Regulatory Body
A regulatory body is an organisation with statutory powers to oversee a particular industry or profession, set standards, issue licences, and take enforcement action against those who breach the rules. Examples include the FCA (financial services), Ofgem (energy), Ofcom (communications), the CQC (health and social care), and the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Regulators differ from ombudsmen in that they focus on systemic conduct rather than individual dispute resolution.
Key UK regulators by sector: FCA (financial services — banks, insurers, investment firms); Ofgem (gas and electricity suppliers and networks); Ofcom (telecommunications, broadcasting, postal services); CQC (Care Quality Commission — health and adult social care providers in England); SRA (Solicitors Regulation Authority — solicitors and law firms); GMC (General Medical Council — doctors); Ofsted (schools, childcare, further education); HSE (Health and Safety Executive — workplace safety); ICO (Information Commissioner's Office — data protection and privacy). An important distinction: regulators investigate systemic breaches and can fine or strip licences, but they generally do not award compensation to individual consumers. For individual redress you must use the relevant ombudsman or ADR scheme. You can report a firm to its regulator and pursue a compensation claim through the ombudsman simultaneously.