Film crew hire/Oxford/Runner
Hire a runner in Oxford. A runner does the errands and carries the kit, so the rest of the crew can do their jobs.
People book a runner in Oxford for college halls, labs at the Science Park and Harwell, and shoots on the street. They run the errands, carry the kit, meet the vans and keep the unit base going, so everyone else can do their job. Our runner day rate is £245, the full APA/Bectu card rate, and the runner gets all of it.
- 54 five-star Google reviews
- 2 hrs for our team to read your brief, in working hours
- £10m employers’ liability on every crew member we book
- 2,800+ freelance crew on our books, across the UK
Photos: Omotayo Kofoworola, patsanannnn, Jakob Owens, sippakorn yamkasikorn and Sidharth Bhatia
The role
What a runner does on your shoot
A runner does whatever the shoot needs next. That means fetching, carrying, holding doors, minding the parking bays, making tea or collecting a forgotten cable. It’s the first job on a crew, and a good runner makes the whole day calmer.
Production runners work to the producer or production manager. Floor runners work to the ADs on set. On a small shoot one runner does both. We book a runner who lives in or near Oxford first. If nobody local is free, or the shoot needs more people, we bring crew from London. We add the travel to the quote before anything is booked.
- The runner does the errands fast. They go to the shop, the kit house or the courier, and they’re back before anyone notices.
- The runner carries and minds the kit. They take it up the front steps or across a college quad, and never leave it alone on the pavement.
- The runner keeps the base going. They look after the tea, water, snacks and bins all day.
- Runners are paid properly. We pay the full APA/Bectu card rate for a runner, £245 a day, every time.
What’s included
What the day rate covers
In the day rate
- An 11-hour day, including an hour for lunch
- Runs to shops, kit houses and couriers
- Loading in and out
- Running the unit base, with water, tea and snacks
- Meeting the vans and minding where they park
- Keeping the pavement clear, with the AD or producer
On top, each on its own line
- Our 10% booking fee and 2% insurance, on the whole quote
- Mileage, if they use their own car
- Parking and any Zero Emission Zone charge, at cost
- Travel from London or outside Oxford, at cost
Read how our rates work and the two ways to book in crew rates in Oxford.
Two ways to book
Crew hire or full production
The price depends on who is the producer of record. That’s the company responsible for the shoot. You can book a runner for your own shoot, or ask us to run the whole production.
Crew hire
You run the shoot.
10% + 2% booking fee and insurance on everything we book for you, including crew, kit and travel.
We do
- Find, book and brief the crew, and pay them
- Book kit, travel and hotels too, if you want them
- Send the full price before anything is booked
- One person to call all day
- Employers’ liability for the crew we book, and insurance on kit we hire in
You do
- Run the shoot, or your producer does
- The plan, the schedule and the call sheet
- The location, its permission and its public liability
- You’re the producer of record, so the production is your responsibility
The 2% covers employers’ liability for every crew member we book and the kit we hire in for you. It doesn’t cover anything else on the shoot. A large kit rental may need extra insurance, which goes on the quote as its own line.
Full production
We’re the producer of record.
15% + 5% production fee, plus insurance and contingency, on the whole production budget. We quote it as a production.
We do
- Our producer plans it with you and runs the day
- Locations, permits, kit, studio, travel and hotels, booked and paid in our name
- Insurance for the whole shoot, public liability included, plus the risk assessment and the call sheet
- One contract and one invoice, so overseas teams need no UK company
You do
- The creative calls
- Signing off the plan and the budget
The 5% pays for our production insurance across the whole shoot, including £10m public liability, and the contingency.
If your own producer or director will run the day, book crew hire. If you want us to run the production, ask for a full production quote.
On the day
An example day with a runner
A brand film in a restaurant in Jericho, with the vans parked outside the Zero Emission Zone. The times are an example. The call sheet sets the real ones.
- 06:30 Before call The runner meets the vans and sees them into the spaces the restaurant has kept. The vans stay outside the Zero Emission Zone, so there’s no daily charge. The urn goes on, and the water and snacks come out.
- 07:30 Load in The runner carries the kit up the stairs and stacks the cases where the crew want them. Nothing is left on the pavement.
- 09:00 On set The runner holds doors, keeps the neighbours in the loop and politely keeps the public out of shot. They stage the kit for the next set-up.
- 11:00 A run The runner walks to the nearest shops for gaffer tape and batteries, so the van keeps its space.
- 13:00 Lunch The runner collects lunch, lays it out and clears it away.
