CIISA releases findings from its Trailblazing Programme

CIISA (the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority) today publishes the final report and evaluation of its Trailblazing Programme.

The programme was created with the aim of testing the implementation of the CIISA Standards in real-world creative industry settings. Between June 2025 and April 2026, CIISA partnered with 12 organisations spanning different sectors, scales and ways of working across the creative industries.

The programme was built on openness, collaboration and shared learning. CIISA is hugely grateful to its Trailblazing partners for their honesty and commitment throughout the process.

Building on the insights from Trailblazing, CIISA will soon publish sector-specific guidance, practical templates and implementation tools, alongside establishing peer learning networks and opportunities for engagement within and across sectors.

Jen Smith, CEO of CIISA said:

“A key part of CIISA’s role is to be a generous giver of knowledge, adding value to the creative sector we love. I want to extend our gratitude to colleagues in each of these organisations for their help and support in developing this important element of CIISA’s work.

“The Trailblazing programme has provided an important basis for our work to embed consistent standards of practice and behaviour across the creative industries, and we look forward to forging more fruitful partnerships as we progress in this aim.”

The 12 Trailblazing organisations are (in alphabetical order):

• The BBC
• Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society
• Hallé Concerts Society
• Home Post Production
• MultiStory Media (Part of ITV Studios)
• Metropolis Studios
• The Royal Albert Hall
• Royal Shakespeare Company
• Sadler’s Wells
• Sky Studios
• Two Cities Television
• Wales Millennium Centre