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RATES & JOB DESCRIPTIONS
The latest Rate Cards and job descriptions for all Set Decoration roles.
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Rate Calculator 2024-25
Use our quick tool to look up BECTU rate card rates, or browse the full rate cards below
What are the minimum and 3+ year minimum rates?
Minimum - Refers to 1-2 years experience at that grade. No one should accept less when accepting the responsibility that comes with
that grade. These are the base rates. They are based on the minimum rates crew members have been paid in these roles over the last year,
adjusted for inflation.
Recommended Minimum - Refers to 3+ years experience at that grade.
These are guide rates for anyone who has at least 3 years of experience in that role. Crew members should negotiate upwards of these rates
according to their skill level and experience.
What are the working hours per day?
This depends which contract you are working under. For features over £30m, your contract will be based on the PACT-BECTU MMP agreement, in which
the contracted hours are 11+1 (11 hours work and 1 hour for lunch) for off set crew.
For TV Drama Productions following the PACT - BECTU TV Drama Agreement, hours are 10+1. However, you could also be scheduled on a Semi-continuous
working day (SCWD: 9.5 + 30) or a Continuous working day (CWD: 9) if agreed between your HoD and production.
Productions that do not follow either of these agreements are free to negotiate their own terms with crew members. Nevertheless, it is widely agreed that
the Art Department is a self scheduling department and traditionally works 9+1 for the rates on the rate card.
What do I charge for Box Rental?
The BECTU Art Department committee have provided a guide for minimum box rentals / allowances that crew should claim. This should be dependant on the value of your kit, and many
members do claim higher rates. Please note that ‘computer allowance’ is for a basic laptop / desktop. If you have computer equipment of high value, you
should claim ‘Specialist Kit Rental’ at a higher rate.
How have these rates been calculated?
Each year, the Bectu Art Department Branch holds a rates survey and collect results from approximately 1000 respondents.
The Bectu Art Department Committee then take the rates from the previous rate card and apply a percentage that is reflective of the increase adopted by
comparable departments and that also accounts for inflation in the last 12 months. For 2024-2025, we have increased the rates by 4.95%, in line with the
construction department agreed increase with PACT.
The new rates for each role are then carefully considered, across all bands, and also compared with the survey data.
Over the last few years, some grades have been given an additional increase / decrease in order to match their rates with job roles of similar
responsibilities in both the Art Department and other departments. Please see the parity chart on the rate card download available on the Bectu Art Department Website.
What about Prep and Wrap?
Art Department, Set Decoration and Graphics
do not do ‘Prep and Wrap’ (Unpaid hours at the
beginning and end of the day.) The Art
Department is not listed as a prep and wrap
department on the MMP Agreement or the TV Drama
Agreement.
What about Art Department, Graphics and Low budget rates?
Art Department rates can be found on the BECTU Rate Card download page or on the Filmbase Art Department rates page.
Graphics rates are on the BECTU Rate Card download page, or are listed on the Graphics Union website.
The BECTU Art Department Committee also publish a low budget rates action plan here.
What are the bands?
The bands that you see on the rate card are dictated by the Bectu - PACT TV and Film agreements. The film agreement is called the Major Motion Picture
(MMP) Agreement and is for films with budgets over £30 million. There are currently no agreements for films under £30 million, however, the Bectu Art
Department committee have identified 3 other commonly used terms used to refer to films of particularly budgets. Rates have been grouped into these
bands: Motion Picture (5M- 30M), Feature Film (1M - 5M) and Low Budget (<1M).
The Bectu-PACT TV agreement specifies 4 budget bands and these have been used on the rate card to group rates.
Where can I download the full rate cards?
The rate cards are the work of the Bectu Art Department Branch Committee and are listed below. They can also be downloaded from the
Bectu Art Department Website
If you have any questions about these rates, you can contact the committee at info@bectuartdepartment.co.uk
What about Holiday Pay??
These rates are inclusive of holiday pay at 12.07%. PAYE and Self employed crew members will be paid holiday pay at the end of the contract.
Crew members who are LTD will not have holiday pay separated out.
The Bectu Art Department is currently questioning the legality of holiday pay being paid at the end of a contract.
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Bectu Set Decoration Rate Cards 2024-25 ▲
As issued by the BECTU Art Department Branch
Film Rate Card
TV Rate Card
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Box Rental Rate Card
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Set Decorator
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Negot.
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10
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150
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-
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Senior Production Buyer
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25-30
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10
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150
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-
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Production Buyer
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25-30
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10
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150
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-
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Action Prop Buyer
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25-30
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10
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150
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-
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Location Set Decorator
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25-30
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10
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150
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-
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Senior Assistant Set Decorator
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25-30
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10
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150
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-
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Assistant Set Decorator
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25-30
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10
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150
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-
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Junior Assistant Set Decorator
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25-30
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10
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150
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- |
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Set Dec Buyer / Assistant Buyer
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25-30
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10
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150
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-
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Petty Cash Buyer
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25-30
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10 |
150
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-
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Set Dec Coordinator
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25-30
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10
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-
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-
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Set Dec Assistant
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25-30
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10
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150
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negot. |
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Set Dec Trainee
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25-30
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10
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150
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-
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Set Decoration - Job Descriptions ▲
These job descriptions have been written by the Bectu Art Department Committee.They are written with productions in Band 3 (£30M+) in mind. A separate document will follow for productions in the other budget bands. Please note, some of these roles are fluid and may vary in their placement within the hierarchy presented.
