After two years of development with a committee of copywriters, we’re ready unleash the UK’s first professional standard for copywriters.
This is a complete standard that defines the behaviour and working practices of a commercial writer, covering: professional competence, project management, using AI tools, data protection, regulatory compliance, accessibility, pricing, contracts and more.
Why create a professional standard for copywriters?
Every other profession has a professional body and the option of a code of conduct / code of practice to subscribe to. Copywriters have not had such a framework to support their practice or to strengthen their professionalism.
This lack of structure creates challenges for copywriters; everyone is left to define and commit to their own version of excellence. It also creates a gap for junior copywriters who would benefit from clear guidelines and pathways into the profession.
This lack of structure also creates challenges for people hiring or recruiting a copywriter. With no shared understanding of what a copywriter does, or how they work, clients and employers have often struggled to compare and select qualified professionals.
The advent of AI brings additional challenges to our profession – for copywriters and clients alike. For copywriters, we have had to wrestle with questions like: if/how to incorporate AI in to our practice, how to discuss AI with clients, and how to preserve our professional integrity and judgement. For clients, AI has introduced uncertainty around authorship and the value of human creatives (some clients fear they are paying for humans but getting AI).
How does it work?
The Copywriter Code is now free to sign. No membership required. It’s a commitment to a way of working, not an accreditation or a guarantee of quality.
If you sign the Code you’ll be asked to commit to our published standard, as well as 20 hours of professional development each year.
Signatories will be asked to reconfirm their commitment every year.
By signing the Code you appear in a public, searchable registry.
Sign the Copywriter Code today
Who governs the Copywriter Code?
The Copywriter Code Committee is responsible for managing the Code. This includes reviewing suggestions for improvements and proposing updates to the language.
Join the Copywriter Code Committee
Complaints
Our complaints mechanism allows clients and collaborators to lodge complaints against any Code signatory that falls short of their commitment. Complaints that are within scope (i.e. related to a specific stipulation) may be investigated by the Committee, following a defined procedure. In extreme cases or in the event of repeated breaches of the Code, a signatory may have their Code status revoked; however most complaints should be resolved through conversation and corrective action. The purpose of the Code is to support our community; not to punish people for making honest mistakes.
The future of the Code
Today is the first day of the Code in the wild.
We hope you find it a supportive tool that you can use in your development. And we’re always interested if you have suggestions for making the Code more helpful in your career.