Networks
At the UKRN we strive to deliver excellence through collaboration and our core activity of running member networks, provides the forum to connect people in similar professions, or work on common topics. Sharing and developing best practice, they often deliver projects and programmes of activity.
Governance
Advisory
Professional Networks
As a member-led organisation UKRN strive to deliver excellence through collaboration. Our core activity of running professional networks achieves this by;
- promoting collaboration and knowledge sharing
- championing effective regulation
- delivering efficiencies and shared objectives
Governance
Advisory
Professional Networks
As a member-led organisation UKRN strive to deliver excellence through collaboration. Our core activity of running professional networks achieves this by;
- promoting collaboration and knowledge sharing
- championing effective regulation
- delivering efficiencies and shared objectives
CEOs
Objectives
- Governance, leads on the strategic direction of the UKRN.
Frequency
Quarterly, of which two per year are joint with UKCN
Network chair
Attricia Archer
UKRN lead
Charley Grady-Pearce
SRG
Objectives
- Governance, provides senior input and steer on UKRN strategic direction. Main decision-making group for UKRN.
Frequency
Quarterly
Network chair
Richard Edes (TPR)
UKRN lead
Charley Grady-Pearce
Principals
Objectives
- Keep UKRN Principals informed and updated on work of UKRN and across other regulators.
- Provide a preview of upcoming senior rep and CEO’s discussion. Information flow function.
- Forum for cross sector shared learning and best practice, an L&D element to the meeting.
Frequency
Quarterly
Network chair
Josh Kilpatrick (Ofcom)
UKRN lead
Kevin Smith
Climate Change
Objectives
- To understand and support implementation of efficient investment in climate mitigation, fair transition to Net Zero and informed decision making by regulators
Frequency
Every 2 months
Network chair
James Jenkins (Ofwat)
UKRN lead
Barbara Perata-Smith
Comms Directors2
Objectives
- To share expertise, understanding and best practice on internal and external comms strategies and on trends in the wider profession
Frequency
Quarterly
Network chair
Simon Redfern (Ofcom)
Angela Balakrishnan (ICO)
UKRN lead
Kevin Smith
COOs1
Objectives
- Sharing information and best practice across Corporate Services at COO level
- Provide senior steer on COO-related topics (e.g. HR and estates, Finance, procurement, operational processes, D&I)
Frequency
Monthly
Network chair
Attricia Archer (UKRN)
UKRN lead
Nicole Trinder
Corporate Governance
The Corporate Governance Network is intended to bring together those senior leaders across UKRN members, with responsibility for corporate governance and company secretariat functions.
The network exists to provide members with a network of peers, with whom they can:
- Discuss matters of common interest in a “safe space” and co-ordinate activity (where appropriate)
- Share knowledge, experiences, and “best practice”; and
- Explore up opportunities for development for their respective teams and colleagues.
Frequency
Quarterly
Network chair
William Hague (FCA)
UKRN lead
Charley Grady-Pearce
Cost of Capital Directors2
Objectives
- Governance for Cost of Capital projects, task force deliverables and finance and investment workstreams.
- Maintain strategic focus and optimise opportunities with cohesive response to increase voice within Government channels and sector.
Network chair
Andrew Chesworth (Ofwat)
UKRN lead
Philip O’Donnell
Cost of Capital Working Group
Objectives
- Shared learnings and best practice
- Transparency in WACC decisions
- Publishing Cost of Capital Annual Report
Frequency
Monthly
Network chair
Chris Connor (Ofgem)
UKRN lead
Philip O’Donnell
Cost of Capital (Taskforce)
Objectives
- Working towards greater consistency, and a common methodology for the WACC when setting price controls.
Frequency
2022: Bi-Weekly
2023 onwards: as required
Network chair
Andrew Chesworth (Ofwat)
UKRN lead
Philip O’Donnell
Cyber Security
Objectives
- Shared best practice, specialist recruitment, NIS and implementation
Frequency
Every 2 months
Network chair
Interim Chair: Barnaby Burch (CAA)
UKRN lead
Kevin Smith
Data Strategy
Objectives
- To share data strategies, best practice and explore opportunities to understand how data is recorded and responsibly shared across regulator
Frequency
Every 2 months
Network chair
David McKeever (ICO)
Amanda Hall (RSH)
UKRN lead
Makedah Simpson
Digital Comms
Objectives
- To share expertise, understanding and best practice on digital comms
Frequency
Every 2 months
Network chair
Neil Gregory (FCA)
UKRN lead
Kevin Smith
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Objectives
- Sharing best practice and lessons learned
- Supporting each other on individual ED&I matters, especially smaller regulators
Frequency
Every 2 months
Network chair
Luke Hargreaves (FCA)
UKRN lead
Makedah Simpson
IT Directors
Objectives
- information sharing on strategic direction and challenges
- sharing operating models and sourcing models
- horizon scanning
- AI developments/regulation
Frequency
Monthly
Network chair
Caroline Gregory (Ofwat)
UKRN lead
Nicole Trinder
Cost of Living Working Group
UKRN has been working closely together with five of our members, who form the ‘Cost of Living Working Group’ (a sub-group to the Vulnerability Network);
- The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
- Ofcom
- Ofwat
- Ofgem
- Utility Regulator (NI)
This working group aims to collaborate ensuring respective sectors are supporting customers in financial difficulty, recognising that consumers are dealing with multiple payments, across multiple regulated sectors, which can create additional burden.