- 15:00 The move The runner carries the kit up to the top floor and puts the first room back as it was found.
- 19:00 Wrap The runner is last out. They clear the base, take the rubbish away and hand the spaces back to the restaurant.
We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with Oxfordshire County Council.
Types
Types of runner we book
Runners do different jobs on different crews. Each type below says who they work to and which briefs it suits.
Production runner Errands and the unit base £245 a day
A production runner works to the producer or PM on runs, deliveries, catering, the base and the bays.
Good for any shoot with a unit base or lots of kit.
Floor runner On set with the ADs £245 a day
A floor runner moves people and messages for the AD team. See 2nd ADs in Oxford.
Good for shoots with a cast or background artists.
Runner with a car Collections and deliveries £245 a day + mileage
A runner with a car collects kit, props and people. They drive their own car, on business insurance.
Good when the kit, the props and the location are in different places.
Production assistant Contributors and releases £400 a day
A production assistant has more responsibility, looking after contributors, releases and the call sheet. See production assistants in Oxford.
Good when the producer needs someone to share the load.
What it’s for
What people book a runner for in Oxford
Brand films and adverts on the street
Adverts and brand films on Broad Street, the High and the Covered Market need a unit base, and someone to mind the set. Oxfordshire County Council handles filming on streets and pavements.
Conferences and events at college venues
Crews film the talks and record interviews between the sessions. Keble is one of the colleges that takes location filming. Runners carry the kit in and keep the crew supplied all day.
Founder films for spin-outs and biotech
Spin-outs and biotech companies work at the Oxford Science Park, Begbroke and Harwell Campus. On their interview days, the runner carries the kit in and keeps the base going.
University and research films
When a film moves between the University’s labs, lecture theatres and libraries, the runner moves the kit.
Heritage locations out of town
Brand films go out to Blenheim Palace at Woodstock and the edge of the Cotswolds, with the owner’s permission.
Recent work
Runners on our jobs, and how we crew Oxford
Full production · The Lizard, Cornwall · June 2026
Kit in on beach carts
On our 35mm shoot on the Lizard for Cohere’s AI for Empowerment, the runner and driver was part of a crew taking a film camera package along the cliff path on beach carts, because no vehicle could reach the set. The call was at 07:00, and wrap came fourteen hours later.
How we crew it · Oxford
Where the vans park, and the Zero Emission Zone
On an Oxford shoot the vans need somewhere to stop, and the city centre is a Zero Emission Zone. Crew who drive in can park at Redbridge Park and Ride, which has a high-sided area for vans, or at Oxford Parkway, which has a high-sided section open 24 hours. The runner is there before the vans and meets each one in. Any parking or charge goes on the quote at cost, as its own line. We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with Oxfordshire County Council.
Before you book
Things to know
The day
- The day is 11 hours, including an hour for lunch.
- Overtime is paid at card rates, and we agree it with you before it happens.
Cars, vans and parking
- Tell us if the runner needs a car. Mileage and parking go on the quote at cost.
- Runners drive only on business insurance.
- Oxford’s Zero Emission Zone covers the city centre from 7am to 7pm, every day. A Euro 6 diesel van pays £4 a day, an older diesel £10 and an electric van nothing. A vehicle parked in the zone that doesn’t move isn’t charged. We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with Oxfordshire County Council.
Paying and changes
- You pay nothing until you confirm the runner.
- We take 50% by card when you book and 50% when you receive the final rushes.
- The quote shows every line, including the day rate, booking fee, kit and travel.
- Cancellation terms are on every quote.
What our insurance covers
- Our insurance covers employers’ liability for the runner we book, up to £10m.
- Kit we hire in for you is insured. A large kit rental may need extra insurance, as its own line on the quote.
- On a crew hire, it doesn’t cover anything else. Public liability, the location and your own kit stay with you, and your venue will want to see your certificate. When we’re the producer of record, our policy covers the shoot.
£245 a day
We pay the full APA/Bectu card rate for a runner: £245 a day.
| Day rate, 11 hours | £245 |
| Booking fee, 10% | £24.50 |
| Insurance, 2% | £4.90 |
| One day, before mileage | £274.40 + VAT |
The 2% covers employers’ liability for the runner we book and the kit we hire in. What it covers
You won’t pay anything until you confirm the runner.
- 50% by card at booking, 50% on the final rushes
- Our team reads every brief within 2 working hours
- Every line on the quote before anything is booked
Or call us on 07412 543822.
