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Freelance skills training

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Freelance learning reps

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The Workshop Programme

As part of a pilot project to build a multi-union strategy to meet freelance training needs, the four participating unions - the Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union (BECTU), Equity, the Music Union (MU) and the National Union of Journalist (NUJ) are running a series of workshops between August 2007 and March 2008 to find out more about the common training needs of freelance members, what action can be taken to help meet these needs and how joint resources and best practice can be used for common gain.

Workshop (17/08/07) outcomes

Below is a summary of the research completed so far including the suggestions made at the Aug 17, 2007 workshop.

Overlapping skills related challenges/problems for freelances

There are a number of challenges that (BECTU), Equity, the MU and NUJ have in common.

Common challenges/problems for freelances

• Isolation
• Lack of communication
• Lack of and difficulty finding information (for example, on relevant courses)
• Difficult to access relevant training courses (location)
• Cost of relevant training courses (actual cost + loss of earnings)
• Need to be competent in a number of skills (please provide as many examples as you can think of)
• Difficult to source bespoke training relevant to specific skills needs
• Difficult in an 'on the job' situation to approach managers for training and guidance
• Fear and confidence
• Stress

Suggestions

Better communication is key to solving many of the examples of above. For example:

• Building freelance networks including formal meetings as well as social gatherings
• Combining efforts to raise awareness and profile. For example, joint stands and notice boards at events
• Making more use of on-line communication
• Providing more regular updates on training, advice and guidance
• Raising awareness of the effective advice and guidance that is already available

* The project objectives aim to fulfil some of the above requirements. For example, a website extension will soon be launched this autumn and provide a communication facility for freelance members to contact each other on training and skills development issues.

Overlapping advice/guidance/skills required

Several skills requirements that BECTU, Equity, the MU and the NUJ have in common have been identified:

• Advice on funding
• Rates for work
• Working legislation and conditions
• Tax
• Booking keeping
• Marketing (for example, raising profile, pitching work/oneself to prospective employers)
• How to build a successful career portfolio
• How to write a successful CV (writing skills)
• Computer skills

Effective training methods

A combination of training methods would be most useful including:

• Face to face courses
• Online/distant learning
• Mentoring
• Written information
• Written guides
• Formal and informal discussion groups

Suggestions

• A website facility for rating courses would be useful as many turn out to be of poor quality
• A website facility to list/signpost contact details for courses or other useful advice and guidance sources would be helpful

Important considerations for freelance training include:

• Quality: knowledgeable tutors with real life experience who can ensure that theory can be applied in practice
• Flexible: timing needs to be varied and flexible to fit in with the ‘odd’ hours that freelances often work
• Cost-effective – to take into consideration the actual cost of training plus loss of earnings

*Cost was also identified as a problem for employing others: bartering, for example, swapping editorial skills for design skills and vice versa, was suggested as a possible solution in which each person gained equally.

Media Convergence

Media convergence is having an effect to a greater or lesser extent on each union’s membership.

Advances in technology and the consequent changes in the way that we need to work mean that freelances need to stay abreast of what is happening and what will happen so that they can adapt, update or learn new skills.

While this can be problematic, the group view was that this was not necessarily a negative trend, for example, technological changes have many benefits such as better quality in some cases, the ability to attain all round skills and work in different areas and work location flexibility.

The best approach is to raise awareness of on-going trends and provide information on the pros and cons as well as what freelances can do to ensure that they are in good shape for on-going changes.

Updates

We will keep you informed of our findings and new developments over the coming months. Please let us know if you have any useful ideas or information. Contact: Frances Dredge - Tel: +44 (0)2920 314 256; Mobile: +44 (0)7914 397 243; Email: frances.dredge@ntlworld.com