麻豆社 code of conduct
It’s up to everyone at the 麻豆社 to protect our reputation for fairness, truth and integrity.
This 'Working at the 麻豆社: Our code of conduct and how we work together' document is our guide to policies, standards and expectations of behaviour from those who work with, or for, the 麻豆社.
For further help and support, check out the latest advice and information in the HR section of Gateway.
Doing the Right Thing
You鈥檙e part of a unique organisation that reaches millions of people across the world every day. To be the very best for our audiences we need to be the very best for each other.
This is why we have Our Code. It sets out the mandatory standards that every single one of us must work to across the whole of the 麻豆社.
When an organisation is as built-in to daily life as ours, we all have a responsibility to do the right thing. Meeting our legal and regulatory obligations is an essential and non-negotiable part of that, along with creating the fairest working environment where we welcome, respect and hear every voice.
Being a trusted organisation is mission critical; it underpins our relationship with audiences. That is why you need to take personal responsibility for ensuring you and your team understand the Code of Conduct and follow these standards consistently, without fail.
We want the standards here in Our Code to give you the confidence to ask any questions if you鈥檙e not sure about something, and to speak up if you see something that doesn鈥檛 meet these standards. When you do, we鈥檒l listen; we鈥檒l talk openly, and we鈥檒l act.
Thank you.
- 麻豆社 Executive Committee
Our Values
Our six Values shape our culture and define how we work. Importantly, they remind us of the commitments we make to our audiences, and to each other, about what everyone expects from the 麻豆社.
- AUDIENCES are at the heart of everything we do
- We are ONE 麻豆社, we collaborate, learn, and grow together
- CREATIVITY is the lifeblood of our organisation
- TRUST is the foundation of the 麻豆社 - we鈥檙e independent, impartial, and truthful
- We are ACCOUNTABLE and deliver work of the highest quality
- We RESPECT each other - we鈥檙e kind and we champion inclusivity
When we look at the standards we expect of Our Code, our values of Trust, Accountable and Respect are closely related to the mandatory standards that everyone must adhere to. It鈥檚 why we鈥檝e built this guide around these three values in particular.
Discover more about all our values on 麻豆社 Gateway
Trust
Our Editorial Values
Trust is the foundation of the 麻豆社. We鈥檙e independent, impartial, and truthful. Our audiences expect us to follow the highest standards, as set out in our Editorial Guidelines. They apply to all our content, wherever in the world it is made or received and on whatever platform it is published.
As we operate in the public鈥檚 interest, it鈥檚 essential that we鈥檙e transparent and open about the editorial standards we all work to. This includes our legal responsibilities as a public service broadcaster, as well as the principles we set across all our output.
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Our Editorial Guidelines should be used by anyone who is making content for the 麻豆社 for both public service and commercial content made in-house or by production companies that work on our behalf.
Personal Use of Social Media
More and more of our audiences get their news and entertainment from social media. We must make sure that our digital presence lives up to our editorial values.
We have one set of Guidance that applies to every 麻豆社 colleague, regardless of department. In all circumstances, anything you post on social media from a personal account must adhere to our Personal Use of Social Media Guidance.
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Personal Use of Social Media Guidance If you鈥檙e a user of social media then you鈥檒l need to follow our Personal Use of Social Media Guidance.
Protecting Our Information, And Personal Data
It takes a lot of information, personal data and equipment to do what we do, so we must protect it. This applies to all our systems and the data we hold, and taking care of the equipment we use to do our jobs.
To prevent attempts to hack our systems our Information Security and Data Protection teams are always on call whenever we need help. But it鈥檚 our responsibility to keep information safe; from protecting our passwords, to being mindful of where we open or access confidential work, particularly when working remotely.
Find out more: Everyone should use the Data Protection Handbook and follow our Data Protection guidance and Cyber Security Guidelines to protect our data. If you鈥檙e using digital devices then you should follow the .
Think you鈥檝e been compromised? Report it to the Data Protection Officer.
