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The list of regulators seeks to provide clarity on regulatory bodies to improve user journeys for regulated entities. For the purposes of this list, we are using a broad interpretationdefinition of ‘regulator’ to include bodies that exercise statutory regulatory functions. TheWe preciselegalstatusandroleofeachorganisationcanbefoundontheirwebsites. Wehave included bodies that perform regulatory functions in the UK: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Ireland.
StatutoryThe regulatorsareregulatory bodies establishedlisted inlegislationwhichexercise statutory regulatory functions that are created in legislation.legislation. This may include the setting of standards, inspection and enforcement of compliance with regulations,regulations, licensing licensingor grantgranting of ofcertification for certification.certain Somegovernmentdepartmentsandlocalauthoritiesalsoperformregulatoryfunctions,howeverthesehavenotbeenincludedinthelist.activities.
Certainon jobsmerit on the basis of fair and tradesopen arecompetition regulated.to Findhelp detailssafeguard ofan theseimpartial professionsCivil Service, and theirprovides regulatorsadvice inon applications from senior civil servants and special advisers under the RegulatedBusiness ProfessionsAppointment Register.
Regulates sponsoredthe processes by awhich UKministers governmentmake department.
Sponsoredappointments byto the Cabinetboards Office
of national and regional public bodies. The commissioner aims to ensure that such appointments are made on merit after a fair, open and transparent process.
The UK’sUK’s independent public spending watchdog, supports Parliament in holding government to account and improves public services through our audits.
Global professional accounting body offering the Chartered Certified Accountant qualification. Regulatory functions delegated from Financial Reporting Council.
Global body for professional accountants. Regulatory functions delegated from Financial Reporting Council.
British Hallmarking Council (to be abolished – its functions will be consolidated to the Department for Business and Trade)
Supervises the hallmarking activities of the 4 assay offices in the UK to ensure there is adequate provision of hallmarking withinin the UK.UK. On 21 October 2025, the government announced that it will be abolished and its functions will be consolidated to the Department for Business and Trade, as parliamentary time allows.
Official registrar of companies, responsible for incorporating and dissolving limited companies, as well as maintaining public records of company information.
Specialist judicial body with cross-disciplinary expertise in law, economics, business and accountancy to hear and decide cases involving competition or economic regulatory issues.
Authorises and regulates insolvency practitioners in the UK under insolvency legislation and supervises members’ compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) requirements. It undertakes monitoring, education, professional events, and stakeholder engagement, and works with relevant authorities and professional bodies, including the Insolvency Service and the Office for Professional Body AML Supervision Regulations (OPBAS).
HelpsAdministers compulsory company liquidations and personal bankruptcies, investigates serious financial misconduct in companies, supports individuals who are subject to deliverbankruptcy economicor confidencedebt byrelief supportingorders thoseand in financialcompanies, distress,acts tacklingas financialoversight wrongdoingregulator for the insolvency profession, and maximisingissues returnspayments from the National Insurance Fund to creditors.the former employees of insolvent employers.
Global professional body for chartered accountants (also regulates insolvency practitioners in the UK, Probate Practitioners, Insolvency Practitioners,Statutory Auditors and Administers of Oaths in the England and Wales). Regulatory functions delegated from Financial Reporting Council. It also provides anti-money laundering supervision to its members to ensure compliance with regulations.
Enforces the statutory Pubs Code, which regulates the relationship between all pub companies owning 500 or more tied pubs in England and Wales and their tidetied tenants.
Licenses, regulates, advises and provides guidance to theindividuals and businesses that offer gambling in Great Britain, including the National Lottery in the UK.UK.
AdvisesProtects onand safetypromotes atthe sportssustainability groundsof English football, for the benefit of fans and overseesthe local authoritiescommunities inthat safetyfootball certification.clubs serve.
Responsible for the regulation of the teaching profession, including misconducttaking hearingsaction andon allegations themaintenanceof aserious recordofteachers,traineeteachersandthosewhoholdateacherreferencenumber.misconduct.
