Deeds Not Words 2025 was dedicated to developing a Policy Design Guide: a practical tool for improving women’s equity in film and TV.  The DNW Guide gives you six short, practical questions to ask yourself when writing or reviewing policies, interventions and action plans.

• Deeds Not Words Policy Design Guide

• Deeds Not Words Policy Design Guide – text only

Launching our DNW Guide

Ten industry leaders worked with Design Otherwise to translate the latest ‘what works?’ research into six questions. On 17 June 2025, we welcomed them to the University of Glasgow to launch the DNW Guide. In her keynote speech, talent Agent and BAFTA Chair Sara Putt said: “With others I am calling for a renewed focus on women's equality in the film and TV industries. Even with some significant gains and enormous effort, overall progress is slow. Now, the global economic and political environment is putting fragile progress in jeopardy. Concerted action on women's equity is needed now as much as it ever was.”

Sara Putt (Talent Agent and BAFTA Chair)

Sara was joined on stage by Amy Shaw (Bectu Vision), Jane Muirhead (MD Raise the Roof Productions and Chair of Pact) and Design Otherwise’s Professor Doris Ruth Eikhof, who had co-led the research behind the guide. TV broadcaster Laura Maciver led the panel and audience through an insightful discussion. Jane Muirhead acknowledged that with so many pressures facing the industry just now, “it can be hard to keep the focus on creating a fairer, better, working environment.” Which is why to her, it is important to “come together and talk about what we need, and what our companies need to foster creativity."

 For Scotland-based training provider, Bectu Vision, more equitable workplaces are high on the agenda. Their Co-Director Amy Shaw shared insights on how the women they spoke to see the trade-off between working hours and salaries. Philippa Childs, Head of Bectu, and part of the DNW 2025 industry expert group, explained the background: “Bectu’s research consistently shows that women consider leaving the film and TV industry at a higher rate than men, often driven out by inadequate support and an unwillingness from many parts of the industry to embrace things like flexible working and job sharing.” She is hopeful though: “Another way is possible, and the DNW Guide shows it.”

L-R: Laura Maciver, Amy Shaw, Sara Putt, Doris Ruth Eikhof, Jane Muirhead

Making it real

A powerful real-life demonstrating of women’s working lives came from Miranda Wayland, CEO of Creative Diversity Network. Miranda was meant to join us on the panel but hours before her flight her partner took ill. So she sent a video message, recorded in her car in the hospital car park. Miranda’s account of that night’s experience trying to balance work and life as a Black, disabled woman hit home with everyone: We need to remove the barriers faced by different women, especially women who face multiple forms of exclusion.

 So get in on with making that change. Download your free copies of the DNW Policy Design Guide here

Research meets industry expertise

The Deeds Not Words Guide launched on 17 June 2025 at the University of Glasgow with keynotes from talent agent and BAFTA Chair, Sara Putt and Professor Doris Ruth Eikhof.

The event was chaired by TV broadcaster Laura Maciver (in a personal capacity), with a welcome from Professor Chris Pearce, Vice-Principal Research & Knowledge Exchange, University of Glasgow. A panel discussion including Sara Putt, Miranda Wayland (CEO Creative Diversity Network), Glasgow based Amy Shaw (Bectu Vision) and Jane Muirhead, MD Raise the Roof Productions and Chair of Pact.

 The DNW Guide was co-developed by Katie Bailiff (CEO, Women in Film & Television), Philippa Childs (Head of Bectu), Pete Johnson (CEO, British Screen Forum), Laura Mansfield (CEO, ScreenSkills), Anjani Patel (Head of Inclusion & Diversity, Pact), Sara Putt (Talent Agent and BAFTA Chair), Jen Smith (CEO, CIISA), Su-Mei Thompson (CEO, Media Trust),

Miranda Wayland (CEO, CDN), Sara Whybrew (Director of Skills & Workforce Development, BFI) and Doris Ruth Eikhof, Helen Shreeve and Georgia Hewson. It is based on policy analyses led by Doris Ruth Eikhof, Kevin Guyan and Amanda Coles and undertaken for the GEP Analysis Project.