Bribery and Corruption
We don鈥檛 tolerate bribery or corruption in any form. This applies to all of us, including those who manage our relationships with partners and suppliers
We take pride in being trusted and honest in all our work and we can鈥檛 allow anything we do, or those we work with, to encourage, participate in, or condone a bribe or any other unlawful payment or benefit. We must speak up if we see something wrong.
It鈥檚 important that you understand and follow the Anti-Bribery and Financial Crime Policy and the Travel and Expenses Policy when working at the 麻豆社.
Call our confidential whistleblowing hotline on 0800 890 011.
Serving the Public Interest
We鈥檙e here to serve the public, not ourselves. That means while we鈥檙e at work we can鈥檛 do anything that benefits us personally, like promoting a business we鈥檙e connected to, or pushing our own political beliefs. We help all our colleagues understand what a conflict of interest involves in order to protect our standards of independence and impartiality. Everyone is expected to remain in compliance with all obligations related to their employment or engagement with the 麻豆社 including, but not limited to, adherence to 麻豆社 policies, Declaration of Personal Interest (DOPI), the standards expected for and reporting of external paid work and any mandatory training requirements.
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Conflict of Interest Guidelines If you鈥檙e involved in making any kind of 麻豆社 content, follow our conflict of interest guidelines.
Accountable
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is the action we all must take to protect people from harm. Everyone at the 麻豆社 has a responsibility to promote the safeguarding of children (under 18s) and vulnerable adults. By working for the 麻豆社, you are in a unique position of power and trust. A child is defined in UK law as being under 18 years of age.
Without exception, everyone is expected to follow and understand the Safeguarding Policy to protect yourself and the children and vulnerable adults you are working with.
The 麻豆社 has a Safeguarding 鈥楥ode of Conduct鈥� to which all adults working with children and vulnerable adults, in whatever capacity, must adhere. The Code of Conduct supports respectful relationships between 麻豆社 staff, freelancers, third parties and contributors.
You must report any concerns about the safety or wellbeing of, or any inappropriate behaviour towards, a child or vulnerable adult to the Safeguarding Team immediately. In an emergency, please call 999 (or the relevant code for your country).
You can report a concern directly to the Safeguarding Team via
For further advice or support about safeguarding at the 麻豆社, you can visit the Safeguarding website, email the Safeguarding Team or contact your 麻豆社 commissioner.
Keeping Everyone Safe
It鈥檚 everybody鈥檚 responsibility to keep our people, systems, data and buildings safe and we always wear our ID to help our security teams do their job.
In our Health & Safety Standards and guidance on the 麻豆社 Safety website you can find out how to conduct a risk assessment, understand the safety and emergency procedures wherever you鈥檙e working and find out how to get additional support from our High Risk Team if you need it. Our guidance on security procedures is kept up to date regularly for all our buildings.
Find Out More: To understand the safety risks to your work, please speak to the person responsible for safety where you鈥檙e working. You can learn more about safety and security at the 麻豆社 on the Safety website or via the Safety Hub.
Buying and Selling Ethically
The way we buy and sell needs to fit with our values. That鈥檚 why we observe the highest ethical standards with our suppliers and other partners, and require that they agree to our Sustainable Supply Chain Code of Conduct.
We will only contract with parties who reach our standards and pass checks in regard to anti-bribery, tax evasion, labour and working conditions, health and safety, cyber security, and environmental management.
If you鈥檙e involved in buying or selling on behalf of the 麻豆社, you鈥檒l need to abide by the Procurement Policy which is available on Gateway.
You can also raise concerns anonymously, via Navex Global.
Respect
Respect at Work and Speaking Up
We want the 麻豆社 to be a place where everyone feels safe, valued and heard. We respect people and their rights 鈥� the people around us, those we work with, and those we represent, wherever they are in the world.
This culture of respect makes the 麻豆社 a place where everyone can speak freely and have equal opportunities to grow and develop.
