Liz Hardwick - how persistence, passion and determination brought success in her media career
My media career began in 2000, with an entry level position at a media centre in Blackburn, while I studied a BTEC National Diploma in Moving Image and Audio; later graduating with a BSc(Hons) degree in Media Production and Technology from UCLAN.
Having enjoyed working on a variety of TV and Video projects for a wide client base, ranging from charities like Barnardo’s to international companies like Rolls Royce plc, I craved for a new challenge, so I took a job that would move me into a completely different part of the sector. In 2005 I took a job in radio broadcasting as a Station Manager/Technician for a participatory arts organisation; this was at the point that audio had very much gone digital but video was still very much on SD quality and tape.
Six years on, interested in moving back into the TV/Visual sector I realised that even though I had still been working in the media sector, that audio and visual industries are very much separate, even for broadcasting. I found technologies had moved on dramatically and that my skills were now lower than a newly graduated student, but I had the determination to up-skill and return. I started by signing up to all the free trade magazines I could find, to try and fill the skills gap that had emerged. This was a balance of being overwhelmed by how much technology had moved on with HD broadcasting, and the eagerness to learn more and get hands on with the technology.
I’ve always been the type of person to grab an opportunity when it appears. As part of a project called WISEAMP (Women in Sound Engineering and Music Production) I took my first exams to certify as an Avid Pro Tools HD Operator, later qualifying at the same time as completing an Audio Post Production for TV and Video Industry course in 2010. This brought me up-to-date and bridged my radio/audio and video/TV areas together.
The next hurdle was finding a job that suited me – interesting, different, technical and without too much of a pay drop from my existing role. I still haven’t found what I’m looking for, but that also has something to do with having the luxury of enjoying my current role.
In July 2011 I signed up as a self-employed sole trader with the HMRC as www.lizhardwick.co.uk and started running training sessions and producing online, broadcast and community media. For me, this was a way of getting back to my roots in filming and post-production and I’m really enjoying now working in both audio and visual sectors and teaching others what I know.
The catalyst to kick-starting my new career path, was in July 2010 when I attended “The Manchester Girl Geeks Tea Party” at Barcamp Blackpool 2010. From there my life and career has totally snowballed. Sam Bail the trainer for the Tea Party, asked me if I would be interested in supporting the group. Within months, I was helping promote and run workshops in Manchester for women in STEM as the Communications Officer, later being elected as Secretary. Joining a predominantly female group like this helps you network, gain geeky know-how and communication skills in a non-judgemental environment.
Following on from that with a new found confidence, I started attending GeekUps, UKRC, and Women In Technology events, as well as sitting on the board for www.lanarts.org as Web Team Co-ordinator and PR and Events Co-ordinator and attending events as a Social Media surgeon and speaker.
Having had such an amazing experience I felt I had to extend this opportunity to the ladies of Lancashire too. In May 2011 I founded www.plug-in-lancashire.co.uk to provide workshop based sessions to support creative learning, professional development and most importantly networking in a relaxed environment.
My top tips for those who are planning on going freelance or setting up your own business:
* Get yourself a good website, make sure it’s your “shop window”, and update it regularly with what you’re working on.
* Make sure you are on all social networks and utilise the free email newsletters and job alerts.
* Brand yourself correctly, be clear on what you want to be and sell.
* Remember if you are freelance, people are buying YOU, so be nice, remember your clients, and always be helpful.
* Attend the right events and networks relevant to you, this is the best way of getting to know about jobs, as people get to know you and what you can do. However, don’t just join a group for the sake of it, and don’t pay out any money unless you think it will truly bring you work/clients.
* Offer to talk at events and volunteer your services and skills where it’s truly needed e.g. Charities or VCFS NPOs.
* Join a relevant union – media and entertainment sector union, BECTU, highly supports freelancers. You don’t understand how useful they are, until you need them the most, especially with non-paying clients.
* Don’t be put off by the complicated process of registering as self-employed, I found it very confusing, so to help others I posted this blog - http://www.lizhardwick.co.uk/howtoselfemployed
* Make sure you get everything in writing, and be clear on payment processes and schedules.
Liz Hardwick will be participating in our Inspiring Women's Enterprise in TV workshop on Friday 10 February at The Greenhouse, MediaCityUK, Salford.
Click here for more information for how to sign up for this workshop
The Inspiring Women's Enterprise in TV workshops are funded by Skillset TV Skills Fund
Comments
Chris:
Love this article, it gives me the motivation to do something with my career and hopefully become self employed to!
Liz Hardwick:
Hi Chris,
Thanks so much for your comments, and being the first one!
I'd love to think that if people see I can do it, others can get the inspiration to take a step further towards their goals too, or even just setting some goals. It's hard work, but some things can be done in your spare time, to move your career forward, even a few hours a month to start with.
I wish you the best of luck with your career!
Ruth Wilson:
Hi Liz,
Like Chris I found your blog really inspiring. Great to hear the Girl Geeks gave you a helping hand.
I ran a company for 11 years and loved it - now I am working for the UKRC and very aware of how important communication skills are for everyone, not just communications specialists. I think you are spot on about siezing opportunities - what is the best thing that has happened through this approach?
If anyone here is in TV and within reach of Salford, I hope they look into 10 February workshop, I am sure it will be a great day.
