EducationScape, the media and events group behind FE Week and Schools Week, has backed the development of the workplace version of the SaferSpace app, a confidential reporting platform designed to help employers respond properly to harassment, discrimination and misconduct in the workplace.
The launch follows widespread scrutiny of workplace culture across the UK and arrives just months after the Worker Protection Act came into force. The new law places a legal duty on employers to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment. If they don’t, they risk tribunal claims, legal penalties and reputational damage.
SaferSpace was originally developed in 2024 by Ruth Sparkes and Sunita Gordon. Since then, EducationScape has invested in the apps further development and worked with the team to refine the platform for use across sectors, including healthcare, retail, hospitality, construction, and professional services.
Shane Mann, Chief Executive of EducationScape, said: “HR teams are already managing complex cases across fragmented systems. SaferSpace brings everything together in one place, from incident reports to compliance dashboards. It’s a practical, ready-to-go system that supports transparency, governance, and consistency.”
The app allows employees to submit anonymous or named reports using a mobile-first platform. Concerns are routed directly to HR or safeguarding leads, where they can be reviewed and followed up through a secure case-handling system. Reports are logged with time stamps, attached documentation and custom workflows that match an organisation’s existing policies.
A built-in AI-driven chatbot, trained on the UK’s Equality Act, helps users understand whether their experience constitutes a report. It’s designed to help people decide what to do and feel supported at every step.
High-profile cases across sectors have added urgency to the conversation. Harrods is currently settling hundreds of claims relating to allegations of abuse linked to its former owner. In the NHS, frontline staff report rising levels of harassment from patients and members of the public. Meanwhile, disciplinary action has been taken across the armed forces, emergency services and major retail and hospitality (MacDonald’s) employers following serious misconduct cases.
And, apprentices, many of whom are very young, work in employer settings without full access to safeguarding support, face similar challenges. A Department for Education study found that many apprentices are not adequately informed about their rights or how to report inappropriate behaviour.
These stories are not isolated incidents, they point to systemic issues that require clear action and accountability.
For employers, SaferSpace also provides a live dashboard showing patterns of behaviour, trends by location, and case progress over time. It is designed to help senior leaders and HR professionals monitor culture, demonstrate compliance and take timely, proportionate action when concerns are raised.
Sunita Gordon co-founder of SaferSpace, said: “People often don’t speak up because they don’t think anything will change. SaferSpace is about showing them that it will. The system supports staff and gives employers a fair, reliable way to respond.”
