What really makes a set safe? In this episode, we speak with Samantha Wainstein, Chair of the Mark Milsome Foundation, about the pressing realities of health and safety in UK film and TV. Following the tragic, preventable death of camera operator Mark Milsome in 2017, the Foundation has worked to challenge industry norms and advocate for safer working conditions. Samantha shares why safe sets are calm sets, what simple things every employer can do to protect their crew, and how cultural change i...
Aug 12, 2025•23 min
In this episode, Principal Research Fellow Jonny Gifford from the Institute of Employment Studies joins Keith and Tacita to explore the long-term value of embedding fair, inclusive and sustainable working practices in the screen industry. They discuss why “good work” looks different for everyone, the role of people management in smaller companies, and how leaders can move beyond short-term fixes to create workplaces where people genuinely thrive. From rethinking recruitment to managing workloads...
Jul 29, 2025•25 min
What does transparency really mean in production? And how do we make it more than just a buzzword? In this episode, Elizabeth Peyton-Jones - founder of Talent Trust - an organisation that helps productions create safer, more inclusive sets through anonymous, real-time crew feedback - joins Keith Arrowsmith and Tacita Small to break down why transparency, preparation, and communication are essential ingredients in creating psychologically safe and inclusive working environments on set. They explo...
Jul 15, 2025•24 min
In this bonus episode of the WorkWise for Screen podcast, we bring you highlights from our recent live event, featuring Leanne Murphy - Employment and Equality Solicitor at Rosemary Connolly Solicitors. She shares practical advice on how small to medium-sized businesses in Northern Ireland can legally protect themselves by investing in solid HR foundations early on. From understanding the difference between freelancers, workers and employees, to navigating free legal resources and policy templat...
Jul 08, 2025•21 min
Has the area of post-production been overlooked when we talk about safe and fair working conditions in the screen industry? In this episode, Tacita Small and Keith Arrowsmith sit down with Amelia Knott, Human Rights Specialist for the TV industry Human Rights Forum, to explore how to improve working conditions once filming has wrapped. From working for long hours with few breaks, to working with sensitive or disturbing material, to the pressures of shrinking budgets, Amelia shares some tips to c...
Jul 01, 2025•25 min
For this episode, we took Workwise for Screen on the road to Belfast - bringing together people across production, HR, law and support services to ask how we can better support the workplace conditions across the UK screen industry. In this episode, Michelle Walsh, Head of Production at Stellify Media - an award-winning unscripted production company committed to telling human stories - shares candid insights on why the company's strong values around wellbeing and trust start with leadership. She...
Jun 24, 2025•21 min
This bonus episode, recorded live in Belfast, explores how we can better support workplace conditions across the UK screen industry - from production and HR to legal and support services. This time we’re joined by HR consultant and executive coach Mairéad Regan. She shares her deep experience working across both in-house and freelance sectors in the screen industries. With a focus on fair, inclusive and effective hiring. The WorkWise for Screen podcast is supported by the BFI, awarding National ...
Jun 18, 2025•19 min
How do we build a creative industry that not only finds talent - but actually holds onto it? In this episode, Tacita Small and Keith Arrowsmith sit down with Mel Rodrigues, Chief Executive at Creative Access and Vice Chair at Women in Film and TV, to explore how we create space for people to thrive. From supporting mid-career professionals to sharing how meaningful inclusion, mentorship, and better leadership can shape a stronger, more sustainable industry for everyone. The WorkWise for Screen p...
Jun 18, 2025•23 min
In creative industries, contracts can be a perplexing field, but they’re an essential part of keeping your project safe, along with all those working on it. That’s why we share the helpful guidance of Gemma Woodhead in this episode of WorkWise for Screen, simplifying the world of contracts, and pointing us towards the support available to creatives. The WorkWise for Screen podcast is supported by the BFI, awarding National Lottery Funding. This episode covers: The unique challenges of contractin...
Feb 18, 2025•26 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Whether you’ve a long-standing team or you work with freelancers, mentoring your teams is a vital step to creating a better screen sector for all. This much is clear to Mastered’s Co-Founder and CEO, Perri Lewis, whose experience with mentors encouraged her to enable the same for as much of the sector as possible. Join us on WorkWise for Screen this week to explore the opportunities available for mentoring support, and the incredible effect it’ll have on your next project’s success. The WorkWise...
Feb 11, 2025•26 min•Season 1Ep. 4
There’s a simplicity in the word ‘Diversity’, but there’s so much surrounding it which needs a nuanced, considered approach from every one of us in the screen sector. From Stacey Carr’s experiences with Nickelodeon, Endemol Shine, the Oprah Winfrey Network and now Donmar Warehouse, she’s seen how EDI as a ‘way of life, not a set of rules’ creates better, more inclusive workplaces. For those looking to make their projects and businesses as welcoming as possible, join us on Episode 3 of WorkWise f...
Feb 04, 2025•23 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Freelance support is essential to so many productions in screen industries, but it can be a challenge knowing how to first bring them on board, and then managing them at scale. Samantha Kingston has been a freelancer herself, and works wonderfully with them in her business, Virtual Umbrella. This episode of the WorkWise for Screen podcast poses as the perfect starting point for those looking to hire and manage freelancers, offers guidance on how to maintain compliance, and dives into whether the...
Jan 28, 2025•24 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Welcome to the first episode of WorkWise for Screen, the podcast bringing support and advice to professionals in the screen industries to better look after all the people their business depends on supported by the BFI, awarding National Lottery funding. Joining hosts Keith Arrowsmith from WorkWise for Screen and Tacita Small from The Small HR Company for episode 1 is Netspeak Games’ People Director, Katie Nurse, whose focus on wellbeing in the team is perfect for an episode rooted in welfare...
Jan 21, 2025•26 min•Season 1Ep. 1
In the UK we have fantastic talent working across our industry from film to production, animation, VFX, gaming, distribution and exhibition. But as you know it's not an easy business to be in. We all grapple with complex questions around production and our working practices. On the WorkWise for Screen Podcast we’ll get the lowdown on all your legal and people management concerns from industry experts. The programme is an initiative to improve good working practices in the screen industries with ...
Jan 15, 2025•6 min
