Television and film industry job boards have come under fire for allegedly charging jobseekers to view ads.

The Guardian reports about 120 runners – those that make tea, clean sets and more – complained that to access job ads, they had to pay hundreds of pounds to employment agencies, including one currently recruiting runners for former Top Gear presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May’s new show on Amazon Prime.

The runners claim websites such as Production Base, My First Job in TV and Film, and Film and TV Pro were charging as much as £15 a month to have access to job ads. 

The Employment Agencies Act 1973 makes it “illegal, except in specified circumstances, for an agency to charge a fee in Great Britain to someone who is looking for work”.

A Production Base representative told Recruiter its practice was not illegal as per an exemption relating to newspaper-style job ads.

Recruiter contacted the other websites involved but had not heard back by deadline. However, The Guardian reports they say their business models comply with the law, being covered by the same exemption referred to by Production Base.

A Department of Business, Innovation and Skills told Recruiter it had launched an investigation, but could not comment further.

They did say that according to the legislation, employment agencies could charge fees to people in the following occupations:

• Actor, musician, singer, dancer, background artist, extra, walk-on or other performer

• Composer, writer, artist, director, production manager, lighting cameraman, camera operator, makeup artist, clothes, hair or makeup stylist, film editor, action arranger or co-ordinator, stunt arranger, costume or production designer, recording engineer, property master, film continuity person, sound mixer, photographer, stage manager, producer, choreographer, theatre designer

• Photographic or fashion model

• Professional sports person.

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