SponsoredSponsor byor thelead department: Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero
Regulates environmental and decommissioning activity for offshore oil and gas operations, including carbon capture and storage operations, on the UK continental shelf.
OfficialPrevents authoritythe forintroduction lighthousesand inspread England,of Wales,serious and emerging fish and shellfish disease by providing data and advice to the ChannelUK Islandsgovernment and Gibraltar.our overseas partners.
Provides independent reassurance that water supplies in England and Wales are safesafe, sufficient and drinking water quality is acceptable to consumers.
Protects and improves the environment in England by regulating industrycertain andactivities wastethat have the potential to harm the environment and managingpeople. waterRegulatory qualityactivity includes fisheries, flood risk, agriculture and resources,intensive thefarming, treatmentwater ofresources, contaminatedwaste land,management, inlandindustrial river,processes, estuaryemissions andtrading, harbourchemicals, navigations,control fisheriesof andmajor generalaccident conservationhazards, and ecology.much more.
Conserves, manages and enhances England’s natural environment for the benefit of present and contributesfuture generations, thereby contributing to sustainable development.
Makes,Regulates updatesveterinary andmedicines, enforcesincluding thetheir Veterinaryauthorisation, Medicinessale, Regulations.supply and use, in the UK.
SponsoredSponsor byor thelead department: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Regulates communicationsservicesinthe UK’s communications industries, including broadband,broadcasting, telecommunications (broadband, mobile and homefixed‑line phoneservices), services,postal services, TV,and the use of radio andspectrum, along with online services.
SponsoredSponsor byor thelead department: Department for Transport
Develops skills benchmarks and qualifications relevant to the modern automotive sector, oversees assessment and accredits individuals to operate in the sector.
Prevents the loss of life on the coast and at sea, produces legislation and guidance on maritime matters and certifies seafarers.seafarers. Enforces standards for ship safety, security, pollution prevention and seafarer health, safety and welfare.
Regulates and licenses heavy good vehicle operators, bus and coach operatorsoperators, regulates drivers who hold large goods or passenger carrying vehicle driving entitlement, and registers local bus services.
Approves most categories of new vehicles and components from locations in the UK and overseas and is responsible for certification under UN and UK type approval schemes.)schemes.
SponsoredSponsor byor thelead department: Department for Work and Pensions
Regulates workplace health and safety and prevents work-related death, injury and ill health. Responsible for chemicals regulation and building safety, through the new Building Safety Regulator (BSR).
Regulates nuclear safety, civil nuclear security and safeguards and health and safety at the 35 licensed nuclear sites in Great Britain as well as the transport of civil nuclear and radioactive materials by road, rail and inland waterways.
Monitors,Regulates regulatesandinspectshealth and adult social care services in EnglandEngland. toEnsures makethat surehealth and social care services provide people havewith safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care.care and encourages care services to improve.
Makes sure that every doctor, physician associate (PA) and anaesthesia associate (AA) has the right knowledge, skills, qualifications and experience to work across the UK. Maintains official lists of these registered professionals.
Keeps the public register of osteopaths and promotes high standards of practice and conduct, setting standards for osteopathic education and training, investigating concerns about osteopaths, and protecting the osteopathic title from misuse.
Regulates organisations that remove, store and use human tissue for research, medical treatment, post-mortem examination, education and training, and display in public and gives approval for organ and bone marrow donations from living people.
Promotes high education and professional standards for nurses and midwives across the UK, and nursing associates in England. Maintains the register of professionals eligible to practise, and investigates concerns about nurses, midwives and nursing associates.
SponsoredSponsor byor lead department: HM Treasury
SupervisesAssociation theof 25Accounting professionalTechnicians body(AAT) supervisorsenforces ina thecode legalof ethics, investigates complaints, and accountancylicenses sectorsmembers offering bookkeeping or accounting services to reduceclients, themaking harmit a form of moneyprofessional regulation. It provides anti-money laundering supervision to its members.
