The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and HM Treasury have launched a call for evidence to tell government about regulation which is not fit for purpose and unjustifiably inhibits growth, innovation and investment.

The government has set an ambitious target to reduce the administrative burdens of regulation on business by 25%. Effective regulation provides important protections to consumers, businesses and the wider public. The UK’s regulatory system has many strengths. However, too many instances of outdated or excessive regulation, or poor regulatory practice, are undermining these benefits – and are inhibiting growth, innovation and investment.

This business questionnaire, ‘Unlocking Business: Reform Driven by You’, provides businesses large and small, entrepreneurs, investors and industry experts with the opportunity to drive the next phase of reform – building on measures already announced in March and October 2025. In particular, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) wants to receive evidence about:

• current activity costs. DBT wants you to share examples of specific rules that impose unnecessary costs or burdens on businesses, including both the direct costs imposed by individual regulations and indirect costs resulting from how they’re applied
• opportunity costs. DBT wants you to help them understand how regulations and the way they are applied may delay or prevent future business opportunities being taken up, including compared to other countries

DBT’s aim is to identify the exact aspects of regulations or their implementation that create problems, so they can pinpoint where to make changes. In doing so, you may also wish to highlight examples of good practice, which might be adopted more widely.

If you cannot name a specific regulation or regulatory process, you are requested to describe the issue and its impact on your business as clearly and precisely as possible. DBT urges respondents to read the introductory text in the full downloadable version of the questionnaire before completing it.

Government will use the evidence you provide to help develop further ambitious reforms to the UK regulatory system so that it is fit for purpose and the future, minimising burdens on business without reducing safeguards.

DBT invites responses by 16th December 2025, using one of the methods outlined here.