There is no place for bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, abuse of power, or any form of discrimination at the 麻豆社. We each have a responsibility to call out behaviour that falls below our expected standards.
We will always be kind and respectful.
Everyone at the 麻豆社 should abide by the Respect at Work Policy.
It is your duty to speak up if you see something that鈥檚 wrong. You can raise any issues via Gateway or by speaking to your 麻豆社 contact.
Treating Everyone Equally
As an organisation with a duty to reflect the whole of society, we treat everyone fairly, equally, and with respect. We listen to and welcome new and different perspectives into our work and conversations.
We value cultural differences and work to create and maintain a respectful workplace where everyone acts professionally and feels a sense of belonging. Hiring and promotion decisions are always made in line with our fair and transparent recruitment principles, reflecting our commitment to equality and diversity.
Everyone deserves respect 鈥� and receives it.
To better understand the ways in which we strive to represent our audiences internally, you can review our Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Strategy.
If you鈥檙e hiring or interested in understanding the 麻豆社鈥檚 Recruitment and Onboarding Policy then that is available on 麻豆社 Gateway.
Presenter Conduct
We recognise that our on-air presenters have a unique role in acting as visible ambassadors for the 麻豆社. Their work helps educate, inform and entertain audiences, and they have the power to inspire the next generation of talent to join the creative industries.
In recognition of the influence they hold, we believe our on-air presenters bear a significant responsibility to live our values in their daily actions, as we would expect of anyone we work with. No one is irreplaceable or beyond accountability.
We will act when we see behaviour that falls short of our Code of Conduct 鈥� and we will recognise and celebrate exemplary conduct when we see it.
Respecting Our Planet
We want to be the most sustainable broadcaster in the world, with a net positive impact: giving back to the planet more than we take. Minimising our impact on the planet whilst maximising our impact with our audiences on the topics of both climate and nature. To do this we鈥檒l cut our carbon emissions dramatically and work with our suppliers to do the same.
Our strategy is comprised of three pillars: Net Zero, Nature Positive and People Positive. Please see the link below to our Transition Plan released in January 2025.
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Our Net Zero Transition Plan First released in January 2025 after 麻豆社 Board approval
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Find the link to the document as well as supporting information and case studies
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Our Nature Positive Pillar https://staff.bbc.com/gateway/sustainability/nature-positive/
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Sustainable Production https://www.bbc.co.uk/delivery/sustainable-end-to-end
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Our Commitment to Sustainability in programming Everyone involved in content creation and production should refer to our commitment to sustainability and production guidelines.
We make sure everything we spend our licence payers鈥� money on fits with our values and delivers the very best for them in return.
We manage all our finances with care and attention, following strict financial controls and approvals. We expect our people, suppliers and partners to share our high standards around managing money.
To find out how we expect you to contribute to 鈥榮pending wisely鈥� please visit:
While we receive public money in the form of the Licence Fee, we also have a commercial side, competing with private companies across the globe. We must make sure we never use our position as a public broadcaster to gain an unfair advantage in the market. We have regulatory guidance in place to support teams across the public and commercial side of the 麻豆社 to make sure we are following the Fair Trading rules.
Need Some Help?
If you have any questions about Our Code, please talk to your team leader, booker, or 麻豆社 contact. If for any reason that doesn鈥檛 feel like the right approach, contact your local HRBP for guidance.
If you鈥檙e able to access the 麻豆社 Network, there are lots of useful links that provide more information on specific topics if you need it:
- Our UK 麻豆社 policy documents are on 麻豆社 Gateway
- If you work for 麻豆社 Studios, you鈥檒l find those policy documents on
- Information about raising concerns at the 麻豆社 is on Gateway
- Find out more about the 麻豆社 Safeguarding Team on Gateway
- Information on the 麻豆社 values is available on Gateway
- Our editorial guidelines
- Visit the 麻豆社 Academy for more information on training.
Updated on 01/06/2026