It is vital that all programmes comply with the relevant statutory and regulatory provisions.

If you have a programme issue and are not sure if it falls in the realms of editorial policy, programme legal advice, business affairs or elsewhere please contact Susan Binney.

Editorial Guidelines

• Editorial Guidelines (including detailed Advice Notes and a list of the mandatory referrals)

• All those making programmes for us are expected to have completed the Safeguarding Trust radio module.

• When the programme is produced by a company where the on-air talent is a director or shareholder of the company or holds a senior management role within the company or in-house department the programme must comply with the Talent as Executive Producer Policy.

• Briefings about Editorial Guidelines and the compliance form are available. Please contact Susan Binney for details.

• The compliance form [Word file, 102 KB or PDF, 30 KB] is part of the programme production agreement (see Business Affairs section). The Compliance Form Guidance Notes [PDF, 30KB] should be read before completing the form.

• In order to include any competitions or voting in a BBC programme, the Safeguarding Trust competitions modules must have been completed and the relevant approval forms authorised.

Health & Safety

• Health & Safety - General Guidance for Independents on the Safety of their Productions [PDF, 135 KB]

• The Health & Safety Executive's Five Steps to Risk Assessment [PDF, 135 KB]

• An example of the type of form to be used to record risk management of programme activity is available here [Word file, 150 KB]

• Training courses on health & safety, new media and radio production available from BBC Training

• Staging and covering live events raise separate H&S considerations and should be discussed early with your Commissioning Editor and Business Affairs contacts

Working with children

The BBC is committed to best practice in child protection. Any independent production company making a programme for BBC Audio & Music involving children must comply with the principles set out in the BBC's Child Protection Policy.

Read our guide for independent production companies working with children on a BBC project. [PDF, 50 KB]

You will be asked to provide a nominated person in charge of child protection and a copy of your child protection policy and guidance. Self-disclosure statements (example here [Word File, 27 KB] ) will be required from all involved in the programme before production begins, and some may need a full Criminal Records Bureau check.

If you would like to discuss any of this further, please contact either Susan Binney or the Commissioning Editor.

Other BBC Policies

• Other BBC policies

Page last updated 3 June 2009

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