Parliament is set to debate an amendment that could ban casting directories, such as Spotlight and other creative industry recruitment platforms from charging upfront fees to work-seekers. Equity has welcomed the proposal, describing it as “an important step towards ending the tax on hope for performers and creatives seeking work.”

The amendment, introduced by the Earl of Clancarty and supported by employment rights specialist Lord Hendy, will be debated during the Committee stage of the Employment Rights Bill, which begins on 29 April 2025. It focuses on the performing arts and entertainment industries, aiming to repeal the current exemption that permits employment agencies to charge work-seekers for having their details listed in directories.

Equity general secretary Paul W. Fleming commented:
“This is an important step towards ending the tax on hope for performers and creatives who have for too long faced unfair financial barriers to seeking work.
If successful, this amendment would eliminate upfront fees charged by casting directories and creative recruitment platforms for good. We want to see fair and open access across the industry, and we warmly welcome this move.”

If passed, the amendment would close the legal loophole that allows these platforms to charge workers for inclusion. It would not affect non-creative platforms, or those that do not charge upfront. According to Equity, services like Spotlight could still operate under the new law, provided the cost of access is shifted to employers seeking talent, rather than performers.

Such a change would bring employment practices in the creative sector in line with other UK industries, reinforcing fairer treatment for those seeking work in the arts.

Equity maintains that many platforms—including the leading casting directory Spotlight, charge fees that exceed “the reasonable cost of production.”

The union is taking legal action against Spotlight, with a High Court hearing scheduled for July 2025 to challenge its fee structure.

In 2024, Equity’s motion was unanimously backed by the TUC Congress. The motion urged the TUC, the UK’s national federation of trade unions, representing over 5.5 million workers—to actively lobby the government in support of this legislative change.

Do you agree with Equity’s stance on ending upfront fees for performers and creatives?