R3 policy and public affairs update: February 2026

10 March 2026

February was a focused and productive month for R3’s Policy and Public Affairs team, with progress across research, faculty-led work and communications that support the profession’s voice in policy discussions.

Value of the Profession report

A key strand of work this month was continued development of the Value of the Profession report. This flagship research project is designed to demonstrate the economic and social contribution of insolvency and restructuring professionals to the UK economy. Throughout February, we continued gathering data from appointment takers to ensure the report reflects the full breadth of work carried out across the profession. If you have not yet submitted data, get in touch: [email protected].

Alongside outcomes such as business rescue and returns to creditors, the report will also consider the role practitioners play in tackling fraud and financial wrongdoing. Once complete, it will underpin a wider communications and public affairs campaign, supporting R3’s mission to ensure members’ work is better understood, valued and reflected in policy and legislative decision-making.

Higher Education Institutions (HEI) Faculty

Work also progressed through R3’s HEI Faculty, which is developing a programme of work focused on the unique challenges facing the higher education sector. HEIs operate within a complex legal and governance framework and currently sit outside any bespoke insolvency regime, which can create uncertainty when institutions experience financial distress.

Early discussions have highlighted the need for greater clarity around governance responsibilities, regulatory fragmentation and the options available when institutions come under financial pressure. The Faculty will focus on developing practical guidance for directors and trustees, alongside continued engagement with regulators and policymakers, with work taken forward through a combination of subgroup meetings and wider discussion.

COVID-19 Inquiry response

February also saw further communications activity linked to R3’s response to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry. Building on the submission made in 2025, this phase focused on thanking members for their contributions and reinforcing how practitioner insight shaped the profession’s collective response. This work highlights R3’s role in capturing lessons from periods of crisis, supporting accountability and helping to inform more resilient, better-designed policy responses in the future.

You can listen to an episode of the R3 Podcast which focuses on the pandemic and R3’s response to the Inquiry - here.

Together, this work reflects R3’s continued commitment to evidence-based policy, practitioner-led insight and constructive engagement across government and the wider insolvency ecosystem.