Location manager : Employers and vacancy sources

The film and video industry in the UK is made up of the following types of organisations, which are the typical employers of location managers:

• independent production companies;
• post-production and facilities houses;
• community film/video projects;
• film companies.

Projects for which location managers are needed include corporate, educational, entertainment, advertising and pop promotion videos, television programmes and trailers. These types of projects provide much of the work for location managers, most of whom develop their own specialist areas as freelancers. Some skilled and experienced location managers may choose to work across a variety of productions.

Broadcasting companies usually commission freelance location managers, who are employed to provide services for the making of a specific programme, but there are also very limited opportunities to work in-house, with drama or light entertainment programmes being the most common sources of work. Various genres of programmes, such as factual, news or current affairs, may incorporate location management functions within the in-house production team.

Film companies and independent production companies that make films usually recruit location managers for individual productions and are most likely to appoint on the basis of previous experience and reputation.

Location managers and scouts also work within specialist location agencies and companies that provide services to television and production companies.

Sources of vacancies

• Search graduate jobs on this site.
• The British Film Institute (BFI)  lists screen commissions and agencies throughout the countries and regions of the UK. Most freelance work comes by word of mouth and through industry contacts. Production and television companies also approach freelancers as and when they need them. The regional screen agencies and film commissions hold information on freelance staff and sources of work through contacts databases.
• 'Diary service' websites such as film-tv.co.uk , where freelancers and employers can register their availability and requirements online.
• Freelancers may also want to advertise themselves via online searchable databases such as UK Screen .
• Creative Skillset Careers  provides a useful list of media websites that list job vacancies.
• The Production Guild of Great Britain  provides current relevant information on feature film and television drama projects in development and in pre-production. It also maintains a database of members' availability for work. Full membership of the Guild costs £275.
• New entrants seeking industry experience can use resources such as The Knowledge  and Kays Production Manual to identify established location managers and companies.

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