CIISA launches confidential reporting service

The Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA) today announces the launch of its independent online reporting service.

Workers in the film, tv, music and theatre sectors can now report whistleblowing concerns to CIISA via a secure and confidential online portal. As an officially designated whistleblowing body, people can report concerns to CIISA about experiences that relate to the CIISA Standards, and which may have a wider impact on others. This includes concerns relating to harassment, discrimination, victimisation and other harmful practices.

Reports to CIISA are made in confidence, and CIISA will take careful steps to protect the identity of individuals who come forward.

Following a soft-launch of the reporting service in June after its recognition in Parliament as an official whistleblowing entity, CIISA has received around 30 reports (as at 1 October). These include reports from organisations and individuals and have come from all the sectors CIISA represents (film, tv, music and theatre, including live performance). CIISA anticipates an increase in the volume of reports following the launch of the online reporting portal and has launched an initial service designed to meet demand and build up insight, whilst offering targeted help to those who need immediate support.

Workers who report concerns to CIISA may be entitled to additional legal protections under UK whistleblowing law, including where they may have previously signed Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs). CIISA’s first-stage reporting service is initially focussed on building a clearer picture of the behaviours and practices affecting people across the sector, rather than acting on individual cases.

CIISA will use reports it receives to understand and identify important issues, themes and patterns, which it can then report back to industry and policymakers to recommend ways that organisations and the wider sector can address them. Its data will offer unique real-time insight and evidence-based data about the Creative Industries, for the first time located in one central data structure, for issues relating to workplace harm, and the effectiveness of accountability measures.

CIISA will also provide appropriate signposting where possible and make lawful referrals where necessary.

To ensure those reporting can access pastoral support CIISA is working with organisations that offer specialist services for people who need immediate welfare or safeguarding support or need expert advice about whistleblowing. These include open-access providers such as the whistleblowing charity Protect and the sexual violence charity The Survivors’ Trust. CIISA is also working with creative industry specialists such as Help Musicians which has a dedicated Music Minds Matter support service for the music sector; the Film and TV Charity which provides mental health support, a 24/7 Support Line, and a dedicated Bullying Advice service; and Wellbeing in the Arts who provide mental health support to those in theatre, film, television, opera and dance.

CIISA works with Trade Unions including Bectu and the Musicians Union to ensure their members are signposted towards vital support services where these are applicable.

Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, said: ”There is absolutely no place for abuse, harassment or discrimination in the workplace, and it is crucial that people have a confidential place to report any concerns so that action can be taken.

”CIISA’s new reporting portal is an important step in tackling this issue, and this government will continue to back them every step of the way. Safety at work is non-negotiable, and we expect employers across the creative industries to work with CIISA and uphold the very highest standards.”

Baroness Helena Kennedy KC, Chair of CIISA said: “This marks an important milestone for CIISA and the creative industries. The creative sector is a UK success story and protecting the people who power that success is at the heart of CIISA’s ambitions; I’d like to thank the Government and industry for their support in getting us to this place. However, as an industry-funded organisation CIISA requires the full backing of the sector if it is to continue to meet the clear demand for its services.”

Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee said: “The Committee has long supported the creation and development of CIISA and we welcome this significant milestone. By offering an independent space for confidential reporting, CIISA can at last begin to tackle the persistent issues of bullying, harassment and discrimination which have dogged the sector for too long. We will be watching CIISA’s progress with interest and expect to see it receive the meaningful and committed support it requires from both industry and Government if it is to drive the positive change needed.”

Leila D’Aronville and Lizzie Crump, Freelance Champions said: “Creating safe working environments, free from bullying, harassment and discrimination are the responsibility of everyone in the creative industries, and it is great to see CIISA launch this confidential whistleblowing service designed to directly support individuals and build a clearer picture of what is happening in our sector. We look forward to working together over the coming months.”

 Jen Smith, CEO of CIISA said: “The opening of CIISA’s online reporting portal marks a significant step forward for the creative sector. By offering an independent space for people to report whistleblowing concerns we can finally begin to close the accountability gaps that have persisted for too long.

“I am saddened but not surprised that we have already received a number of concerns, including some of a serious nature, and I’d like to thank those already coming forward for their trust in CIISA, as an entirely safe and confidential place to raise concerns.  I am so pleased that today we are able to scale up our response to this urgent industry need.”

Elizabeth Gardiner, Joint CEO of Protect said: “We support CIISA’s new reporting portal for the creative industries. Workers need a safe space to raise concerns but many of our callers tell us they are frightened to speak to their employers because they fear for their jobs. Others say that their concerns are simply ignored Standards authorities provide a vital backstop when internal whistleblowing is ineffective and we congratulate CIISA on their work in this area. We hope this new portal will give workers confidence to come forward, make it more likely that harm and wrongdoing are addressed and ensure that there is accountability for harmful behaviour.”

Fay Maxted OBE, CEO of The Survivors Trust said: “We fully support CIISAs vision and decisive action to drive meaningful change. We welcome their proactive commitment to creating safer environments for those working within the creative arts industry. For too long people have been afraid of speaking out for fear of disbelief or blame and the impact on their careers. A safe, independent, confidential and trauma-informed service is essential for anyone affected by sexual violence, bullying or harassment of any kind, to be able to reach out for the help they need. We are pleased to be collaborating with CIISA to help this happen.”