UKRN lead
Makedah Simpson
Media Heads
Established in March 2024, the aim of the group is to share best practice, through the discussion of members’ notable campaigns and media work and to discuss the topics that are priorities for UKRN media teams.
Frequency
Quarterly
Network chair
Dave Murphy (ICO)
UKRN lead
Kevin Smith
Public Affairs
Established in March 2024, this forum was established to enable members to share experience, expertise, best practice and learnings from notable campaigns and media responses.
The meeting format rotates on a monthly basis:
- networking round table
- focused deep dive meeting
Frequency
Monthly
Network chair
Jane Morford (PSR)
UKRN lead
Charley Grady-Pearce
HR Directors7
Objectives
- To share learning and good practice across People Directors
- Discuss HR infrastructure, workforce planning and resource sharing
- Transformation functions, including cultural change /change management
- Take the lead on associated working groups
Frequency
Monthly
Network chair
Siobhan Sheridan (FCA)
UKRN lead
Philip O’Donnell
Wellbeing Working Group
Objectives
- To discuss programs and interventions in place across our members, that support positive mental health and physical wellbeing.
Frequency
Quarterly
Network chair
Alison Davies (Ofgem)
UKRN lead
Nicole Trinder
Pay and Reward
Objectives
- To discuss pay and reward benefits across member regulators, to assist with benchmarking and possibly sharing consultancy costs in relation to development of pay and reward strategies.
Frequency
Every 6 weeks
Network chair
Tony Sborgia (Ofgem)
UKRN lead
Nicole Trinder
Hybrid Working
Objectives
- Discuss hybrid working plans across members.
- Updates on government advice.
- Office re-configurations and successful onboarding
Frequency
Monthly
Network chair
Hannah Blythman-Sanders (CAA)
UKRN lead
Nicole Trinder
Resourcing
Objectives
- Connecting on opportunities for collaboration and sharing resourcing strategies and programme of works.
- Explore creative ways to remain competitive and to attract more diverse talent.
Frequency
Every 2 months
UKRN lead
Nicole Trinder
Learning & Organisational Development
Objectives
- Increase collaboration across learning and organisational development professionals.
- Share learning and development opportunities that will benefit all colleagues.
Frequency
Every 6 weeks
Network chair
Marion Martin (Ofgem)
UKRN lead
Nicole Trinder
Early Careers
Objectives
- Sharing early careers strategies across members
- D&I initiatives within early careers
- Look at the impact of emerging technology on early careers development
- Future skills and talent assessment
- Strategic workforce planning
Frequency
Every 2 months
Network chair
Julia Ariadna-Datta (Ofgem)
UKRN lead
Philip O’Donnell
Shared Training
Objectives
- To advertise, share learning and costs across member regulators.
- To share costs of learning initiatives.
- To work towards further development of learning initiatives that benefit all member regulators.
UKRN lead
Nicole Trinder
Lawyers
Objectives
- Forum for generating discussions and understanding legal implications for certain projects / work
Frequency
Every 2 months
Network chair
Jennifer Bruce (FCA)
UKRN lead
Barbara Perata-Smith
Next Generation NED Scheme
The network group responsible for the delivery of this scheme, which offers opportunities for colleagues from within the UKRN membership to join a Community of Interest or participate in a Placement Programme.
Our objective: build a diverse pipeline of people who will become future NEDs, bringing a rich mix of thinking style, perspective and innovative ideas.
To find out more about our scheme HERE or you can email us: NGN_UKRN@caa.co.uk
Frequency
Annual Programme
UKRN lead
Phillip O’Donnell
Makedah Simpson
Kevin Smith
Regulatory Supervisors
Objectives
The Regulatory Supervisors Forum (the Forum) is intended to bring together those senior leaders across UKRN members, with responsibility for supervisory or relationship management functions.
- The Forum exists to provide members with a network of peers, with whom they can:
-
- Discuss matters of common interest in a “safe space” and co-ordinate activity (where appropriate)
- Share approaches, knowledge, experiences, and best practice; and
- Explore opportunities for development for their respective teams and colleagues.
Frequency
Quarterly
Network chair
Shona Barton (Ofcom)
UKRN lead
Kevin Smith
Research
Objectives
- Forum for members to share experience, expertise and findings of Consumer Research, including behavioural research, relevant to the themes and priority areas identified in the forward workplan.
Frequency
Every 8 weeks
Network chair
Margaret Watmough (FCA)
UKRN lead
Barbara Perata-Smith
Strategist
Objectives
- To assess the external environment, compare strategies and horizon scanning
Frequency
Quarterly
Network chair
Paddy Johnson (ORR)
UKRN lead
Barbara Perata-Smith
Vulnerability1
Objectives
- Share best practice, lessons learned and insights on emerging vulnerability issues
- Identify and collaborate to address common challenges / opportunities
- Deliver specific UKRN vulnerability projects (as set out in workplan and ad hoc ones)
- Members act as main contact on vulnerability issues, provide expertise and feedback
Frequency
Every 4-6 weeks
Network chair
Andrew Lincoln (Ofwat)
Sinead Dynan (UregNI)
UKRN lead
Makedah Simpson
UKRN is committed to working with external stakeholders and our members where necessary on topical matters
Young Professionals
Objectives
Network is run by, and targeted at, young professionals at member regulators (‘young professional’ is self-defined)
- Facilitate the sharing of information and ideas between young professionals of member regulators
- Provide young professionals with advice and opportunities relevant to their career development, sense of community.
Frequency
6-8 weeks
Network chair
Tulki Jenkins (CAA)
Sarah Elulade (BSB)
UKRN lead
Makedah Simpson