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 the support of the BFI awarding National Lottery Funding. https://www.workwiseforscreen.org.
All content for The WorkWise for Screen Podcast is the property of WorkWise For Screen and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
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 the support of the BFI awarding National Lottery Funding. https://www.workwiseforscreen.org.
Hold the door open: rethinking talent retention and inclusion with Mel Rodrigues
The WorkWise for Screen Podcast
22 minutes
7 months ago
Hold the door open: rethinking talent retention and inclusion with Mel Rodrigues
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 podcast is supported by the BFI, awarding National Lottery Funding.
This episode covers:
The power of mentorship
Avoiding box-ticking exercises and hiring authentically instead
How to retain talent
Hiring people with potential, over perfection
Advice for leaders who want to do better
Episode Topics
Introductions into Mel Rodrigues, passion leading you to unexpected careers, skills helping in other fields, family expectations and how leadership means embracing uncertainty. (00:00 - 05:05)
Valuing potential over perfection when hiring, especially for emerging talent, discovering the importance of seeking diverse perspectives and understanding how tokenism demotivates and wastes valuable talent. (05:05 - 09:15)
Starting with focused and meaningful actions as a small business, the big difference that salary transparency can make, the importance of checking pay equity. (09:15 - 12:25)
Connecting with Creative Access, why mid-career pros leave and valuing inclusion. (12:25 - 18:15)
Everyone’s career is different, how clear communication is key and investing in mentorship (18:15 - to end)
Chapter Markers
(00.00) Introduction with Tacita and Keith
(01.16) Mel’s career path and social justice
(03:44) Navigating cultural expectations
(06.22) The importance of potential over perfection
(08:02) Creating inclusive work environments
(10.33) Strategies for small businesses
(13.41) Understanding the talent drain
(16:59) Good HR practices for inclusion
(18:48) How to connect with Creative Access
(19.58) Conclusions with Tacita and Keith
LINKS
WorkWise for Screen: https://www.workwiseforscreen.org.uk/en
Keith Arrowsmith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keitharrowsmith/
Tacita Small: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tacitasmall/
BFI: https://www.bfi.org.uk/
National Lottery: https://www.national-lottery.co.uk/
Mel Rodrigues: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/melrodrigues1
Creative Access: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/creative-access
The WorkWise for Screen Podcast
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 the support of the BFI awarding National Lottery Funding. https://www.workwiseforscreen.org.
