BRP Terms of Reference
Published 11 January 2021
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1. Details
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has a leading role in regulatory practice, which includes running a lively Business Reference Panel.
The Panel ensures the voice of business is at the heart of the regulatory agenda by providing the opportunity to discuss current and emerging issues, explore business thinking and identify potential solutions. It also enables members to scrutinise the work of OPSS, share concerns and inform future direction.
2. Purpose
The Business Reference Panel facilitates a productive dialogue between regulators and businesses to ensure the voice of business is placed at the heart of the regulatory agenda. The meetings are an opportunity to discuss both emerging and existing issues across the regulatory landscape, explore business thinking and where possible identify solutions. They also enable members to scrutinise the work of OPSS, share concerns and inform future direction.
3. Background
Established now for over 10 years, OPSS works collaboratively with members to set the agenda and focus on themes of real importance throughout the broad base of the membership by:
- facilitating timely and meaningful discussions across a multitude of policy areas to challenge, discuss and debate key areas of concern
- inviting keynote speakers from across Government and representative organisations to spearhead discussions and provide a perspective on how specific areas of regulation impacts across the business community
- providing a mechanism for members to discuss their regulatory journeys and share best practice
4. Meetings
The Panel meets four times a year with each agenda being shaped around the issues of greatest regulatory concern for members. OPSS chairs the meetings which consist of both plenary and focused break-out sessions that explore and examine sector specific issues.
Each meeting provides an opportunity for members to both benefit from the delivery of key regulatory updates whilst also having the opportunity to comment and share their own individual insights.
Highlights are made available after the event and members are encouraged to suggest themes for further exploration at future meetings to ensure the meetings are kept informative, meaningful and relevant.
The agendas are sent out two weeks in advance of each meeting and a summary note is provided within a month after the meeting has taken place.
5. Membership
Panel members consist of regulatory leads across multiple sectors types that represent the ideas, views and concerns of over 200 different trade associations, representative bodies and individual businesses. Micro and start-ups, as well as large multi-national corporations make up our membership base providing a voice to over 1 million businesses across the UK.
Our members provide us with the insights we need to better understand the views of the business community and how their individual experiences of regulation impacts upon them – we invite all to share their experiences and provide honest feedback.
6. Administration
OPSS is responsible for maintaining and growing the membership, organising the meetings, setting the agenda, taking notes, circulating a summary note and following up on any emerging issues.