Committee Elections

In this round of elections, Equity members are electing:  

• eight industrial committees representing members working in different areas of the entertainment industry; 
• five equalities committees − Deaf and Disabled Members; LGBT+; Race Equality, Women and Young Members; 
•  three national committees representing members in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
• All 16 committees are elected by and from Equity members. Any member who qualifies can stand. 

If you’re interested in standing and would like more information, please contact Equity elections team and we can put you in touch with someone to discuss: elections@equity.org.uk. 

Committees represent and work to improve working conditions for specific parts of the union. They:  

• Play an important role in setting priorities for their area of the union’s work; 
• Provide advice and represent issues affecting their members to the Council and staff; 
• Play a role in setting policy through the Council and Equity Conference; and 
• In the case of industrial (and some national) committees, are responsible for approving collective agreements. 

Each committee has nine members elected every two years (if elected, your term will be July 2025 until July 2027). Members can only vote for the committees they are personally represented by. Every committee is supported by a committee secretary (a member of staff). 

INDUSTRIAL  

There are eight industrial committees. You may stand for one of these committees only and you must be able to demonstrate professional earnings from the relevant part of the entertainment industry covered by the committee (£750 since March 2022). All of the industrial committees have delegated authority from the Council to negotiate industrial agreements in their area of work. 

EQUALITIES 

The five equalities committees drive forward union policy and work in the interests of the members they represent. 

The Women’s Committee is an intersectional feminist space, committed to being a safe and inclusive place for all women. 

The LGBT+ Committee has three reserved seats for members who self-define as women, three reserved seats for members who self-define as men and three reserved seats for members who self-define as trans (including but not limited to transgender, non-binary, gender fluid, genderqueer and intersex). 

The Young Members Committee comprises members who are 30 or under at the close of nominations (2 May 2025). 

Evidence of work is not required to stand for an equalities committee. 

NATIONAL  

There are three national committees representing members in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. You must ordinarily be resident in the relevant nation to stand for any of these committees, and you must be able to demonstrate professional earnings from any area of work covered by Equity (£750 since March 2022). 

Rules for all committees are available on the Equity website at: Rules of the union | Equity.

• To stand for an industrial committee, you must submit evidence of professional earnings of £750 or more since March 2022 (from the part of the industry covered by the committee);
• To stand for an equalities committee, you must self-define as a member of the group represented. No evidence of professional earnings is required; 
• To stand for the Young Members Committee, you must be aged 30 or under at the close of nominations (2 May 2025); 
• To stand for a national committee, you must ordinarily reside in the nation the committee covers, and you must submit evidence of professional earnings of £750 or more since March 2022 (from any part of the industry covered by the union); 
• You must be up to date with your Equity subscription; 
• You may not stand for more than one of the eight industrial committees; 
• All members are eligible to stand in these elections (aged 18+). 

You need to be enthusiastic and ready to give your time to being an Equity committee member, but you are not expected to devote excessive amounts of time. Most committees meet five times a year and attending those meetings, if you can, is the basic commitment. But you might also want to be involved in a specific campaign, help formulate a new industrial agreement or represent the committee at Equity Conference. 

If elected, you will serve on the committee for two years. All reasonable expenses for attending meetings of the committee will be met by the union. 

You can either submit your nomination online: https://hub.ukevote.uk/equity. 

or by using our paper nomination form.

You will need to find two fellow members to propose and second you (you can no longer propose yourself for these elections and you can no longer be nominated by a branch). The members proposing and seconding you must also be qualified to stand for the same committee (e.g. if you are standing for the Audio Committee, they must also work in audio). Once you’ve completed your nomination form, you need to ask your two nominators to complete this form by the close of nominations on Friday 2 May 2025 (12 noon): https://hub.ukevote.uk/equity/supporters 

Include a photograph of yourself, an election statement of up to 150 words and evidence of professional earnings (if you’re standing for an industrial and/or national committee) by the close of nominations on Friday 2 May 2025 (12 noon). 

The ballot will open on 28 May this year and the results will be announced on 4 July (or soon after). If you are elected, your term of office will start immediately and last for two years. You will get to discuss key issues about the entertainment industry with like-minded professionals and you will have a real say in how Equity operates.  

We would strongly encourage you to apply, whether you have stood as a candidate in the past or not. Working on a committee is a great way to start life as a trade union activist, whatever your level of experience. 

Please email elections@equity.org.uk if you want more information on how the committees work. 

Monday 28 April 2025    Provisional nominations deadline. Members who have started the process by this date will be offered support to complete their nominations by the final deadline. 

Friday 2 May 2025        Final deadline. Nominations close at 12 noon.