Budgets arrive in billions. But for productions, the numbers that matter can be rather smaller: the day rate, the diesel bill and the invoice still sitting in somebody else’s accounts department. The Budget on 28 October 2026 included increased business rates relief for eligible pubs and live music venues in England from April 2027. That is welcome. Keeping venues open protects places to work, develop skills and build careers. But our industry does not stop at the venue door. Behind every event are people and businesses supplying the expertise, equipment and labour. Their long-term financial health deserves attention too, whether they work on tours, festivals, conferences or corporate events.
There are positives for individuals. Making higher tax-relief mileage rates permanent recognises the cost of using your own vehicle for business journeys. Planned parental pay for eligible self-employed fathers, partners and adopters in Great Britain from April 2029 is another welcome step.
However, a busy diary is not the same as a healthy business. A booking needs to cover more than the hours spent on site. Travel, accommodation, preparation, insurance, training, equipment, maintenance and administration all need paying for. So does the time between jobs. If you can’t recover those costs, working harder doesn’t necessarily mean you’re moving forward. Cash flow matters just as much.
From April 2029, self-assessment taxpayers who make payments on account will move to smaller, more regular payments during the tax year. The payment schedule is still to be decided. It must recognise that freelance income can be seasonal and unpredictable, rather than assuming everyone receives a steady monthly salary.
That also makes this a conversation about how we treat each other commercially. We cannot rewrite the Budget, but we can agree clear terms, confirm bookings promptly, pay invoices on time and discuss changes before asking someone to absorb them. A freelancer should not become an unofficial overdraft facility for the rest of the supply chain. For individuals, this is a useful moment to look beyond turnover. What does a job actually leave you with? Are expenses clearly agreed? Is your rate supporting the training and maintenance needed to keep delivering professionally?
Those are business questions, not an apology for charging properly. At the PSA, our membership of more than 2,500 gives us a collective voice. Our financial resources and business support help members navigate working life, alongside the experience and knowledge within our community.
We also need your evidence. Tell us where costs, payment terms or uncertainty are affecting your ability to work, employ people or invest. Specific experiences help us explain the pressures behind the headlines without pretending every member’s circumstances are the same.
Government support should help sustain the whole production community, not simply the most visible parts. Our own working practices should do the same.
Keeping the doors open matters. So does ensuring the people arriving through the loading bay can afford to keep doing the job.
This story originally appeared in TPi Magazine #296.
Words: Tom Rees and Liz Madden