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Duties to include:
- Working alongside Production Designer and Director to create the visual language of the film
- General HoD responsibilities
- Script breakdown
- Research and source
- Budget supervision and allocation
- Selection of crew
- First point of contact for other departments
- Brief and supervise all works of all departments that work for Set Decoration including Props Dept, Drapes, Model makers, Set Dec Art Directors, Graphics and more
- Liaising with production, accounts, locations and other departments
- Brief and supervise external contractors and specialists
- Dress sets
- Involvement in product placement and clearance issues
- Creation of mood boards for presentation to Designer & Director
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Duties to include:
- Creates and manages budget with the Set Decorator
- Supports and guides the spend of the department
- Is the negotiator for the department
- Does financial forecasts and weekly budget reports
- Liaises with the prop department for collections/ returns and dressing schedules
- Liaising with production, accounts, locations and other departments Involvement in product placement and clearance issues
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Duties to include:
- Creates and manages budget with the Set Decorator
- Supports and guides the spend of the department
- Is the negotiator for the department
- Does financial forecasts and weekly budget reports
- Liaises with the prop department for collections/ returns and dressing schedules
- Inputting data into financial spreadsheets for all expenditure
- Completing purchase/hire orders and other paperwork
- Sourcing/ Research
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Duties to include:
- Acting as HOD of that location for Set Decoration
- Liaising with all other departments as main contact
- Liaising with external contractors and specialists
- Script breakdown
- Recceing locations
- Leading a team of locals and crew from the UK
- Research and source
- Oversee all works from various departments
- Dressing locations
- May run the budget for the UK buyer in their absence
- Creation of mood boards for presentation to Designer & Director
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| Senior/ Lead or Key Assistant Set Decorator |
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Duties to include:
- Liaising with all other departments as main contact alongside the Set Decorator
- Assists the Set Decorator with the organising and running of the department and the visual language of the project
- Script breakdown
- Research and source all props and furniture
- Sourcing, briefing & overseeing suppliers and external fabricators
- Oversee and manage the works needed for their own sets
- Dressing sets
- Good knowledge of period furniture, design & architecture styles and textiles
- Involvement in product placement and clearance issues
- Help run Set Dec Dept. Assisting in selection & overseeing other members of the dept.
- Creation of mood boards for presentation to Designer & Director
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Duties to include:
- Assists the Set Decorator with the visual language of the project
- Script breakdown
- Research and source all props and furniture
- Sourcing, briefing and overseeing suppliers and external fabricators
- Oversee and manage the work needed for their own sets or aid with other sets.
- Dressing sets
- Knowledge of period furniture, design, architectural styles and textiles
- Creation of mood boards for presentation to the Designer and Director.
- Involvement of product placement and clearance issues
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Set Decoration Co-ordinator
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Duties to include:
- The day to day running of the department
- Schedule meetings
- Arrange Travel
- Inform the department on schedule and script changes
- Manage labour flow for the department
- Help liaise with clearance and legal for the department
- Fill in the daily work forms
- Organise the drawings, input orders, file paperwork
- Order the stationary and set up the office
- Organise the archiving at the end of the shoot
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Duties to include:
- Script breakdown specifically for action props
- Sourcing, briefing and overseeing suppliers and external fabricators for key props
- Presenting to the Set Decorator and Director for approval
- Communication and servicing the stand-by art department for set requests
- Buying consumables
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Duties to include:
- Support to the production buyer
- Assist with the paperwork / hiring / sourcing
- Coordinate online purchase deliveries
- Support the Set Decoration team in sourcing smaller parts of sets such as door furniture or some key props
- Support the standbys on set during the shoot
- Cash handling and reconciliation
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Duties to include:
- Support to the the above roles either sourcing or in the office with admin
- Getting in samples
- Contacting suppliers
- Buying consumables
- Assistance in couriering or sourcing items for set requests
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Duties to include:
- Taking care of the department’s daily needs and requirements
- Assist the co-ordinator in their role and duties
- Help distribute paperwork, filing, photocopying
- Research
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| Set Decorating Runner / Trainee |
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Duties to include:
- Taking care of the department’s daily needs and requirements
- Assist the co-ordinator in their role and duties
- Help distribute paperwork, filing, photocopying
- Collection of props or graphics when needed
- Assist in the presentations to other departments under direct supervision
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Additional roles to be added to future rate cards:
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Duties to include:
- Design and manufacture of drapes items for window dressing / upholstery / carpets / runners and tents etc.
- Has control over the execution of tasks within their department and manages department accordingly.
- Breaks down the script and identifies fabric makes.
- Works under the direction of the Set Decorator and follows briefs from Set Decoration department.
- Can refurbish interiors or cars / trains / planes / carriages.
- Employs their own teams
- Skilled dressing of sets with their makes
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Duties to include:
- Works under the supervision of the Drapesmaster .
- May break down scripts under the supervision of the Drapesmaster
- Assists the Drapesmaster with the creation of fabric related makes.
- Carries out dressing of sets with their makes for window dressing / upholstery / carpets / runners and tents etc.
- Can refurbish interiors or cars / trains / planes / carriages.
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