When “asbestos-free” may not mean what you think
White asbestos has been banned in the UK since 1999, yet this year it has been discovered within components of UK wind turbines, understood to have entered the supply chain via third-party Chinese suppliers. Around the same time, the Office for Product Safety and Standards, the UK Health Security Agency and the HSE issued a […]
Regulatory Watch
This update provides a summary of enforcement action, new legislation and consultations and how these may impact you or your business. Now in force: Corporate criminal liability has changed. The “senior manager” rules under the Crime and Policing Act 2026 came into force on 29 June 2026. Now, organisations can be held criminally responsible for […]
Regulating Fire Risk Assessors
The government is consulted on the regulation and competence requirements of fire risk assessors, signalling a significant shift toward greater oversight and accountability within the fire safety sector. For accountable persons under the Building Safety Act and responsible persons under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the competence of those undertaking fire risk assessments […]
Construction Products Reform White Paper
The government’s reforms to the construction products regime, developed in response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and subsequent reviews, signal a substantial increase in regulatory scrutiny across the sector. The proposals include stronger enforcement powers, significant financial penalties, potential criminal liability for individuals, director disqualification, and wider investigatory powers. For businesses involved in the manufacture, […]
Business Owners & Advisers: HMRC’s Data Collection Is Being Felt
Now in effect from the 2025–2026 tax year HMRC has fundamentally changed how it collects and uses taxpayer data which means more granular data, cross-matching, earlier risk identification and more targeted investigations. HMRC says the objective is to improve data quality, support compliance and create a more resilient tax system. That may be true but from […]
Broader regulatory trends to watch
Why compliance a board-level issue Beyond high profile investigations and prosecutions, several quieter regulatory developments are reshaping what good governance looks like in practice. Cyber security, data protection and corporate reporting are increasingly intersecting with traditional regulatory law, creating new expectations for boards and senior leadership teams, becoming part of mainstream risk oversight. What’s developing […]
HSE prosecutions and enforcement trends
What recent cases tell us about regulator priorities Recent Health and Safety Executive prosecution summaries continue to show a familiar pattern. Serious injuries and fatalities are still being linked to failures in basic safety controls rather than complex or unforeseeable events. For businesses, these cases are a reminder that enforcement is not focused on rare […]
2026 Regulatory Reform
The compliance areas businesses should not ignore this year Regulatory change in 2026 is not arriving as one single reform, but as a series of shifts that together raise the bar on compliance expectations. Health and safety, building safety, mental health, asbestos and fire risk are all moving from guidance-heavy territory into practical, enforceable obligations. […]
Building Safety Regulator acknowledges new independence
What this means for property and construction responsibilities As of 27 January 2026, the Building Safety Regulator now operates as a standalone body, separate from the Health and Safety Executive. While the Building Safety Act itself is not new, this is an important move for building safety enforcement. For businesses with property portfolios, projects or […]
Community outrage over chemical contamination in North Yorkshire
Why environmental enforcement is back in sharp focus Concerns raised by residents in Bentham, North Yorkshire, over alleged PFAS contamination have triggered an ongoing investigation by the Environment Agency into possible environmental permit breaches. PFAS, often referred to as forever chemicals, are known for their persistence in soil and water and their potential long-term health […]