N4 – Places to practise networking (England and Wales)
There are many groups around the UK that help people in the media and entertainment industries to get to know each other and keep in the loop. There may even be an informal gathering every few weeks near where you live.
Click here for a separate list for organisations in Scotland >
Here are some of the organisations and websites that are worth keeping an eye on:
Creative England – Dedicated to the growth of the creative industries.
www.creativeengland.co.uk
Business Wales – Welsh Government site with links to creative organisations
https://businesswales.gov.wales/creative
ScreenSkills/Indie Training Fund (formerly Creative Skillset) – Supporting training and skills development in the creative industries around the UK
www.screenskills.com…
Unions
BECTU – Production union running regular training events around the UK
www.bectu.org.uk
NUJ – Events and training for writers and journalists in various parts of the UK
www.nuj.org.uk
www.nujtrainingwales.org
www.nujscotland.org.uk
Federation of Entertainment Unions – Workshops and events for members of the main performing arts and writing unions – NUJ, Equity, the Musician’s Union and the Writer’s Guild
www.feutraining.org
Cult Cymru – Training project from BECTU, Equity, the Musician’s Union and the Writer’s Guild
www.cultcymru.org…
TV/Film
TV Watercooler – a website full of resources and tips for TV freelancers, including a job sites database
www.tvwatercooler.org
Royal Television Society – for anyone interested in TV. See their Education and Training section
www.rts.org.uk…
PACT – Representing independent content producers
www.pact.co.uk
Media Parents – Promotes job opportunities and networking events aimed at freelance parents and others keen to work flexibly or part time.
www.mediaparents.co.uk
Women in Film and Television – Supporting women in the creative industries; part of a worldwide network.
www.wftv.org.uk
BAFTA – Supporting film, television and gaming.
www.bafta.org…
Audio
The Radio Academy
www.radioacademy.org
…
The FrontLine Club – Based in London, supporting journalism around the world
www.frontlineclub.com