In this issue of Industry Update, we are pleased to feature ACRE Consultancy for its Commitment to Excellence.
Upon receiving the award, Craig Kelly, Director/Senior Consultant, reflected on what sets ACRE apart within the regulatory compliance sector.
“Thank you. We are delighted to receive the Industry Update Award for Excellence. It is great recognition of our commitment to working closely with clients and providing practical, tailored compliance solutions. We believe what sets ACRE apart is our combination of deep regulatory experience and a practical, independent approach. We take the time to understand each client’s business, then provide clear, tailored advice that helps them make confident decisions and manage complex regulatory requirements effectively.”
The regulatory landscape within the chemical industry continues to evolve rapidly, driven by changes to EU and GB REACH, chemical classification, product stewardship and sustainability obligations. Craig explains how ACRE is adapting its services to help clients navigate increasingly complex UK and international legislation.
“As the regulatory landscape has become more complex, we have broadened our expertise and services to help clients look beyond individual regulations and understand how different requirements interact. We continue to have strong EU and UK REACH expertise, but increasingly support clients with wider product stewardship and sustainability legislation.”
“We have also strengthened the team with people who bring experience from both industry and regulatory environments. For example, Natasha Bennett joined us last year with extensive EU and UK REACH experience, alongside knowledge of developing legislation such as PPWR and CBAM. This allows us to give clients a more joined-up view of their obligations and support their planning, rather than simply react to regulatory changes.”
“In addition, we use a commercially available LLM-based regulatory monitoring tool, which we were involved in developing at an early stage, to track regulatory change globally. The volume of regulatory information and commentary has increased significantly, creating more noise for businesses and making it harder to identify what is genuinely relevant and where action is required.”
“That is where our experience adds value. We can act as a curator of the output, providing regular reporting, filtering and interpretation so clients have clear direction on the changes that affect their products, substances and regulatory obligations. This can be delivered as a stand-alone project or through our ACRE Advantage service.”
“We also use this approach to support a UK industry association with a regular regulatory update service, combining technology with experienced regulatory judgement to turn a high volume of information into practical, focused advice.”
ACRE’s collaborative approach is central to how it works with clients. While technical expertise is a given, the company believes effective regulatory consultancy must also reflect the commercial realities of each business.
“Where compliance is non-negotiable, we are clear about what needs to be done. Where there is flexibility, we work with clients to understand their priorities, key products, markets and available resources, focusing effort where it will have the greatest impact.”
“That broader understanding allows us to provide advice that is not only compliant, but proportionate, practical and aligned with wider business objectives. It is very much a two-way relationship – one that our clients value.”
The past 12 months have marked a significant period of achievement for ACRE, strengthening the company’s position and visibility while laying the foundations for continued growth. The business exhibited at CHEMUK for the first time, creating an opportunity to engage with a wider audience and demonstrate the breadth of support it provides. ACRE has also invested in its development through a rebrand and new website, creating a clearer platform to communicate who it is, what it does and the value it brings to clients.
The business has continued to strengthen its team and broaden its capabilities, with the award reflecting this investment, growing market recognition and the quality of support provided to clients.
In light of this, Craig explains how ACRE helps clients turn compliance into a competitive advantage.
“We often see good regulatory compliance as something that opens doors rather than simply closes risks. If the right foundations are in place, it becomes easier to build customer confidence, move through supply chains with less friction and access new markets.”
“UK REACH is a good example. Businesses have already spent a long time operating with uncertainty, and many now want a clearer route forward so they can make decisions, commit resources and plan with greater confidence. Companies that prepare early are likely to be better positioned to protect market access, reassure customers and avoid reacting under pressure as registration deadlines approach.”
“Once the core regulatory information and systems are in place, it also becomes easier to assess opportunities in other markets. Good compliance is therefore not just about meeting an obligation; it can create greater certainty, reduce commercial friction and put a business in a stronger position to grow.”