Liz Hardwick:
Thanks for your comments Ruth, Girl Geeks Rule! :)
Seizing opportunities can be a big way of getting more work, and making long-term connections with people you know, who then can become clients. I find the greatest thing to getting great work from great people, is doing some things for free, this can be charities who need it the most, or speaking at a group you regularly attend. If you are the person in the forefront of someone’s mind when they think “we need someone who’s great, to do x” you want the reaction to be “well I know [insert your name] they are a really great person and ran this talk about something really interesting, they said they do x, y, z, we should get in touch with them” that’s converted your free things into potential work. After this there needs to be a call-to-action that means it’s easy to get hold of you, so making sure when they Google your name you’re the first in the list, or at least that they have a business card of yours – or in some instances, I’ve been contacted on twitter by people wanting to meet up to talk further about projects, so making sure they can then get hold of you, when they need you is key!
Then you leave the rest for further conversations to sell yourself and your skills. But at least then, you have the proverbial foot in the door.
Vanessa Boon, Energise:
Hi Liz,
Thanks for sharing your story!
It was great to meet you at the UKRC workshops I facilitated and it's been wonderful to follow your progress since then. You've really taken on board all the tips and techniques and it's great to see you encouraging and supporting others. Your story will give other women lots of ideas and inspiration. Really looking forward to hearing your talk at the workshop I am co-facilitating in Salford on 10th February - it's going to be a really uplifting, practical and supportive day for women in TV - and as you and I both know, helping people to enjoy the freedom of being your own boss is just great!
Fiona McPhail, McPhail Watmore Associate:
Hi Liz,
I echo Vanessa's comments, there is some really useful and practical advice here. Entering the world of the freelancer can be daunting...but also great fun and hugely rewarding! I look forward to meeting you at the workshop which I am facilitating with Vanessa in February. A chance to say to others ' come on in, the water's lovely!'
Rebecca Smith:
Hi Liz,
Really enjoyed the above and I am looking forward to attending the work shop in Salford. I worked in London throughout my twenties as a freelance archive producer (TV production for indies such as Shine, Endemol, Objective etc.) but since relocating back up North I have found archive work slim on the ground. I've also had a baby and hence a little career break so I am hoping that the work shop will help me assess the skills I have and how they can be applied to other roles in production (and most importantly how to convince others of that!).
Looking forward to meeting you and other inspiring minds!
Liz Hardwick:
Vanessa,
It's thanks to you and your workshops you ran for the UKRC back in 2009 that ignited the spark in me, to do more and seek the career I wanted. Great to hear that the same sort of advice will be given at the event in Feb for the ladies in TV/media, as it definitely worked for me, not only as inspiration but also the kick-start I needed to think seriously about moving my career forward.
I also think that ladies in the TV/media sector can sometimes feel they don't fit into the STEM sectors, but there is still so much that links the two!
Any lady that attends your workshops, will hopefully get as much out of it as I have, and I look forward to catching up with you!
Liz Hardwick:
Fiona,
Many thanks for your comments. I've always tried to be a person that helps others, and I thought, why not help people out, so they don't have to struggle so much, feeling they're on their own when going self-employed. I even put together a list of links on my website to hopefully aid others in future. http://www.lizhardwick.co.uk/howtoselfemployed
I hope more people consider going freelance, especially if they are trying to get a job in the TV sector as there are now very few contract jobs around.
Looking forward to meeting you at Media City!
Liz Hardwick:
Rebecca,
I think this type of event is perfect for ladies like you. It's a day to spend dedicated to you (and you alone for once), your career and networking with people who are understanding of your position and happy to try and help. It's events like this and others I mention in the blog that are an amazing and supportive surrounding to find out what to do next, and how to sell those very important 'transferable skills' you know you have!
Look forward to seeing you at the event, hope you get a lot from it.
Anne-Louise Charlton:
Hi everyone - really looking forward to the event and great it's being held at MediaCityUK!
I've just set up a MediaCityUK Freelancers Network if anyone wants to join, here's the link http://www.linkedin.com/groups/MediaCityUK-Freelancers-Network-4277325?homeNewMember=&gid=4277325&trk=eml-grp-sub&ut=0py3bLIdWwJ541
See you next Friday.
Liz Hardwick:
Yesterday's Inspiring Women's Enterprise in TV workshop was amazing, inspiring and a bit scary.
There was lots of interesting, useful and industry specific information throughout the day, and was a fantastic opportunity to network with other ladies who were at varying stages in their career within the TV industry.
I was very honoured to have been asked to speak about my career progression so far, having gone through previous UKRC workshops and recently becoming self-employed.
I normally feel happy to talk to people in a large group, and even train and facilitate workshops, however for some reason, this time, talking to a room full of powerful and strong women actually made me feel quite scared. As Fiona had said on the day, it’s because I’m talking about me, rather than something I know about.
I don’t normally talk about me, I normally think people won’t be interested. I normally gloss-over what I do in intros to workshops, so this was very different for me. It’s something now I’d done I’ve learnt from and would do differently next time. But being given the opportunity again, I would still do it, as hopefully it has given at least one lady there an idea, a website link, or a bit of positive oomph!
Even if one little action happens for someone out of me talking on the day, it was worth it!
I’ll be doing an evaluation and uploading the talk as a podcast to my website soon, so keep your eyes on www.lizhardwick.co.uk and good luck to you all, whatever it is you want to do next!
Liz
Vanessa:
Hi Liz,
Thanks for your excellent talk at the event last week - it's great to see someone generously sharing their journey - what's worked well, useful resources and what's been challenging; it was a really honest, authentic and uplifting talk and your input in the group discussions throughout the day were really insightful, encouraging and helpful to others.
As you say it's always harder to talk about yourself than your specialism but I thought you did great and I spotted lots of people making a note of those top tips and recommended networking groups! I really enjoyed facilitating at this workshop - what a fantastic group of talented women!
Looking forward to following your progress as you continue to develop your business! Vanessa
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