Sky Rolls Out Enhanced On-Set Safeguarding Measures

Sky has announced enhanced on-set safeguarding measures in light of recent allegations of sexual misconduct and other unacceptable behavior on set in the TV industry.

The company has written to its independent production partners to advise them of its enhanced safeguarding measures, which will begin to roll out on future productions from now.

Sky’s processes at present include confidential services for anyone working on Sky shows to report incidents; oversight of all equal opportunities, anti-harassment and bullying policies from production partners; and the provision of information on how the production will deal with mental health and wellbeing in the workplace.

Sky is ensuring that responsibility for safeguarding and enforcing these policies is understood and owned by production teams. The company is strongly encouraging senior leaders on scripted productions—including heads of department and managers—to attend ScreenSkills Leadership & Management Training prior to production.

Per the enhanced measures, the production company will continue to have responsibility for sharing, championing and enforcing Sky’s existing policies, and Sky will also now require every production to have a named Safeguarding Representative, who will support production with information on policies and routes to report issues.

There will be mandatory Respect in the Workplace training, requiring everyone working on a Sky production, including cast and crew, to complete a mandatory online training module that details the level of behavior expected in the workplace. In addition, the company will continue to work with ScreenSkills on scripted productions to offer free leadership and management training to all heads of department and leaders on set. It now requires all leaders to complete the training before a production starts (or on an annual basis). Sky is in discussions to also roll out similar training on its unscripted productions.

In addition to printing details of Sky’s confidential service, Sky Listens, on call sheets, each production will now be required to prominently display details around the workplace of how to report any concerns, including private spaces, such as toilets and trailers; and public spaces, such as canteens and break spaces. This should include details for Sky Listens, the Film & TV Charity’s reporting line and the new, on-set Safeguarding Representative.

Sky is also introducing anonymous exit questionnaires to give everyone finishing a production the opportunity to raise any concerns or provide any recommendations for the future to both the independent production company and Sky.

Zai Bennett, managing director of content for Sky UK, and Jane Millichip, chief content officer for Sky Studios, said in a joint statement: “It’s our belief that Sky already has good and appropriate policies in place on our sets, but recent events have shown us that we could and should do more. We believe the cast and crew of every production commissioned or produced by Sky and Sky Studios, has the right to work in a safe and supportive environment. Now is the time for us all to take a firm stand and ensure there is no ambiguity whatsoever about behaviors, work culture and the professional standards we expect on our productions.”