About

SMTJ was created to help people work more flexibly in TV and film, with job‑sharing at its core

Share My Telly Job was a Community Interest Company (CIC) founded by Louise Patel in 2015. Lou was joined over the years by Nat Grant, Michelle Reynolds and Rowan Aust. We closed SMTJ in 2023.

SMTJ was created to help people work more flexibly in TV and film, with job-sharing at its core. In the years we operated, job-sharing went from being scarcely recognised as a way of working, to open to anyone. It is now understood as a huge benefit to productions in all genres. 

In 2020, SMTJ’s work and research expanded beyond workplace flexibility. Funding was secured from the Screen Industries Growth Network to develop The Time Project app. A research interface was designed to gather freelancer working hours and rates data, which revealed the toll of excessive working hours on the UK TV and Film Industry, with SIGN’s report issued in 2022.

SMTJ was recognised for building a strong community and making impactful long-lasting change within the screen industries. For this work, Lou collected the prestigious ‘Shaker of the Year’ at the Makers and Shakers Awards and the Rise ‘Influencer of the Year’ award in 2021.

The Time Project app is now led by a new team and continues to gather important industry data. You can sign up at www.thetimeproject.co.uk and follow its progress here @thetimeproject_tv.

Nat is still making TV and will always champion job-sharers and encourage flexible working in her teams.

Michelle and Rowan continue to work together at their Training and Consultancy company ReelTime Media, which offers assessment, consultancy and training to support healthy workplace culture, including how to implement practical solutions for hiring and retaining experienced, diverse talent.

We will always be incredibly proud that SMTJ helped to make changes that have supported thousands of freelancers to achieve a better work-life balance.

SMTJ’s mission statement stands: To create a modern TV and Film industry that’s fit for purpose – where talent from all backgrounds is welcomed, trusted and supported to flourish, creating content that speaks to and inspires everyone.