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The British Film Institute today launched WorkWise For Screen, a new multiform guide developed to help improve conditions around health and wellbeing for practitioners working in the industry.
Described as a “£1.5m pilot programme,” WorkWise For Screen was created by consultancy firm Counterculture and led by creative industries lawyer Keith Arrowsmith.
The programme will be available as a free-to-access online portal, a podcast series, and a peer-to-peer network targeted at screen sector SMEs and Heads of Departments working across production, animation, VFX, gaming, distribution, and exhibition.
The BFI said the programme will help users navigate imminent changes to UK employment law under the new Employment Rights Bill, provide legal contracting and policy templates, and e-learning modules. A podcast series, live talks and events, a regular newsletter, and a quarterly magazine will also cover the most pressing topics.
Discussing today’s launch, Sara Whybrew, the BFI’s Director of Skills and Workforce Development, said the programme is a way for the BFI to protect the UK’s “world-class” workforce and creative sector.
“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,” Whybrew said.
“Created by Counterculture, and expertly led by Keith Arrowsmith, who brings a wealth of legal and governance expertise, WorkWise for Screen is being shaped with input from industry to provide sector specific practical resources, guidance, and training. It will also help the industry navigate and comply with the Government’s incoming Employment Rights Bill, particularly changes linked to the use of freelancers, and where we can start a meaningful conversation about eradicating unpaid work.”
The programme will be delivered by a team of experts from institutions such as the Institute of Employment Studies, ScreenSkills, Edinburgh Napier University, and lawyers from across the UK.
Welcoming the announcement, Sixteen Films producer Rebecca O’Brien said: “We have a fantastic industry, full of wonderful people, but also an industry where everything is done with little time and money. No-one can argue with the concept of fair working practices – we all want that for ourselves and our employees. The reality of making a film – particularly an independent film – is incredibly pressurised, so support with contracting and HR policies, especially in light of new legislation, is needed. And as well as helping navigate changes to the law, I welcome resources aimed at positively impacting health and wellbeing. Filmmaking is truly a collaborative endeavour, and we need our workforce to be at their best to make the best possible work, so I’m encouraged by this new pilot providing sector-wide support in this area.”