Background
Misleading Advertising: The BLAC Awards (UK) C.I.C t/a The BLAC Awards breaks UK advertising rules for misleadingly claiming and implying that it has a current official partnership with the Royal Air Force (RAF).
The ASA investigated, in 2024, a complaint form the RAF about advertising on The BLAC Awards’ website, blac.org.uk, and its Facebook page.
The ASA understood that there had previously been a sponsorship arrangement between The BLAC Awards and the RAF, in 2020, and as part of that The BLAC Awards had permission to use the RAF logo and branding. However, in the investigation, the ASA did not see any evidence to suggest that the partnership was ongoing and that, at the time the ads were seen, The BLAC Awards was authorised to include the RAF’s logo in its advertising and the ASA understood from the complainant that it was not.
The CAP Code states that marketing communications must not claim that the marketer, the marketing communication or the advertised product had been approved, endorsed or authorised by any public or other body if it has not. The ASA has ruled that the use of the RAF logo in its advertising and the claim “The BLAC Awards in partnership with the RAF” were misleading.
The CAP Compliance team contacted The BLAC Awards but, in the absence of an assurance to amend the blac.org.uk website to comply with the ruling, took the decision on 16 September 2026 to place the company’s details on this section of the ASA website. These details shall remain in place until such time as The BLAC Awards (UK) C.I.C t/a The BLAC Awards has appropriately amended the blac.org.uk website to comply with the CAP Code.
