The Standards will provide a framework for a single, unified vision of professional standards of behaviour within the creative industries. Photo: Shutterstock.
The Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA), is today launching its industry consultation of The CIISA Standards (also referred to as the Standards), a set of expectations that set out the minimum standards of behaviour expected across the UK’s creative industries to enable safe and inclusive working environments.
This includes preventing and tackling of all forms of bullying and harassment, including bullying and harassment of a discriminatory nature.
The Standards will provide a framework for a single, unified vision of professional standards of behaviour within the creative industries. They aim to illustrate what a safe and inclusive working environment, which treats people with dignity, looks like, and are scalable to any size of organisation, production or project.
Set the standard: Have your say
The MU is encouraging all members to take part in the consultation, which is open until 10:00 am on Monday 27 January 2025, with the final Standards launched and published in February 2025.
CIISA will also be hosting a sector-specific webinar for people working in the music industry on Tuesday 10 December, 12:30 pm – 1.30pm, to go through the Standards and answer any questions.
Outcome of the consultation
Following the outcome of the consultation, CIISA will use the Standards to benchmark how the creative industries are embedding safe and inclusive working environments against these expectations and will identify and produce industry-specific guidance based on them.
This guidance will outline advice, support and good practice on how individuals, organisations, productions and projects can meet the expectations set by the Standards in practice, in a way that is tailored to the size and nature of their work.
The creative industries workforce will be able to report concerns to CIISA related to potential breaches of the Standards and, where appropriate, CIISA will support these individuals, organisations, productions or projects with appropriate advice and signposting to resources that will help them to ensure that their concerns are addressed. In due course, CIISA will look to introduce services aimed at resolving concerns where possible.
From the reports received, CIISA will begin to establish insights into the range of experiences across the creative industries. CIISA will then look at developing training and accreditation products to support professional development for individuals in the creative industries workforce in areas relevant to the Standards.
It is really important that any Standards have the endorsement of those who work in the industry
Niyi Akeju, CIISA’s Head of Standards Development says: “We are delighted to be launching our industry consultation of the CIISA Standards today. We invite our industry colleagues to review this carefully considered piece of work which we’ve compiled this year through detailed and extensive collaboration with key bodies in the film, television, theatre and music sectors, including our wonderfully supportive Standards Advisory Committee”.
Baroness Helena Kennedy, Chair, CIISA says: “We are extremely proud to be able to share the CIISA Standards with colleagues in the creative industry today and to get their input. It is really important that any Standards have the endorsement of those who work in the industry so it makes this an important moment in our operational activity.”
Creative Industries Minister Sir Chris Bryant says: “Everyone in our creative industries deserves to feel safe and supported in the workplace and be treated with respect and dignity. That is why CIISA’s Standards of behaviour will be so important.”
“I am delighted that CIISA already has strong backing from industry, and I welcome this open consultation which will help to put a robust set of measures in place to tackle bullying, harassment and discrimination and ensure our creative industries remain one of the best sectors in the world to work in.”