Advice and guidance

Post-it notes with advice words written on itOne of the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) and the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP)'s main functions is to provide advice and guidance to the industry. We provide assistance in complying with the Advertising Codes via our Guidance notes, self-help tools like Help Notes, Copy Advice service and industry training seminars.

Guidance and Help Notes

Broadcast 

CAP supports compliance with its BCAP Code by issuing detailed guidance on its application to broadcast advertisements for specific sectors or on particular subjects. Guidance is provided within the BCAP Code and without, in the form of Broadcast Guidance Notes and Help Notes.

In addition, Clearcast assesses whether TV advertisements – at various stages of development – are likely to comply with the BCAP Code and the RACC provides the same service for radio advertisements.

Non-broadcast 

CAP supports compliance with its non-broadcast CAP Code by issuing detailed guidance on its application to marketing communications for specific sectors or on particular subjects. Guidance is provided through industry-approved Help Notes and through AdviceOnline database, which are made available on the Copy Advice website.

Copy Advice

Copy Advice home pageCopy Advice is an essential service for advertisers, agencies and media owners who want to check how their non-broadcast ads or multi-media concepts measure up against the CAP Code. Provided by the people who write the rules with guidance from those who enforce them, this unique service is fast, free and confidentails.

As well as providing a bespoke advice, the Copy Advice has launched a dedicated website bringing together all essential news, help and guidance under one roof. The AdviceOnline database contains more than 400 entries that are updated with landmark decisions. Help notes section is a comprehensive guide to the interpretation of the rules on a sector or issue. 

Visit the Copy Advice website and register to get acess to the full advice database to help you avoid breaching the advertising code and potential ASA action. It will save you time, money, and help safeguard your or your client's reputation.

Events

Advice:am coffee cupCAP and the Copy Advice team, in cooperation with the ASA, routinely provide advice and training to advertisers, agencies, media owners and legal advisers on advertising regulations and the requirements of the Codes. These range from short and sharp sector specific events to bespoke seminars dedicated to one company and its needs. 

Visit our Events section for this year's programme and further details.

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