About the Regulation Practice Programme
A professional development programme developed by the College of Lawmakers and aligned to the Department for Business and Trade Core Regulatory Skills Framework.
College of Lawmakers
The Regulation Practice Programme is a College of Lawmakers professional development programme.
It has been designed using the Department for Business and Trade Core Regulatory Skills Framework as the reference framework for capability development.
The programme is not a Department for Business and Trade product.
What is the Regulation Practice Programme?
The Regulation Practice Programme is a professional development platform designed to support regulators, policy professionals, public officials and regulatory leaders in developing the knowledge, skills, judgement and professional capability required for effective regulation.
The programme provides structured learning, real-world regulatory scenarios, reflective practice, case studies, self-assessment tools and professional development activities. The focus is on developing professional regulatory competence and judgement rather than academic study.
All platform content is freely accessible. Users can explore the skills framework, engage with learning activities, complete interactive scenarios and track their development without charge.
The Regulation Practice Programme has been independently developed by the College of Lawmakers to support professional development against the capabilities described within the Department for Business and Trade Core Regulatory Skills Framework. The programme is aligned to and informed by the framework but remains an independently developed professional development programme.
The programme is not delivered by, endorsed by, accredited by or affiliated with the Department for Business and Trade unless expressly stated.
The DBIST Core Regulatory Skills Framework remains the intellectual property of the Department for Business and Trade.
The four development levels
| Development level | Descriptor |
|---|---|
| Awareness | The Awareness Level provides background knowledge for civil servants and professionals who require an understanding of regulation and the role of regulators. Those beginning a professional career in regulation would normally commence at Working Level. An Introduction to Regulation course is available through Civil Service Learning; regulators without access to Civil Service Learning may provide their own equivalent induction. |
| Working | Entry-level capabilities for roles in regulation. Regulators at this level will have a working-level of knowledge, skills and networks. Individuals will be routinely applying these independently. |
| Practitioner | At this level, individuals will be skilled professionals with an advanced understanding. Capabilities will be deeper and the individual will be well versed in the subject matter with effective networks in regulation. |
| Advanced Practitioner | At this level, individuals will be highly skilled professionals with deep expertise. They will practise their skillset within a specialist domain, manage sector risks and encourage economic growth and innovation. |
| Leader | At this level, individuals will be executives in leadership roles, who provide strategic leadership, manage risk to protect the public and encourage economic growth and innovation in their organisations and have sector-wide influence. |
The five themes and 20 core skills
Regulation theory is the foundational understanding of regulation, including statutory principles, ethics, impact assessment, and regulatory models. The theme equips regulators to make proportionate, transparent, and evidence-based decisions aligned with the law and public interest.
This theme covers the design and operation of regulatory frameworks and systems, including legislative processes, casework management, and the creation of effective regulatory structures that achieve proportionate outcomes.
This theme covers how regulators use data, evidence, and intelligence to make informed regulatory decisions and respond to emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.
This theme covers the full range of regulatory tools and interventions available to regulators, from standard-setting and authorisation through to monitoring, enforcement and evaluation.
This theme covers how regulators communicate and engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including regulated entities, other regulators, government, and the public.
How to use this platform
Development Levels
Explore the four development levels and the skills required at each level.
The Five Themes
Review the themes and see progression tables for each skill.
Skills Matrix
View all 20 core skills across all development levels.
Regulatory Skills Review
Self-assess your capability and identify development gaps.
Learning Pathways
Structured pathways for each development level.
Organisational Use
Guidance for regulatory organisations on applying the framework.
How the learning model works
The programme uses a structured, evidence-based learning approach designed for working professionals. Each of the 20 core skills is presented across five development levels, with differentiated learning content at each level:
Essential foundational knowledge and understanding of the skill
Independent application of the skill in routine regulatory work
Advanced practice, advising others and managing complexity
Deep expertise, policy leadership and mentoring
Strategic direction-setting, sector-wide influence and accountability
At each level, learners engage with worked examples, real-world case studies, interactive scenarios, self-assessment reflections and knowledge checks — building practical capability rather than passive knowledge.
Facilitated seminars
In addition to self-directed platform learning, the College of Lawmakers delivers facilitated seminar programmes for teams and organisations. Seminars provide expert facilitation, peer learning, structured debate and applied practice.
Explore seminar optionsOptional professional recognition
Professional recognition is optional and voluntary. Users may register for formal assessments and certification at Practitioner, Advanced Practitioner or Leader levels. Recognition is based on demonstrated capability against the framework.
View certification optionsFree platform access
The Regulation Practice Programme platform is freely accessible. Users may explore the framework, undertake all learning activities, complete scenarios and use professional development tools without charge.
Facilitated seminars and professional certification are available separately. Learning content always remains free.
The DBIST Core Regulatory Skills Framework is published on GOV.UK by the Department for Business and Trade. This platform is a College of Lawmakers professional development programme aligned to that framework.
Core Regulatory Skills Framework — GOV.UK