The Regulatory Horizons Council is currently seeking a new Chairperson. Based within the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the role is based in London, but applications are welcome from those based outside London but with the expectation they may need to travel to London periodically with a time commitment of 3 – 4 days per month with up to a total of 48 days per year.

The Council:

  • scans the horizon for technological innovation and trends, building on existing work and data across departments and regulators;
  • prioritises products, services and business models with high potential benefit for the UK economy and society;
  • identifies broad areas of regulatory reform needed in order to facilitate the rapid and safe introduction of these products, services and business models;
  • makes recommendations to government on broad priorities for regulatory reform, based on the potential benefit for the UK economy and society while protecting citizens and the environment; and
  • monitors the government’s progress in delivering reforms that the Council has recommended and evaluating the impact of its recommendations.

The Council was fully established in August 2020 by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy as an expert committee supported by a team of civil servants from the Better Regulation Executive.

The Council has recently produced reports with recommendations to government on the regulation of fusion energy, genetic technologies, medical devices, and drones. The reports have had a significant impact in informing policy thinking in these areas. For example, the government’s consultation on fusion energy explained that its proposals were informed by and strongly align with the recommendations of the RHC’s report on fusion energy

The RHC is currently working on its second tranche of work, on the following areas of innovation:

  • Pro-Innovation Principles for Regulation
  • Hydrogen in Maritime
  • Neurotechnology
  • AI as a Medical Device

Council Meetings are a combination of virtual and face to face meetings. Face to face meetings, where possible, are hosted in different locations across the UK, with the most recent Council meetings occurring in Oxfordshire and Newcastle.

For more information, and to apply for the position click here.