small Indies.”

Joyce Adeluwoye-Adams (centre) Diversity Advisor, PACT with Jo Dolman, Head of HR talkbackTHAMES (right)

Of the 200 companies Joyce has approached, only 5/6 offers flexible working, and 10 more would be interested in looking into flexible working.  For big Indies, it is a lot easier, and some people who do work flexibly end up squashing 5 days into 4.  But, it’s more than a two way street, it’s a three way street. It’s employer, employee and the Broadcaster. The Broadcaster puts pressure and requirements on the production company that can make it difficult to look flexibly at ways of employing.

Karl Burnett Director of HR, BBC Vision

Karl Burnett, Director of HR, BBC Vision

The vast majority of flexible working doesn’t cost any more, and everyone works within their constraints. For the individual and the employer, the demands on the broadcasters can be unreal.

Tessa, BBC Vision We need to start a track record of which companies are doing it.  If you do work flexibly, don’t feel guilty. If you can’t make a meeting, you’re not letting everyone down!

www.mediaparents.co.uk asks employers to indicate how they work flexibly, or what roles they might consider to work flexibly.  Helen Veale, Joint MD at Outline Productions speaks elsewhere on this blog about Outline’s flexible working strategy.

Naomi Carter Director of Production, Mentorn

“Flexible jobs can work! You can have part-time Production Managers and part-time PDs.  Media Parents is a great idea and will really help this to get off the ground.” Naomi had just given a job to a woman who is working part-time on a long-running obs doc series.

Amanda Rice, BBC Head of Diversity speaks out

Joyce –PACT

The will of the companies is there, but it is difficult to make it happen.

Rachel – The Bill

TV has been left behind, in other Arts jobs, it is common to share a role.

Read on for BBC Head of Diversity Amanda Rice’s response…

www.mediaparents.co.uk held a flexible working meeting in May attended by some of the employers and freelancers in media who support flexible working – a list of them can be found on this blog. Herefollows part 5 of a series of articles summarising comment from that evening.  Media Parents will be announcing another flexible working meeting very soon.

Rachel Peters: “I believe it really is about getting the relationship right, and working in similar ways.”

Justine Randle and Rachel Peters were job sharing Production Managers on The Bill at talkbackTHAMES

Rachel: “I believe it really is about getting the relationship right, and working in similar ways.”

They went to their bosses proposing 3 days a week each, but were offered 2 and a half. They do have a handover, and sometimes long phone calls too. They agreed with Laura and Jessica the joint Directors of Production at Hat Trick that they didn’t want anyone to have to repeat themselves, and have had generally had good feedback. Some people on the team were sceptical at first, and took a while to realise the job share worked.

Jo Dolman, Tim key, Rachel Peters and Justine Randle from talkbackTHAMES

Tim Key, Series Producer on The Bill at talkbackTHAMES

When pitched the job share by Justine and Rachel, he was happy about it, as he had worked with both, and happy to give it a go. It has worked really well.

Q: Does job sharing work, because PM’ing is a job for an organiser, could it work for more creative roles, like SP?

General discussion about PM’s abilities, and that it wouldn’t perhaps work for SPs.  The Gadget Show divides the Series Producer roles into two and has one “creative” series producer, and one “logistics” series producer working in tandem.

Justine - Now I am applying for jobs, should I mention the job share?

Helen – Outline Productions. Yes, you should be applying as a package together. If it has worked well for 18 months, that is proof to a future employer.

Audience member: How important is it that people know you? Will that help people accept you as a jobshare?

Karl – If it comes to you as a package, it’s worth having.

Suzie Marsh – freelancer and flexible worker

Suzie told of an example of going to a new employer, where she hadn’t known anyone, but had been allowed to work flexibly, as she had asked directly at interview.

Suzie Marsh, flexible working Series Producer

“Ask if it has to be a 5 day a week job,  and ask when the deadline for the project is and request to work flexibly until completion.” The employer allowed her to do it, and it worked well. “If you ask, you might get. You need to explain to the employer clearly how you could make it work.”

www.mediaparents.co.uk asks employers to list the ways in which they would consider or already use flexible working practices.  You can assume that any employer on our site is amenable to flexible working so calculate how you can make it work for you and make an approach – no harm in asking or using your initiative.  When you have worked with an employer on the Media Parents site the employer can leave feedback for you that other employers but not other freelancers can see.  You can always remove it, but employers say this is useful to them.

Tessa Matchett – Ex job-sharer and Head of Strategic Communications – BBC Vision

Tessa Matchett: “I think there’s a burden of proof – you need to start a track record as a job sharer."

“I think there’s a burden of proof – you need to start a track record as a job sharer. The first day I said ‘I will join you by phone at the meeting’ I got on the phone and I was shaking, but the more you do it…  You feel like you’re training people to work differently with you.”

Every team in the Communications department at BBC Vision recruits a job share position. And if you come as a package, it’s a great thing for an employer. If you come alone and ask for a job share, it’s more difficult for the employer. Handover notes are very important and sharing time in the office with your other half is important too.

Tessa made the point that she didn’t know her job share partner before they started working together so they had to learn to work together. This is common in job shares in the wider workplace, so if you haven’t worked with a job share partner before it’s not impossible.

Read on for comment from Helen Mathews – HR Director, Tiger Aspect.