Reviews
What clients say about our crews
These reviews come from our Google Business Profile.
Book a runner in Oxford.
Tell us the date, the place, and whether the runner needs a car. Our team reads every brief within 2 working hours. Or call us on 07412 543822.
Check availability
The whole crew
Every crew role we book in Oxford
Send one brief and we send one quote, with every role on its own line. These are our day rates in Oxford, and each crew member gets their full rate:
Production 06
- Director From £500
- Producer From £450
- Production manager £504–627
- 2nd AD £355–448
- Production assistant £400
- Runner This page £245
Camera 07
- DOP From £850
- Camera operator £529–656
- Focus puller £461–575
- Clapper loader £355–448
- Steadicam operator From £950
- Gimbal operator £529–656
- Drone operator From £750
Data and playback 02
- DIT £527
- Video playback £334–518
Sound 01
- Sound recordist £550
Hair, make-up and costume 02
- Hair and make-up £398
- Costume £519–694
Art department 02
- Art director £675–878
- Set builders £341–512
Post-production 01
- Editor From £350
See how our rates work in crew rates in Oxford, or start from one of our crew set-ups in Oxford.
Production support
Everything around the crew
Runners keep everything around the crew moving, including the parking and the kit runs. If you want us to book them, each item goes on its own line of the quote.
01
Kit rental
Where to hire camera, lighting and sound kit for an Oxford shoot, and when the crew bring their own.
02
Locations and permits
The county council for streets, the colleges and the University, the Bodleian and the drone rules.
03
Studios and set builds
Studios at Didcot and south of Reading for set builds, and college rooms hired by the day for interviews.
04
Props and wardrobe
Where props and costume come from, and the stylists and hair and make-up artists we book.
Questions
Questions about hiring a runner in Oxford
How much does a runner cost in Oxford?
Our runners are £245 for an 11-hour day, including an hour for lunch. That’s the full APA/Bectu card rate, and the runner gets all of it. We add our 10% booking fee and 2% insurance, so the day comes to £274.40 + VAT, plus mileage and parking if they drive.
What does the insurance on a crew booking cover?
It covers two things. The first is employers’ liability for every crew member we book, up to £10m. The second is the kit we hire in for you. That’s what the 2% pays for. A large kit rental may need extra insurance, which goes on the quote as its own line. On a crew hire, you’re the producer of record, so public liability, the location, your own kit and anything you book yourself stay with you. If you want us to be the producer of record, we quote it as a full production, and our insurance covers the whole shoot.
What’s the difference between a runner and a PA?
A runner fetches, carries and keeps the base going. A production assistant works closer to the producer, on contributors and paperwork.
Can your runners drive in Oxford?
Some can, with their own car and business insurance. Tell us when you book. Mileage and parking go on the quote at cost. Oxford’s Zero Emission Zone covers the city centre from 7am to 7pm, every day. A Euro 4 petrol car or a Euro 6 diesel van pays £4 a day, an older diesel £10 and an electric car or van nothing. Check with Oxfordshire County Council for the latest.
Where can crew park a van in Oxford?
Crew who drive in can use Park and Ride. There are five sites, Oxford Parkway, Pear Tree, Redbridge, Seacourt and Thornhill. Redbridge has a high-sided area for vans. Oxford Parkway and Thornhill have a 2.1 m height limit, and Oxford Parkway also has a high-sided section open 24 hours. On the day, the runner meets the vans at the location. Check with Oxfordshire County Council for the latest.
Where do runners collect kit and props from in Oxford?
Bigger camera and lighting packages usually come from London kit houses. The kit house delivers, or a runner with a car collects it on the way, with the mileage on the quote. Rebellion Film Studios also rents out costume from its studios at Didcot. See film equipment hire in Oxford.
Why pay a runner the full card rate?
Because it’s the rate. Runners work the same 11-hour day as everyone else, and the people who start as runners are the crew of the next ten years.
How far ahead should I book a runner in Oxford?
Our team reads every brief within 2 working hours. If the runner is on a street shoot, it’s the permission that needs the notice. Oxfordshire County Council needs at least 15 working days for a small crew, or 30 on listed streets in the centre such as Broad Street. Check with Oxfordshire County Council for the latest.
Are your runners from Oxford?
We book runners who live in or near Oxford first. If the brief or the date needs someone else, they come from London, and we add the travel to the quote before anything is booked. Our base is London, at 124 City Road, and we have bases in Manchester, Bristol and Cornwall.