The UK’s creative industries are set to receive new guidelines this week following a series of scandals, including allegations of improper conduct by celebrities such as Gregg Wallace and Gino d’Acampo, as well as accusations of bullying on BBC’s “Strictly Come Dancing”. The Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA) is establishing standards aimed at eradicating bullying, harassment, and unfair treatment, along with addressing imbalances in power. The guidelines will encourage organizations to establish reporting mechanisms to learn from past scandals, as well as creating safe and inclusive work conditions.
Jen Smith, CEO of the newly established CIISA, stated that the standards can be widely adopted in commissioning agreements, contracts, and eligibility for awards. Her goal is to remove the possibility of individuals claiming ignorance of these standards. Dame Heather Rabbatts, who recognized the need for an independent entity to hold the creative sectors accountable, founded CIISA after leading the establishment of Time’s Up UK in 2018 during the #MeToo movement. Smith, with a background as the director of culture and inclusion at the British Film Institute, played a role in creating standards to address harassment in the film industry following the Harvey Weinstein scandal.
Smith highlighted that individuals currently do not feel as safe as they should within the creative industries and that there is a lack of understanding regarding safe work environments. She further explained that there is a significant absence of infrastructure within creative industries, including human resources departments, which has left workers without a safe and confidential place to address concerns or seek advice. Bectu, the union for creative industry workers, found in research that a substantial majority of respondents in the field have experienced sexual harassment.
The recent “Looking Glass Report” by the Film and TV Charity reported that 41% of survey participants experienced bullying, harassment, or prejudice in the past year, with many not reporting these incidents. Although the CIISA does not possess enforcement authority, it will offer support for individuals seeking legal guidance, arbitration, mediation, and access to criminal justice or labor tribunals as needed.
The initiative has the backing of the government, with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy cautioning the television industry to improve its conduct standards in response to allegations involving d’Acampo. D’Acampo has denied any allegations of improper behavior, and his legal team has stated that this is the first time in six years that he has been informed of such claims.
Initially, the CIISA will concentrate on the screen, stage, and music sectors, but aims to extend its coverage to areas such as gaming, publishing, and fashion in the future. Smith emphasizes the importance of a cross-sector approach to identify patterns of behavior and ensure that the necessary actions are taken to address issues of abuse and harassment.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/feb/22/uk-creative-industries-set-behaviour-standards-after-strictly-and-masterchef-rows
