24.09.2019: UK Music has lined up an expert panel to discuss our keynote theme this year of #SelfieLeave at the Conservative Party at the conference in Manchester.

Our panel line-up of speakers in Manchester will be Olga FitzRoy (Coldplay & Doctor Who sound engineer), Baroness Lucy Neville-Rolfe (House Of Lords), Simon McVicker (Director of Policy, IPSE), chaired by UK Music CEO Michael Dugher.

The panel will take place on Tuesday 1 October from 1.00pm to 2.15pm at Lancaster Room, Midland Hotel, Manchester, M60 2DS.  The hotel is within the secure zone of the conference so only those with a conference pass will be admitted.

The event is focused on the challenges facing self-employed parents in the music industry. UK Music is calling on the Government to urgently update shared parental leave and pay rules to include self-employed parents in the creative industries and across the UK workforce.

At present, self-employed parents have no way of sharing parental leave in the same way as other workers. We want an end to this unfair and unjust situation that has a dramatic impact on thousands of the 72 per cent of those in the music industry, performing and visual arts who are self-employed.

Changing the rules would allow parents greater flexibility over childcare decisions, help close the gender pay gap, enable mothers to maintain successful careers and give fathers the chance to care for their children.

Refreshments will be provided.