Sarah Woods, CEO of Help Musicians said: “We are pleased to see this next development in CIISA’s role to help us better understand the scale and nature of behavioural issues within the creative industries. Along with support and advice to people who work in music, which we deliver through our mental health and bullying and harassment helplines, we know that people often seek advice on a place to report serious issues and the launch of CIISA’s online reporting service will help fill this gap in provision within music.”

Marcus Ryder MBE, CEO of the Film and TV Charity said: “The launch of CIISA’s reporting service represents an important step forward in strengthening accountability across the creative industries. At the Film and TV Charity, we’re proud to support and complement this work through our Bullying Advice and Anti-Racism Wellbeing Services, providing confidential advice and support to people experiencing bullying, harassment, discrimination, and other harmful workplace behaviours. By working alongside CIISA, we can help ensure people not only have a safe route to raise concerns, but also have access to the guidance, emotional support,  and practical options they may need to navigate what comes next.”

Adam Bambrough, CEO of Wellbeing in the Arts said: “Through our work supporting professionals across the creative industries, we know how difficult it can be to speak about harmful experiences, particularly where freelance work, power imbalances and the fear of losing future opportunities are involved. CIISA’s independent reporting service provides an important confidential route to raise concerns, and we’re pleased to be working alongside them to provide specialist mental health support to those who come forward, while contributing to a wider approach that addresses the conditions and cultures that can lead to poor wellbeing.”

Head of Bectu Philippa Childs said: “CIISA was created because extreme power imbalances, the preponderance of freelance employment, and the short-term nature of projects have meant that the creative industries were a place where sexual predators and bullies could hide in plain sight.

“These UK industries are a global success story and a key plank of the economy and as with other industries there is no excuse to tolerate unacceptable behaviour.

“Giving workers an anonymous, industry-wide, recognised platform to blow the whistle on bad behaviour is a crucial next step along the path to address bullying and harassment. Bectu will continue to work closely with CIISA to ensure that we are able to support members effectively and promote safe working conditions.”

Naomi Pohl, General Secretary of the Musicians’ Union said: “‘We are pleased to see CIISA is now able to receive reports from survivors and build up a picture of behaviours and conduct that persist across the creative industries. Since we established our MU Safe Space service in 2019, we have unfortunately received a constant stream of reports. Freelancers are particularly vulnerable and need places they can go to safely report and access support. We hope CIISA’s work will make cultural change and act as a deterrent, as well as helping affected individuals.”

UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl said: “UK Music is a long-standing champion of CIISA which has a vital role to play in our industry and the 220,000 people who work in our sector, many of whom are in freelance roles.  This confidential reporting service will be an invaluable support to help those facing discrimination, harassment and other harmful behaviours. It will give people a safe space to report their concerns with the confidence they will be heard and their information protected. We look forward to continuing to work with CIISA as they further develop their services to ensure the music industry is a safe, inclusive welcoming space for everyone.”

Andrew Medlock, COO of CIISA said: “CIISA’s reporting portal has been built with care and diligence, offering people a trauma-informed approach and the highest standards of data security. We are committed to ensuring our services meet users’ needs and provide the industry with vital data and insights that can help drive up standards and drive out harmful behaviours.”

 

Ends.

About CIISA

As the industry-backed, independent standards authority for the UK’s creative sector, CIISA currently operates across music, film, television and theatre, including live performance. CIISA sets clear and consistent expectations for behaviour through the CIISA Standards and offers services to support accountability where those standards are not met.

CIISA is voluntarily funded by the industries it serves through a Registration Model. Launched in April 2026, organisations register with CIISA to demonstrate their commitment to safe and inclusive working practices and upholding the CIISA Standards. They receive support, tools and resources to help embed the CIISA Standards and a Registration Mark to display as a visible symbol their commitment. The online directory of organisations registered with CIISA will go live later this year.

More information about the CIISA Standards is available here: https://ciisa.org.uk/standards/

More information is available about CIISA Registration here: https://ciisa.org.uk/registration/

Whistleblowing

The Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) (Amendment) Order 2026 (SI 2026/478) came into force on 2 June 2026. CIISA is designated as a ‘Prescribed Person’ for whistleblowing disclosures relating to the film, TV, music and theatre sectors.

People can raise concerns with CIISA relating to the CIISA Standards, where they do not feel able to report issues within the primary organisation concerned, or where they believe concerns have not been appropriately addressed.

As a Prescribed Person, CIISA can receive concerns that may previously have been subject to Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) if they meet the legal conditions for a protected disclosure.

A protected disclosure is a legally recognised whistleblowing report made by a worker who must reasonably believe the disclosure is substantially true and being made in the public interest, distinguishing it from a personal grievance. If a worker makes a protected disclosure, they are protected from unfair dismissal, or any form of detriment (for example, being demoted, bullied, or victimised).

Disclosures will help inform CIISA’s reporting and recommendations to improve workplace culture and standards across the sector, and further iterations of the service which will grow as CIISA develops.