Welcome to the Bectu Outside Broadcast Branch

The Outside Broadcast Branch exists to represent the people who work across the OB industry and to make sure our collective voice is heard.

Working in Outside Broadcast brings its own particular challenges. Rates and payment terms, working hours, health and safety, changing employment practices and pressure on terms and conditions all have a direct impact on the people working in our sector.

Our job as a branch is to represent those interests.

We raise issues with employers, broadcasters, production companies and facility providers; work with Bectu and Prospect on wider industry concerns; and support members when collective action or representation can make a difference.

Why does membership matter?

Bectu is the largest sector of Prospect, representing tens of thousands of people working across the creative industries.

Those numbers matter. They give us a voice with employers, government and the organisations that shape our industry — a voice that individual workers, and particularly freelancers, can struggle to have on their own.

Bectu has a strong track record of representing freelancers on issues that directly affect how we work.

One important example is employment status and IR35.

When changes to the off-payroll tax rules increased scrutiny of freelance employment status, Bectu worked with HMRC on the particular circumstances of the film and television industry.

HMRC maintains a list of film and television roles which should normally be treated as self-employed. Bectu was consulted on this guidance, with branches and officials working with HMRC to help improve the list.

That matters to our members. Without appropriate recognition of the way our industry operates, freelancers can find themselves incorrectly treated as employees and required to have tax and National Insurance deducted at source.

This is a good example of why it matters to have a strong union representing people who understand our industry.

During the pandemic, Bectu also played a major role in developing safe return-to-work guidance, helping people across television and film return to work safely and helping the industry get back on its feet.

But representation isn’t only about the major national issues.

It is also about what happens now, in our own part of the industry.

The OB Branch is continually working on issues affecting our members and raising them with the organisations concerned — even when much of that work is taking place behind the scenes.

We want to get better at keeping members informed about that work, and this website is part of that.

Your branch. Your voice.

The strength of the branch comes from its members.

Every new member strengthens our ability to represent the workforce.

Every member who tells us what is happening on the ground helps us identify where action is needed.

And every member who becomes involved as a rep helps us do more.

Bectu also provides free training to members and representatives, giving you the opportunity to understand your rights and develop the skills to represent yourself and others more effectively.

We already have a voice that is heard.

Together, we can make it louder.

Email us at contact@bectuob.org.uk

View Current Branch Issues What Your Branch Is Working On-August 26