In short
- The catalogue has one agency in Leicester, PK Model Agency, in business since 1977.
- Boards: women, men, kids, talent; the same company runs a dance and performing arts school.
- Its website states a compulsory portfolio shoot charged at £150.
Modeling work in Leicester
Leicester is a city in the East Midlands. The jurgita.com catalogue lists PK Model Agency here: the agency was established in 1977 as Pat Keeling Model Agency and rebranded in May 2012 by sisters Claire and Lisa Heath. It is run by PK Models & School Limited, which also operates a dance and performing arts school. Its office is at Grange Business Park in Whetstone, south of Leicester, and its boards are women, men, kids and talent.
The FAQ on the agency's website says a website portfolio shoot is compulsory and costs £150. Before you pay, ask for the terms in writing and compare them with other agencies in the region. A child needs a licence from the local council for paid modelling work in the UK, and the person running the job applies for it.
The nearest markets
- Nottingham – two agencies, one of them a BFMA member.
- Birmingham – two agencies.
- London – the main market, with fashion week and 90 catalogue agencies.
How to get started
- Take simple digitals in daylight and write down accurate measurements.
- For commercial work in the region, compare the Leicester agency with those in Nottingham and Birmingham: boards and fees are shown on the profiles. Fashion and runway work needs an agency in London.
- Apply through each agency's official channels. Under UK rules an agency may not charge a fashion or photographic model any upfront fee, not even for a place on its website. Even so, some agencies in the catalogue, mostly children's and commercial ones, charge a registration or portfolio fee: the profile states the amount, so check it before you apply and compare. Being listed is not a recommendation. Do not pay under pressure or before you have the terms in writing; other warning signs are in the glossary entry on modeling scams.
- A Lithuanian citizen needs permission to work in the UK, and an ETA on its own is not enough. Permissions, contracts, tax and the rules for minors are covered on the United Kingdom agencies page.