Hosted at the London offices of Gowling WLG, the Regulatory Excellence Awards finals attracted a capacity audience to celebrate the outstanding work of organisations, individuals, and trade associations that have enhanced protections for consumers by making regulation work for them, while also supporting businesses to comply.
This year two new categories, Product Safety and Innovation and Technical, were added to Primary Authority and Better Business for All.
Welsh brewer SA Brain won the Innovation and Technical category for their automated system that makes allergen information easily accessible for guests so they can choose their food with confidence.
The Product Safety winner was a collaborative project in Northern Ireland (Environmental Health Consumer Protection (EHNI CP) Sub Group) which brought together the Environmental Health departments of 11 district councils, the Department for the Economy Trading Standards Service for NI and the General Dental Council to deliver a targeted social media campaign informing citizens on the health risks of unsafe tooth whitening products and services.
Wakefield Council and Wm Morrison Supermarkets won the Primary Authority category, having been one of the first partnerships in the country to take a National Inspection Strategy from an unexplored concept to a viable option for delivering risk-based regulation using business data, so enabling reprioritisation of local authority resources and supporting businesses in compliance and growth.
The Greater Manchester Regulatory Centre of Excellence won the Better Business for All (BBfA) category. It is ensuring regulators and businesses change the way regulation is delivered and received by communicating the benefits the programme which brings regulatory bodies and business groups together to support local economies, and supports the aims of the government's Industrial Strategy.
A Special Recognition Award was made to John Boulter, Head of Joint Protective Services at Hertfordshire County Council, for his leadership and outstanding contribution to BBfA.
OPSS Chief Executive Graham Russell said: "Our judges found the entries to be very diverse in scope and of very high quality. They wanted to recognise the innovation and sheer hard work being done by regulatory teams in an increasingly complex and challenging world.
"All the finalists can be proud of what they have achieved, and we will ensure that their examples of best practice are shared; and prove inspirational to others."
This year's winners range from small Trading Standards teams to National Regulators and businesses. Details of the best entries will be shared in due course.
The winners
Primary Authority
Winner: Wakefield Council and Wm Morrison Supermarkets
Highly Commended: Business Advice and Support Partnership
Commended: Wine & Spirit Trade Association / Greater Manchester Regulatory Centre of Excellence
Better Business for All
Winner: Greater Manchester Regulatory Centre of Excellence
Highly Commended: New Anglia Compliance Partnership
Commended: BBfA Humber Partnership
Special Recognition: John Boulter
Product Safety
Winner: Environmental Health Consumer Protection Sub Group
Highly Commended: Hillingdon Ports team
Commended: Leicestershire Trading Standards
Innovation and Technical
Winner: SA Brain & Company Ltd
Highly Commended: Food Standards Agency Strategic Surveillance Team
Commended: Credas
Commended: Edinburgh Trading Standards
Local Authority of the Year
Cornwall Council
National Regulator of the Year
The Health and Safety Executive
Business of the Year
The Ladder Association
If you want to enter the Regulatory Excellence Awards 2020, or just to know more, please email
