Hen Hoose launches Scotland’s first music industry Safety Certification Scheme
The scheme will offer free training to venues, festivals, studios and music organisations to help create safer spaces for women and non-binary people
Hen Hoose Collective has announced Scotland’s first Safety Certification Scheme for the music industry, in a bid to foster safer live music and working environments for women and non-binary people at venues, festivals, promoters, studios and music organisations.
Funded by Creative Scotland, the scheme will provide free specialist training and establish safety contacts at participating venues, record labels, events and studios, giving artists, workers and audiences a clear person to approach if they experience or witness an issue.
Its launch follows research from the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research at the University of Glasgow which found that 81% of women musicians who participated in its survey disclosed personally experiencing some form of sexual violence or harassment while working or participating in the Scottish folk music scene. The study surveyed 409 women musicians and was published in January 2026.
The scheme will see nominated individuals given free training sessions, created by Jayne Stynes and Clare Duffin, lecturers at the University of the West of Scotland alongside FLAPS, with a focus on bystander intervention, EDIA, safety and wellbeing.
Confirmed partners for the pilot scheme are:
Queen’s Hall
Berkeley 2
Celtic Connections
Unique Events
Lost Map Records
432 Presents
Pop Mutations
Chem 19
Stereo
Mono
The Old Hairdressers
The Glad Cafe
Tolbooth (Stirling)
Aberdeen Performing Arts
Music Broth
BIT Collective
FLAPS
Freakender
The longer-term ambition is for the approach to become standard practice across Scotland’s music industry, expanding beyond the initial partners to create a visible network of safer places to work, perform, rehearse, record and experience live music.
Hen Hoose will use learning and evidence gathered through the pilot to help determine how the scheme can develop and expand, with findings also set to inform a policy report to the Scottish Government.
Hen Hoose founder Tamara Schlesinger said: ‘Being safe at work or at a gig is a right, not a privilege. This change is long overdue. Across society, and within our own industry, women continue to face harassment and abuse, and there isn't enough support for those experiencing it. We felt a responsibility to use our position to do something about it.
‘This pilot will work across live venues, recording studios and rehearsal rooms to build safer spaces and change attitudes throughout Scotland's music industry. We're delighted to have such committed partners with us as we begin this vital work.’