OPSS Regulatory Excellence Awards 2021 winners announced
The Regulatory Excellence Awards recognise outstanding work and innovation in combating coronavirus, helping businesses trade safely while protecting consumers.
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) Regulatory Excellence Awards were held online this year with its largest ever audience of more than 250 people able to attend, including representatives from business organisations and public sector regulatory professionals.
Paul Scully MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Minister for London, provided the opening address.
He said: “Thank you to all the organisations that have entered this year’s Regulatory Excellence Awards and for the cooperation and partnership working you were involved in with the Office for Product Safety and Standards. This year it is particularly important we celebrate outstanding regulatory practice in supporting businesses and protecting consumers.”
There were five award categories: Coronavirus, Better Business for All, Primary Authority, Innovation and Technical, and Product Safety.
Coronavirus
The winners demonstrated excellent regulatory practice in response to the pandemic. This included helping keep people safe whilst businesses trade, supporting businesses to comply with new regulations, and aiding recovery by helping them reopen.
Winner: Oxfordshire Coronavirus Regulatory Partners
Oxfordshire Regulatory Partners quickly realised that the challenges of coronavirus were best met jointly and developed a regulatory network together with public health partners. Sweeping away any barriers to collaboration, they built on local knowledge and expertise, used Government funding to increase coverage and influenced through regulatory excellence. They shared engagement and learning outcomes and partnered with national advisors and coordinators.
See the Oxfordshire Coronavirus Regulatory Partners Video
Highly Commended
Primary Authority Supermarket Health and Safety Covid Expert Panel
Directors of Public Protection Wales
Chorley and South Ribble Council
Environmental Health and Trading Standards Covid19 Expert Officer Group – ETC19
Commended
Lichfield District Council & Central England Co-op
Better Business for All
The winners delivered outstanding regulatory support at a local level.
Winner: Heart of the South West Better Business for All
Heart of the South West Better Business for All brought partners together from local authority economic development, trading standards and environmental health teams and business representatives. They produced and delivered guides and webinars for the business community and acted as a one stop shop for all things EU-Transition.
See the Heart of the South West Better Business for All video
Highly Commended
Cumbria Better Business for All Group
Commended
Sussex Better Business for All – Charcuterie
Primary Authority
The winners demonstrated exceptional achievements in using their primary authority partnerships to make regulation work for businesses.
Winner: Wakefield Metropolitan District Council & EC4 Hotel
The impact of coronavirus is huge on the hospitality sector’s income and that of their suppliers. EC4 Hotel Limited and their PA, Wakefield Council, took steps to mitigate this with:
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A new delivery concept seizing the opportunity to use less productive time and empty rooms.
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Working together on procedures to provide COVID safe accommodation and facilities to support haulier drivers who tested positive for COVID following a Lateral Flow Test.
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Specifically targets drivers who do not have a UK residence to self-isolate or access a confirmatory PCR test.
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Supporting infected drivers and keeping communities safe from COVID spread.
See the Wakefield Metropolitan District Council & EC4 Hotel Video
Highly Commended
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service in Partnership with NatWest Group
Commended
The Wine and Spirit Trade Association primary authority partnership with Salford City Council on behalf of the Greater Manchester Regulatory Centre of Excellence and the Shared Regulatory Services of Bridgend, Cardiff, and the Vale of Glamorgan
Innovation and Technical
The winners developed novel or technical solutions that contributed to protecting consumers and supporting business.
Winner: Glint Media Ltd t/a Menu Guide and Milton Keynes Council
Menu Guide delivers an innovative technical solution to managing allergens. This new tool helps food businesses create, edit and share interactive allergen menus online 24/7, via a scannable QR code or website short link.
By providing a single digital reference point for allergen information, Menu Guide saves time, supports staff training, reduces errors, and minimises risk. It’s a cost-effective way to fulfil legal requirements, keep customers safe and ensure repeat business.
See the Glint Media Ltd t/a Menu Guide and Milton Keynes Council Video
Highly Commended
Elmbridge Borough Council Food Team (in Environmental Health)
Commended
Bartosz Machelski – SSE/OVO Paul Brison – British Gas Callum Sheen – E.ON John Barden – EDF Dave Wright – Npower
Product Safety
The winners all made a significant contribution to product safety.
Winner: The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association
The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association is the UK trade association for the cosmetics and personal care industry and has worked since the referendum result to prepare the industry for the impact of Brexit. As the UK moved towards leaving the EU, much of 2020 was dedicated to ensuring the UK regulatory framework for cosmetics remains risk-based and science-led, ensuring consumer safety.
See the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association Video
Highly Commended
Electrical Safety First
Commended
Hillingdon Trading Standards
Outstanding Contribution to Local Communities
FareShare and the Royal Borough of Greenwich
An additional special award for Outstanding Contribution to Local Communities was given to the primary authority partnership between FareShare and the Royal Borough of Greenwich.
FareShare is the UK’s national network of charitable food redistributors, working with over 11,000 charities and community groups. During Coronavirus, Fareshare was supported by its primary authority partnership to expand and vary its operations significantly to cater for the increased need for products from the charitable sector.
See the FareShare and the Royal Borough of Greenwich Video
Follow #RegEx2021 on Twitter to read more about the winners’ achievements.