Episode 39: Spotlight on the Institute of Regulation’s 2026 Award Winners

Well, that's such a lovely case study, if I may say so, Tim, of, of, of how you've gone from identifying a need, working to understand that, uh, problem with, uh, stakeholders, running a pilot, as you say, gathering the data, running the pilot, assessing that, and then publishing a report so you can, you and others can learn lessons from that.

So, so that's, that's lovely.

Obviously, it's like textbook, uh, how you should go about doing things.

Um, and one of the really interesting things I've heard from all three of you is that although you're working in environmental, North Sea oil and gas and health, um, and related services, um, actually, there are some, there, there are some kind of common themes that I've heard come through.

Obviously, on the, uh, there's about using data, you know, understanding the evidence that you're, you're drawing on.

Um, working together, uh, with, uh, other partners, um, and those that you regulate.

I think all of you have talked about, um, um, Eilidh, I think particularly talked about, you know, giving information to the people that you regulate so that they can do the right thing.

Uh, and also I've heard about teamworking.

You know, uh, all of you have talked aboutObviously, Tim particularly, you know, talked about bringing together a team across CQC, but all of you again have talked about, uh, that this is about, uh, you and colleagues and your regulators working together.

So, uh, Nicola, if I can come back to you, um, having heard, uh, Tim and, and Eilidh, um, and reflecting on your own experiences, what would you say are the features of good regulation?

That's a great question.

And before I get to that, I'll just say that collaboration point I think is, is so important.

And I think before we picked up a pen in developing our intelligence function, we spoke to so many in this regulatory community, members such as the Gambling Commission, the Solicitors Regulation Authority, and they were so generous with their time.

They were candid with their experience, and they, they gave us a really strong foundation upon which to build.

Um, so we'll be eternally grateful to them for, for that.

Um-

Right.

As we, we all have similar aims, don't we? And that's, uh, that's really good to hear that you've, that you've had that kind of feedback from other regulators as well.

Yeah.

And so you asked me about, um, you know, what, what's good environmental or what's good regulation.

Um, and this is something that we spent, so we spent a lot of time at the OEP considering because we need a consistent approach as we monitor and assess regulations and any proposed changes to them.

So we have developed a framework at the OEP, um, you know, what we think good environmental should look like, um, and it's available on our website.

I won't go into the whole thing.

Um, but just to pull out some of the main features, um, we think having a clear evidence base, you know, purpose and objectives, so important.

Having clear allocated roles and responsibilities, and that's something that, you know, regulatory reviews like Cunliffe have recently highlighted in the water sector.