Regulation Playbook: Preparing products for a new Future
Product regulation is changing. For growing businesses, the challenge is not knowing every rule in detail, but understanding what matters and where to start.
The Regulation Playbook is an 8-week programme designed to help product-based businesses understand changing product regulation, identify what applies to their business, and build a clear plan for what comes next.
Across four practical workshops, participants will map the rules affecting their products, understand what data and supplier information they already have, explore solutions and partnerships, and leave with their own Regulation Playbook and 90-day action plan.
Applications close on Friday 28th September.
About the programme
The Regulation Playbook is designed for businesses that design, manufacture, supply or sell products internationally - particularly those facing challenges around EU market access.
Rather than positioning regulation as a barrier, this programme helps businesses understand what is changing and explores solutions that supports growth, resilience, innovation, and better products.
Through expert support, peer learning, and practical workshop activities, participants will leave the programme with:
- A 90-day implementation roadmap
- A completed Regulation Playbook
- A clearer understanding of the rules affecting their product
- A product data map
- A priority challenge
- A shortlist of relevant solutions or partners
Why apply?
Product rules are beginning to affect how businesses design, make, evidence, communicate and sell products, particularly for those selling into or preparing to enter the EU.
This programme is designed to help you move from uncertainty to action. Participants will:
- Understand what changing product regulation could mean for their business
- Identify where regulation creates risk, pressure or opportunity
- Map the product, supplier and data information they already have
- Explore tools, technologies and partnerships that could support their next step
- Build a practical Regulation Playbook shaped around their own product and business
- Leave with a clear 90-day action plan
Who should apply?
The Regulation Playbook is designed for product-based businesses that are currently trading and ready to take practical action. It is particularly relevant for:
- Growth-stage product-based businesses
Businesses developing or scaling physical products that know regulation is changing, but are unclear what applies to them, where to start or what to prioritise.
- Established SME product brands
Independent brands selling into, or preparing to sell into, the EU and navigating product data, traceability, supplier readiness and growing regulatory complexity.
- Product and material innovators
Businesses developing new products, materials or manufacturing approaches with ambitions to commercialise and scale.
- Product businesses preparing for EU market entry
UK product businesses planning to enter the EU market and looking to understand what needs to change before they do.
Programme structure
Tuesday 6 October 2026
Explore what is changing, what applies to your business and where the opportunity may be.
Participants will begin by mapping the rules affecting their product, assessing readiness and identifying the priority challenge they want to work on throughout the programme.
Output: Regulation map, readiness baseline, priority challenge and commercial opportunity statement.
Tuesday 20 October 2026
Understand the product, material, supplier and data information your business already has, and what is missing.
This session helps businesses explore what sits behind their product, from materials and suppliers to certifications, claims, traceability and end-of-life considerations.
Output: Product data map, information gap analysis and supplier/data priorities.
Tuesday 3 November 2026
Explore the technologies, partnerships and business models that can help businesses respond.
Participants will look at solution providers, traceability tools, Digital Product Passport platforms, circular technologies, product-data systems and potential partnerships.
Output: Solution shortlist, partner map and initial innovation concept.
Tuesday 17 November 2026
Bring the work together into a practical plan for the business.
Participants will turn their learning, data map and solution ideas into a clear Regulation Playbook, setting out what matters, what needs to change and what happens next.
Output: Completed Regulation Playbook, pilot or first-action concept, 90-day roadmap and next-step partner or expert requirements.
For more infomation visit Mayor of London and GOV.
The people I have met here make it a dream coming in a few times a week! I don't see myself being able to go back to working from home the same way I did before coming to Plus X Innovation, I don't think I could leave the sense of community behind. It really is something everyone who is working from home should try!
Central Research Laboratory has contributed to our journey in many ways: access to a network, manufacturing, procurement services, and workshop facilities. CRL enables us to feel like a slightly bigger company than we would otherwise be if left to our own devices. Being here at CRL as a cohort member, makes it feel a lot more real and plugged in into the ecosystem.
Besides the workshop facilities, the best thing about working in the Brighton hub has got to be being able to collaborate with people in the same building as you. The variety of expertise and experience in the building is awesome.
We could not be in a better place to grow as a company. We get amazing support from the Plus X Innovation staff, plus collaboration opportunities with the other inspiring residents and companies. We feel like we’re living in the future of workplaces in the present and that is pretty damn cool.
Through my time at Plus X Innovation my business has turned from a student project into a registered R&D company. My favourite thing about being at Plus X Brighton is having a mini family in the office and a beautiful space to be the best you and make the best connections.
Application criteria
Applicants should be:
- Currently trading
- Selling into the EU or planning to enter the EU market
- Able to commit to all four sessions
- Working on a genuine product, data, traceability or regulatory challenge
- Able to influence or implement change within the business
- Willing to share challenges and collaborate with the cohort
The programme is especially suited to growth-stage SMEs, product businesses, material innovators and brands working with physical products, materials or supply chains.