Provides anti-money laundering supervision to its members who have businesses in the tax and terroristaccountancy financing.sector to ensure compliance with regulations.
Bank of England (including the Prudential Regulation Authority)
ProvidesMaintains UK monetary and financial stabilitystability, forincluding through setting monetary policy and regulating certain financial market infrastructure firms and payment systems. Through the peoplePrudential ofRegulation Authority, the UK.Bank of England also sets and supervises prudential standards for banks, building societies, credit unions, insurers and major investment firms.
CIMA acts as a professional regulator for its members, setting ethical standards, enforcing a code of practice, and having disciplinary procedures. It provides anti-money laundering supervision to its members to ensure compliance with regulations.
Regulates the conduct of relevant financial services businesses in the UK, with objectives to make sure that financial markets work wellwell, forensure individuals,appropriate businessesconsumer andprotection, forenhance the growthintegrity of the UK financial system, promote effective competition, and facilitate international competitiveness and growth of the UK economy.
Promotes
ICB competitionis anda innovationmembership inbody thefor paymentsbookkeepers. industryIt andprovides makesanti-money surelaundering supervision to its members to ensure compliance with regulations.
IFA is an accountancy supervisory body that paymentsprovides areanti-money safelaundering andsupervision secure.to its members to ensure compliance with regulations.
Enables organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors to make safer recruitment decisions by identifying candidates who may be unsuitable for certain work, especially involving children or vulnerable adults, and provides wider access to criminal record information through its disclosure service for England and Wales.
Makes sure that the provision of forensic science across the criminal justice system is subject to an appropriate regime of scientific quality standards.
Investigates labour exploitation in England and Wales and works with partners to target, dismantle and disrupt serious and organised crime across the UK.UK.
Police complaints watchdog for England and Wales. Investigates the most serious matters, including deaths following police contact and sets the standards by which the police should handle complaints.
Regulates the UK’sUK’s private security industry and activities such as cash and valuable in transit, close protection, door supervision, public space surveillance (CCTV), security guarding and key holding.
AssessThe theindependent effectivenessregulator, investigator, and efficiencyassurer offor policehealth, forcessafety and fireenvironmental protection in defence and rescuethe servicesoverarching body for the Ministry of Defence’s safety regulators. It regulates across England,the Walesair, land, maritime, nuclear, medical, fire, ordnance and Northernmunitions, Ireland.and environmental protection domains.
Sponsor or lead department: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
MonitorsRegulates for a viable, efficient and reportswell-governed onsocial thehousing efficiencysector able to deliver more and effectivenessbetter ofsocial thehomes. immigration,It asylum,does nationalitythis andby customssetting functionsstandards carriedand carrying out byrobust theregulation Homefocusing Secretaryon driving improvement in social landlords, including local authorities, and byensuring officialsthat housing associations are well-governed, financially viable and othersoffer onvalue theirfor behalf.money.
RegistersEnforces thebuilding ownershipregulations in Northern Ireland, ensuring buildings are designed and constructed in accordance with standards for health, safety, welfare, convenience, conservation of landfuel and propertypower, and prevention of waste, pollution and nuisance.
Provides inspection services and information about the quality of education and training provision across all sectors of education in Northern Ireland, including schools, further education, work-based learning, and youth services.
Regulates employment agencies and employment businesses in Northern Ireland, ensuring compliance with requirementsemployment agency legislation and protecting the rights of agency workers.
Administers Countyand Councilregulates takesthe insolvency regime in Northern Ireland, dealing with bankruptcies, company liquidations, and administrations.
Responsible for mapping, land registration, property valuation, and rate collection in Northern Ireland. Maintains the leadLand Registry, Registry of Deeds and Statutory Charges Registry, and provides valuation services for taxation and other statutory purposes.
Professional body for the solicitors’ profession in Northern Ireland. Under the team’sSolicitors work(Northern onIreland) Order 1976, the requirementLaw Society acts as the regulatory authority governing the education, accounts, discipline and professional conduct of solicitors in order to displaymaintain feesthe independence, ethical standards, professional competence and clientquality moneyof services offered to the public.
