What protection does PIDA give whistleblowers?

The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (PIDA) protects workers who make a qualifying disclosure in the public interest from being dismissed or subjected to detriment because they spoke up. To be protected, the disclosure must concern a relevant category of wrongdoing and be made through an appropriate channel.

Who is the whistleblowers' champion?

The whistleblowers' champion is a senior individual, typically a non-executive director, that affected firms must appoint under the FCA rules. They oversee the firm's whistleblowing arrangements and their effectiveness, but are not usually the person who handles individual reports day to day. Their role centres on governance and assurance rather than investigation.

Ethics & culture

Whistleblowing

Build confidence in speaking up, explain the firm's whistleblowing arrangements and the legal protections available to those who raise concerns.

Duration: ~15 min Accreditation: CPD accredited (CII) Last updated: February 2026 Reviewed by: Margaret Hassett

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What is whistleblowing and why does it matter?

Whistleblowing is when a worker raises a concern about wrongdoing, risk or malpractice in their organisation, such as fraud or regulatory breaches, as distinct from a personal grievance. It matters because a healthy speak-up culture helps a firm catch problems early; when people stay silent, misconduct goes unaddressed and the financial, regulatory and reputational cost rises sharply.

Who needs whistleblowing training?

This training suits all staff, with additional context for managers who may receive concerns and need to respond well. Staff often stay silent because they fear retaliation or do not know how to raise a concern, so a workforce that understands its protections and trusts the process becomes the firm’s earliest warning system.

What does whistleblowing training cover?

The training gives staff the confidence to speak up. It explains what can be raised as a whistleblowing concern, and what is better handled through other routes, and shows exactly how and where to raise it through the firm’s channels. Learners understand the protections from detriment that PIDA provides and the role the whistleblowers’ champion plays.

What does the FCA expect on whistleblowing?

The FCA requires many regulated firms to maintain effective whistleblowing arrangements, including internal channels, staff awareness and a designated whistleblowers’ champion, usually a non-executive director, who oversees their integrity and effectiveness. Underpinning this, the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (PIDA) protects workers who make a qualifying disclosure in the public interest from dismissal or detriment.

What your team will learn

Recognise what can be raised as a whistleblowing concern
Identify the firm's whistleblowing channels
Identify the legal protections under PIDA
Explain the role of the whistleblowers' champion

What's included

~15 min of focused, scenario-based learning
CPD accredited (CII)
Built-in quiz with a configurable pass mark
Reviewed and kept current with UK regulation
Time-stamped completion records for your audit trail

How it works

Assign it in seconds

Enrol a team, a role or your whole firm from the CityREPORTS dashboard, with automated reminders that chase completion for you.
Your team completes it

Learners work through the course at their own pace on any device, finishing with a short assessment that demonstrates understanding.
Evidence it to the regulator

Every completion is time-stamped and retained, so you can prove the right people did the right training at any moment.

Frequently asked questions

What is whistleblowing?: Whistleblowing is when a worker raises a concern about wrongdoing, risk or malpractice in their organisation, for example fraud, regulatory breaches or danger to others, as distinct from a personal grievance. In the UK, qualifying disclosures made in the right way are protected by the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (PIDA).
What protection does PIDA give whistleblowers?: The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (PIDA) protects workers who make a qualifying disclosure in the public interest from being dismissed or subjected to detriment because they spoke up. To be protected, the disclosure must concern a relevant category of wrongdoing and be made through an appropriate channel.
What are the FCA whistleblowing rules?: The FCA requires many regulated firms to have effective whistleblowing arrangements, including internal channels, staff awareness, and a designated 'whistleblowers' champion', usually a non-executive director, responsible for overseeing the integrity and effectiveness of those arrangements. The rules aim to make it safe and straightforward for staff to raise concerns.
Who is the whistleblowers' champion?: The whistleblowers' champion is a senior individual, typically a non-executive director, that affected firms must appoint under the FCA rules. They oversee the firm's whistleblowing arrangements and their effectiveness, but are not usually the person who handles individual reports day to day. Their role centres on governance and assurance rather than investigation.