SOLT Update 07 October 2021

Oct 7, 2021 | SOLT Updates

The below correspondence is posted here by kind permission from the Society of London Theatre

The Society of London Theatre (SOLT) is an organisation that works with and on behalf of their Members to champion theatre and the performing arts.

Find out more about SOLT and visit their website here.

Action: Survey on proposed new ICO data protection guidance
Following the implementation of GDPR into UK law, the effects of Covid-19 on working practices and other changes in working culture, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is planning to replace its existing guidance on the impact of data protection law on employment practices. The ICO has called for views to assist in creating practical guidance, which is relevant to users, on using personal data in areas such as recruitment, monitoring, workers’ health information and employment records. This is a proposal to update and improve the guidance, not to change the law.

This is an important opportunity for you to request inclusion of subject areas, issues and scenarios which are relevant to your organisation and in relation to which you need guidance. Please complete this brief survey to provide your views. Your contribution will inform SOLT and UK Theatre’s response to the call for views.

Please could you complete the survey by close of play on Friday, 15 October 2021. If you have any queries about the survey, please email marsha@soltukt.co.uk. You can download a PDF copy of the survey here if you wish to see it before completing it online.

World Mental Health Day – Free resources to support your staff
As part of #WorldMentalHealthDay this Sunday 10 October, we want to ensure that those who work in the theatre industry are aware of the many support options available to them. 

Action: Please share this information with your permanent and freelance staff.

New Socio-Economic Diversity and Inclusion Toolkit launched
A new toolkit was launched last week to help creative industry employers adopt an inclusive approach to hiring and progressing staff from low socio-economic backgrounds. According to new research, just 23% of the music and performing arts workforce comes from a working-class background, compared with 39% of the wider UK workforce.

The Socio-economic Diversity and Inclusion: toolkit for the creative industries was developed by the Social Mobility Commission in partnership with businesses across the creative industries with the aim of widening access to the creative industries for people from working class backgrounds. It offers practical support and guidance to creative employers on how to identify and remove invisible barriers that arise at every stage of the employee journey.

Free training for Northern Irish employers
Creative & Cultural Skills and Arts Council of Northern Ireland have partnered together to create a programme of free training to help strengthen the workforce and open access to jobs. The training is tailored specifically for Northern Ireland’s cultural sector and is designed to empower employers to adopt inclusive and lawful recruitment practices to support sector growth and develop a more diverse range of talent. Training courses offered cover working with freelancers, volunteering, apprenticeships and recruitment policies. Sessions will take place online between September 2021 and March 2022. Find out more here.

Go Live Fortnight – Mousetrap Theatre Projects
As part of our #BackOnStage campaign, Mousetrap Theatre Projects’ Go Live Fortnight took place from 27 September – 9 October. The campaign has allowed 500 young people aged 15-24 to attend 10 shows, with tickets priced at £10. New theatregoers were able to benefit from the campaign, as 350 of the attendees had not been to the theatre before or had joined the Go Live scheme during the pandemic. Many thanks to the 10 shows who offered tickets at a reduced rate for the campaign.

New Year Sale / Get Into London Theatre returns – SOLT Members’ Exclusive
We are thrilled that our annual ticketing promotion will be returning with a few changes for this year.

Key dates:

  • Promotion: 1 January – 28 February 2022
  • Mastercard Priority – 23 November, 10am
  • General On sale – 7 December, 10am

Tickets for £10, £20, £30, £40, £50.

Full details of the changes and participation form can be found here. Any questions, please email richard@soltukt.co.uk.

 

 
USEFUL RESOURCES

Coronavirus Recovery Guidance

Wellbeing and mental health support for you and your staff

Jobs & careers in the sector