Regulates the exploration and extraction of minerals and petroleum in Northern Ireland, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and environmental standards.
Responsible leadsfor onimproving, managing and maintaining the broaderthree enforcementfishery harbours and harbour estates of lettingArdglass, agencyKilkeel, legislation.and Portavogie and for operating the facilities which are provided at these harbours.
Promotes high standards in nursing and midwifery education and practise in Northern Ireland, supporting professional development and quality improvement.
Maintains a register of Social Workers and Social Care Workers in Northern Ireland. Sets standards for Social Workers and regulationsSocial Care Workers for their conduct, training and practice. Sets standards for and regulates social work education and training in Northern Ireland.
Registers and regulates pharmacists and pharmacies in Northern Ireland as well as providing leadership to drivethe improvementsprofession, in socialthe housingpublic landlords,interest.
Regulates authoritiesthe rail industry in Northern Ireland, issuing licences and makesensuring surecompliance housingwith associationsrailway areregulations.
GivesResponsible for the governmentadministration, collection, and enforcement of the valuationsSingle andUse propertyCarrier adviceBag neededlevy, which requires retailers to supportcharge taxationa minimum of 25p for each new carrier bag supplied to customers, with the proceeds going to the Department for environmental projects.
Regulates the road freight and passenger transport industries in Northern Ireland, issuing licences and ensuring compliance with transport regulations.
Regulates the water supply and ensures accurate, impartial information is available on drinking water quality in Scotland to promote the use of Prisonsrobust water science.
ScrutinisesIndependent body of lawyers who have been admitted to practise as advocates before the conditionscourts of Scotland, especially the Court of Session and treatmentthe High Court of prisonersJusticiary.
Inspects and regulates healthcare providers in Scotland to help them improve the quality of care they deliver, ensuring safe, effective and person-centred care.
Lead public body for Scotland’s historic environment, responsible for regulating works to scheduled monuments and listed buildings, and providing statutory advice on theirplanning findings.applications affecting historic sites.
Professional body for over 13,000 Scottish solicitors, with an overarching objective of leading legal excellence, understanding and youthserving justicethe needs of our members and the public. As part of regulatory duties, sets and upholds standards to ensure the provision of excellent legal services and ensure the public can have confidence in EnglandScotland’s solicitor profession.
Scotland’s nature agency working to improve the natural environment and Wales.inspire people to care for it, with regulatory functions over protected areas, wildlife management, and species licencing.
Responsible for compiling and maintaining 20 public registers relating to land, property, and other legal documents in Scotland. Oversees land registration, maintains the Citizens’Land RightsRegister Agreementsof Scotland and the General Register of Sasines.
MonitorsSupports and promotes the functioningadoption of lawful, effective, and ethical practices in relation to the provisionsacquisition, retention, use, and destruction of biometric data for criminal justice and police purposes in Scotland.
Protects the BrexitEnvironment withdrawaland agreementHuman relatingHealth to citizens’ensure rights,that Scotland’s natural resources and services are used as sustainably as possible and contribute to protectsustainable economic growth.
Provides fire and rescue services across Scotland, with regulatory functions in fire safety enforcement, inspecting premises and ensuring compliance with fire safety legislation.
Recommends changes to law, policy and practice to promote human rights and conducts inquiries into the policies and practices of EuropeanScottish Unionpublic citizensauthorities.
Sets prices for water and sewerage services that deliver Scottish ministers’ objectives for the UK.water industry at the lowest reasonable overall cost to consumers by facilitating competition. Monitors and reports on Scottish Water’s performance regarding customer service, investment, costs and leakage.
Independent body that considers complaints about public services and independent care providers in Wales, and investigates allegations that members of local authorities have broken their code of conduct.
Regulates the Serioussocial Fraudcare Officeworkforce (SFO).in Wales, and provides national leadership and expertise in social care and childcare, play and early years in Wales.