Chemical stewardship and sustainability are also becoming increasingly interconnected across the industry. ACRE supports businesses by helping them take a holistic approach to regulatory compliance and wider environmental expectations.
Rather than addressing individual requirements in isolation, ACRE helps clients assess their broader regulatory and product portfolios. This provides greater visibility across areas such as UK and EU REACH, packaging, carbon and wider product stewardship requirements, enabling businesses to understand how these obligations interact.
By bringing this information together, ACRE helps clients develop a joined-up strategy, identify priorities and allocate investment effectively. This co-ordinated approach helps businesses manage regulatory risk, respond to evolving requirements and make more informed decisions about their products and markets.
Craig also highlights how integrated services such as regulatory strategy, dossier preparation, Only Representative services and consortium management provide added value for clients operating across multiple markets.
“These services are highly integrated by their nature, and that is where much of the value lies. Rather than looking at registration, Only Representative services, data access, dossier preparation and consortium activity separately, we can bring them together as part of one market-entry and compliance strategy.”
“For example, if a US company wanted to enter the UK and EU markets for the first time, we could assess its products and substance portfolio, develop a registration strategy and cost profile, and determine the most appropriate route based on tonnage, hazard information and commercial plans. Where required, we can also act through our Only Representative entities and manage the registration process on the client’s behalf.”
“We are actively managing EU REACH consortia, supported by experienced consortium managers within our team, which adds another valuable dimension to the support we provide our clients.”
“Our practical understanding of joint registrations, Letters of Access and cost-sharing arrangements enables us to help clients navigate these processes effectively as prospective joint registrants.”
“Consortium management is inherently hands-on, involving the co-ordination of member companies, technical and regulatory activities, cost allocation and the day-to-day administration required to keep a consortium operating efficiently.”
“This combination of regulatory expertise and practical consortium management experience means we can support clients not only in understanding their obligations, but also in navigating the complexities of working within a joint registration.”
“We can also support associated requirements such as Safety Data Sheets for different European markets. The advantage for the client is that these elements can be managed as one joined-up strategy, with regulatory, commercial and operational decisions working together rather than as separate compliance activities.”
Above all else, ACRE is committed to investing in its people, recognising that they are central to the quality of service it provides.
“We support development through internal and external training, but also by giving our team exposure to the wider industry through conferences, exhibitions and direct client work. Less experienced consultants work closely with senior colleagues each day, helping transfer practical knowledge as well as technical expertise.”
“We also encourage people to take personal responsibility for their work, because that builds confidence, judgement and a stronger sense of ownership. Continuous improvement works both ways: our younger team members bring fresh thinking around technology and AI, and we are increasingly looking at how these tools can improve efficiency without replacing professional judgement.”
“For example, we have recently used AI-assisted approaches on projects involving large datasets, helping us analyse information more efficiently while keeping experienced consultants in control of the interpretation and advice.”
“For us, maintaining high standards is about combining experienced people, continuous learning and better tools, while keeping sound regulatory judgement at the centre of everything we do.”
Looking ahead, Craig explains ACRE’s priorities for the future and how the company intends to build on this recognition while continuing to deliver excellence for its clients.
“Looking ahead, our priority is to make regulatory support more proactive, more joined-up and more valuable to our clients.”
“ACRE Advantage will be an important part of that. It is designed to give clients ongoing, tailored support so they can identify relevant regulatory changes earlier, understand the impact on their products and markets, and make decisions before issues become urgent. We will be sharing more detail on the service in the autumn.”
“We also plan to continue growing the team and broadening our expertise, particularly where regulation, product stewardship and sustainability increasingly overlap. Technology will continue to support that approach, helping us manage growing volumes of regulatory data and identify the insights that matter.”
“Ultimately, our aim is simple: to make it easier for clients to manage regulatory complexity, protect market access and act confidently when new opportunities arise. The award is welcome recognition, but our focus is on continuing to build a stronger service around what our clients need next.”
For more information, please see below:
T +44 (0)1425 838995
info@acre-consultancy.com
https://acre-consultancy.com