Regulatory update: Where are we at the end of 2025?

In this end-of-year episode, David Morrey and Ben Farmer take stock of the evolving regulatory landscape in financial services, exploring the impact of the UK’s “growthy regulator” agenda over the past twelve months.  

Key themes include:  

• Growth vs Deregulation: The hosts discuss whether regulatory changes have truly promoted growth or simply resulted in procedural tweaks. While some requirements have been simplified, fundamental deregulation remains limited, often requiring statutory changes
• Regulatory Output and Compliance: There’s been a shift from new rules to more thematic reviews and “good and poor practice” articles, which now carry significant weight for compliance teams. Firms are increasingly expected to monitor these outputs and assess their impact
• Supervisory Activity: Although the number of formal Skilled Person reviews has declined, supervisory visits, data requests, and regulatory interactions remain robust.
• Consumer Duty and Redress: The podcast highlights the ongoing importance of Consumer Duty as a tool for achieving regulatory objectives without introducing new rules. Major consumer redress issues, such as motor finance, continue to dominate headlines, while firm-specific redress remains active
• Encouraging Productive Investment: A notable trend is the regulatory push to encourage individuals to move savings into productive investments, with new consultations on targeted support aiming to make this process easier for both firms and consumers
• Looking Ahead: The hosts preview what might be expected in 2026, promising continued updates and recommending the Grant Thornton regulatory handbook for those seeking further guidance 

Financial Services UK | Regulatory Handbook 2025 
An essential guide to the regulatory landscape for financial services 
Download now