As part of Inspiring Women Week, The Careers and Employability Service were thrilled to welcome Beth Matthews from ITV Studios to talk about her role as an Access Coordinator on International Women’s Day 2024 (8th March 2024).
Last Week The University of Kent’s Careers and Employability Service run a range of events focused on the topic of Inspiring Women. Inspiring Women Week ran from the 4th – 8th March and coincided with International Women’s Day on the 8th March, and featured external speakers from a range of industries.
We were thrilled that one of those speakers was Kent Alum, Beth Matthews. Beth studied Film Studies BA Hons from 2015 – 2018 at The School of Arts on Kent’s Canterbury Campus. During her time at University Beth embraced all that University life had to offer. Whilst studying on her course, she enhanced her skills via various co-curricular activities. As well as working a part-time job in the hospitality sector, Beth took part in student societies. She volunteered with Student Media groups, KTV and CSR, producing student film, TV and radio projects. As well as running her own radio show with one of her best friends, she progressed on to be KTV’s Drama Coordinator in her second year and then Station Manager (the society’s president) in her third year.
Under her leadership not only did her society (KTV) win national awards for its Station Marketing 2018 (First Place) and Best Entertainment Show 2018 (Highly Commended) at the National Student Television Awards, she gained several personal awards including Best Newcomer 2015 and Most Dedicated 2018 at the Student Media KIC awards.
Beth was truly destined to be in the creative industries, although, as she delved into on Friday, it wasn’t an easy ride. Beth has forged her path within television through determination, developing a valuable network and taking every opportunity she could.
Upon graduating Beth told our students about how she continued to financially support herself by returning to the hospitality sector as a waitress. Alongside this, she took every opportunity she could to further her career. One of her first steps into the industry was at Big Talk Productions an Office Runner, she also took part in several short film projects at this time.
Beth progressed onto a full time role at a voiceover agency in London but, after being furloughed on a part-time basis during the Coronavirus Pandemic, she began to think about where she wanted her career to progress to next. It was at this time that Beth was diagnosed with her chronic illness, Fibromyalgia, something which she is very open about. Being diagnosed with a disability brought new challenges and Beth found herself searching for new ways to adapt not just in her career, but her life in general.
Ever determined, Beth pushed out into the television industry as a freelancer, returning to hospitality as she did so, taking the role of a hostess. In her talk on Friday she described how her first experiences within freelancing were far from plain sailing. Her roles during this time included running on set, location marshalling and assistant directing. Although she adored these roles, and succeeded within them, she often found herself battling between the needs of her disability and her career desires.
Reflecting upon this time now, Beth told students that it wasn’t that she wasn’t right for the industry, but that the environment on set was not accommodating her accessibility requirements. Something which is a long standing issue for individuals who freelance within the creative fields. She also said that her network was not strong enough in the beginning of her freelance career and, looking back, she would have advise anyone in her position to have a solid base of contacts before making the freelance world their sole base of income.
Beth still did not give up, feeling that something more office based would be best for her access requirements, she kept going and eventually succeed in the recruitment process for a role as an Office Runner with New Pictures, an independent production company specialising in drama for the UK and international market. Their projects include Champion (BBC and Netflix), Des (ITV) and The Spanish Princess (Starz). It was this role that sparked an exciting new chapter in Beth’s Career.
New Pictures takes on an Office Runner every year with the aim of giving them a kick start into the Television Industry. The Runner not only supports the office in it’s day to day operations, but has the benefit of the company neutering their professional development. Beth found her time at New Pictures to be incredibly fulfilling as it allowed her to discover new pathways for herself. Not only did her role give her great insight into the running of a professional production company, she also was given the space to start exploring accessibility within the industry. It was ultimately the company’s support of her taking a ScreenSkills Access Coordinator Course which catapulted her into her next step.
