NUJ Freelance Fees Guide: Teaching and training - All

Teaching and training

Please note that the suggested rates below are minima; that rates for copyright works are for limited licences; and that VAT is not included. See notes on negotiating rates and find a freelance.

Public educational institutions have fairly firmly set rates, linked to University and College Union negotiated rates. Rates for private colleges are more flexible, and for commercial training much more so.

Read me first! Teaching and training advice

Uploaded: 2008-05-05; if you have a printout, check the current version at www.londonfreelance.org/feesguide/training.html

Reported rates, to compare for Teaching and training

The suggested rates (know a better rate? tell us!)
For full definitions of the categories, click on their names

NUJ members discuss rates etc for teaching and training

See: University and College Union (merged AUT/NATFHE)

RATES: Commercial
Commercial training in media skills shades into the "consultancy" area where an important question is "how badly do they need this?" and those who have attained fame as trainers can name their own price. Technical training is a more sedate market...
Courses in how to handle TV - large clients: per day		2500
Training Vice Chancellor to do TV interviews: per day		1500
Courses in how to handle TV: per day		1200
Technology training (eg Photoshop): per day		500
Teaching university or charity staff to write simple press releases, etc - per hour		40

Notes:

Fees should reflect the number of people being trained at once and the level of expertise required.
One trainer says that three or maybe four is the maximum number that can be effectively trained in one half-day session, but the rate does not have to reflect whether 2, 3 or 4 turn up.
Freelance trainers and teachers always need to check carefully how much time they will be expected to put in for their money.
The rate for a half-day rate should be more than half the full day rate, as the trainer still need to travel to the venue, set-up and prepare, and so on - something like £700 for a half-day where the day rate would have been £1200.
Some trainers offer discounts to non-commercial outfits for training on their premises and with their computeres and software.

RATES: Universities and colleges
Public sector colleges and universities often have fairly firmly set hourly rates, linked to University and College Union negotiated rates. Negotiation in practice is over how many hours freelance teachers are paid for: see the notes below.
Per day for prestigious private colleges/courses		500
Per day for private colleges/courses		250
Per classroom hour in private colleges		50
Per classroom hour in universities		35
Per classroom hour in further ed etc		30

Notes:

Public sector colleges and universities often expect teachers to carry out preparation and marking as part of the deal - so a "teaching hour" can take up considerably more than 60 minutes.
Freelance teachers need to check carefully how much time they will be expected to put in for their money.
Exam boards, student support and guidance should definitely be paid for as extra hours.
It is possible to negotiate extra hours for preparation - but only if agreed in advance.
Public sector colleges often insist that they must deduct Income Tax at source - but it is possible to persuade them to treat freelances as self-employed.
It may be harder to persuade public sector colleges not to deduct National Insurance at source.
Privately-run colleges are more flexible both on hours and deductions.

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Code of practice for commissioning journalists

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The National Union of Journalists must not, can not and would not wish to dictate rates or terms of engagement to members or to editors. The information presented here is for guidance and as an aid to equitable negotiation only.

Suggestions apply to contracts governed by UK law only. In any event, nothing here should be construed as legal advice.