feature
WHAT DO YOU DO TO ENSURE A WORK/LIFE BALANCE? After my youngest was born I applied and was accepted for a year long career break from UTV. This time at home was invaluable for the whole family and while I may have worried about my return to a four-day week, nine months ago, the process has been very smooth. UTV always was a very family-friendly organisation, I see this continuing now that we are part of ITV. That extra day means I can take my youngest to local playgroups, do the school run and keep in touch with teachers and school. It also allows me to give my all to work the rest of the week.
MUMS WITH POWER SINEAD HUGHES IS A TELEVISION PRODUCER AT UTV IN BELFAST. SHE IS MARRIED TO FRANCIS AND THEY HAVE THREE CHILDREN – JAMES (6), NANCY (4) AND RORY (2).
DESCRIBE YOUR JOB I am currently the Producer of UTV Life with Pamela Ballantine. My job is to find stories and decide who and what we have on the show each week. It can be as varied as a feature on activities on the North Coast, an interview with a famous actor, or a performance from local music talent. There is a great team of people and working with Pamela is a dream. She’s such a professional, making my job a lot easier. Despite a Biological Sciences degree from Queen’s, I decided to move to London to start a career in Television Production. I got my break with the BBC in Manchester where I worked as a Runner, unpaid, on a network daytime programme. That experience was a great start and helped me to make contacts in the industry. I moved to Granada in Manchester to work on programmes such as Stars In Their Eyes. Within a year I was back home in Belfast at BBC NI. I moved to UTV in 2000, and have worked on many programmes including The Kelly Show and The Troubles I’ve Seen. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF THE DAY? TV is a very exciting ever-changing environment, and I relish the start of every day. I thrive on the buzz dealing with guests and topics that feature on the show. At the end of the day, arriving home is another favourite as I know I will be greeted by my three children. Being still very young they get so excited which is amazing. We have a wonderful nanny meaning that I can concentrate on my job and not worry about home.
78 NI Chamber
HOW DOES HAVING A CHILD IMPACT YOUR PERSONAL AND WORKING LIFE? TV is tough with sometimes long, unsociable hours but ultimately it’s such a rewarding industry, I know that I’m lucky to have a TV career. I am somewhat less flexible now on working long hours or being away from home but good planning means I can still give my best to the job. I’ve had my children very close together so the past six years have been relentless! However Francis and I are slowly getting time together again, thanks to my mum who is always happy to babysit. We both realise the importance of making time for each other even with all the demands of modern day family life. ARE WORKING MUMS IN GREATER NEED OF STATE SUPPORT THAN STAY-AT-HOME MUMS? Good childcare can be very expensive and make less financial sense than staying at home. It would be life-transforming for many mums to have access to good, affordable childcare which in turn would open up a wealth of talent and experience to employers. We are lucky to have a great nanny who takes care of our children. However, it’s not easy to find someone that you are happy to care for your children. DO YOU THINK YOU WILL ALWAYS REMAIN IN EMPLOYMENT? Definitely. After a year and nine months away, I worried about not settling back to work and the children missing me. But it was unfounded - I love being back, the children love their nanny and my husband and I support each other in our careers and make everything at home work. This good work life balance means I’ll be a happy working mum.