The course was the first to run of its kind, therefore Beth is one of the first Access Coordinators to ever be trained in the industry. An Access Coordinator’s role is to oversee and facilitate inclusion, access and adjustments for the cast and crew working in the Film, TV and Creative industries. They advocate and solve issues by working with individuals and Heads of Production to remove barriers that have existed through unconscious bias some can hold and a lack of knowledge regarding disabilities, D(d)eafness and/or neurodiversity. It was like this role had been waiting for individuals like Beth, who had seen first hand what an inaccessible set can mean for cast and crew, to take on.
When Beth’s year in her role at New Pictures came to an end, she found herself in a different position to where she began. Her year of taking opportunities to network with others and her commitment to enhancing her skills, resulted in her being ready for the freelance world once again. Reflecting upon this Beth told the group that if she had not made the most out of her time at New Pictures, had not asked for opportunities to shadow and connect with prominent individuals in her industry or to go on specific courses, it would have been a different story for her. Making the most of the opportunity she had at that time, allowed her to gain the contacts and knowledge she needed to move forward.
Her second freelance stage of her career was challenging yet rewarding. She secured roles as Access Coordinator with several production projects including Love My Face with Flabbergast/Chennel Four, Battery, A short film with Film104/Film4, Rosie Jones’ Comedy Show with Phil McIntyre Live/UKTV, and Bring The Drama with Wall To Wall Productions/BBC. Alongside this, Beth still took on roles as a Production Assistant, Floor Runner and Location Marshall at various production houses.
Finally, Beth’s current role was placed on the job market and it was an extremely exciting opportunity which she knew she had to go for! ITV Studios (Drama) announced their were going to be the first company in history to hire a permanent, in house, Access Coordinator. It was like everything Beth had been working for had resulted in her being right to take a shot at this opportunity, and she was successful. This makes Beth the first ever in house Access Coordinator in the UK.
Beth’s day to day consists of using her voice to open doors for those with access requirements and further the progression of inclusion within the television industry. She works with production teams to make projects a safe and welcoming place for cast and crew. Her soft skills of multi-tasking, logical planning and communication are in constant use. She has forge connections with a large variety of stakeholders, from producers to cast members, and ensure that needs are met and unconscious biases tackled. Not only does she work on productions but she’s been invited to present at conferences and networking events to further the mission of accessibility for disabled, D(d)eaf and/or neurodivergent talent.
Beth’s story is a prime example of how your career path can develop over time when you graduate from university. An opportunity you end up taking may not even exist as a role when you leave university as industries are forever changing and evolving. Beth said within her talk that her soft skills where of key importance in her career, and still are. Her experiences at Kent started the development of these skills and she has continued to professionally develop them as her career progresses.
In her final reflections after her talk Beth said:
Entering the TV and film industry is harder than I think education can ever make it seem – if you are considering going freelance as someone with a disability, someone from a lower socio-economic background or as someone with any form of employability barriers, your network is going to be the most valuable tool. There are amazing groups on Facebook, resources online like Screenskills, Triple C, Deaf and Disabled People in TV that are free, who can give you advice and help you build your connections before you take that dive. If you are passionate about accessibility in TV then come do the best job in the world – access coordination
Start building your soft skills and connections now:
If you have been inspired by Beth’s story and advice here are some things you can do while you are still at Kent to enhance your employability:
Have a look at our latest Study Plus courses which enable you to enhance your skills and employability prospects. Learn how to network, develop your own personal brand and even take our Destination Success Bootcamp on the 17th – 19th May 2024, an opportunity which will enable you to become a stand out graduate by enhancing your professional development and career confidence.
All Study Plus courses are complementary for University of Kent Students and Graduates.
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Resources Beth used on her career journey:
ScreenSkills works to develop skills and talent, investing in the future of the UK Screen Industries.
TripleC is a key gateway organisation for D(d)eaf, disabled, and/or neurodivergent people’s access to the arts and media.
Deaf and Disabled People in TV
DDPTV is a disabled-led organisation dedicated to elevating off-screen Deaf, Disabled and/or Neurodivergent talent within the TV industry.
If you are a student with a disability or access requirements and you need someone to reach out to whilst at University please contact Student Support and Wellbeing. The Careers and Employability Service are also here to help you with your career development and our Empower team are on hand to assist you in your career journey.