April to September 2025
This report includes data relating to REC audits conducted and action plans completed in the period April to September 2025.
The report is reviewed by the UK wide Delivery and Support teams in order to review trends and to take forward any actions in order to improve the service provided by the Research Ethics Service (RES).
During the current reporting period 24 audits were completed and 8 action plans reviewed and verified as completed.
REC audits and accreditation status awarded
| Name of REC | Audit period | Accreditation status awarded |
| South East Scotland 1 | Jan 2024 – Dec 2024 | Full accreditation |
| South East Scotland 2 | Jan 2024 – Dec 2024 | Full accreditation |
| East of England - Cambridge Central | Jan 2024 – Dec 2024 | Provisional accreditation |
| West of Scotland 4 | Feb 2024 – Jan 2025 | Full accreditation |
| East Midlands – Nottingham 1 | Feb 2024 – Jan 2025 | Accreditation with Conditions |
| London – Camberwell St Giles | Feb 2024 – Jan 2025 | Provisional accreditation |
| London – West London & GTAC | Feb 2024 – Jan 2025 | Provisional accreditation |
| London - Hampstead | Mar 2024 – Feb 2025 | Accreditation with Conditions |
| South Central – Oxford A | Mar 2024 – Feb 2025 | Provisional accreditation |
| London – City & East | Mar 2024 – Feb 2025 | Provisional accreditation |
| South Central - Oxford B | Mar 2024 – Feb 2025 | Provisional accreditation |
| East Midlands - Nottingham 2 | Apr 2024 – Mar 2025 | Provisional accreditation |
| North West – Liverpool Central | Apr 2024 – Mar 2025 | Accreditation with Conditions |
| North West – Haydock | May 2024 – Apr 2025 | Full accreditation |
| London - Fulham | May 2024 – Apr 2025 | Accreditation with Conditions |
| London - Bloomsbury | May 2024 – Apr 2025 | Accreditation with Conditions |
| South Central - Berkshire | May 2024 – Apr 2025 | Provisional accreditation |
| North East - York | Jun 2024 – May 2025 | Provisional accreditation |
| Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds West | Jun 2024 – May 2025 | Accreditation with Conditions |
| London - Brent | Jun 2024 – May 2025 | Provisional accreditation |
| London – London Bridge | Jul 2024 – Jun 2025 | Accreditation with Conditions |
| North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 | Jul 2024 – Jun 2025 | Provisional accreditation |
| Yorkshire & The Humber - Sheffield | Jul 2024 – Jun 2025 | Provisional accreditation |
| East of Scotland REC 2 | Jul 2024 – Jun 2025 | Full accreditation |
REC Audit Decisions April to September 2025
Figure 1 shows the breakdown of REC audit decisions made during the reporting period April to September 2025.
Figure 1 shows the breakdown of REC audit decisions made during the reporting period April to September 2025. Out of the 24 RECs audited, 50% were given a provisional accreditation, 21% were given full accreditation and 29% were given accreditation with conditions.
The data is also available in a separate file. Download the CSV file for Figure 1.
RECs achieving Full Accreditation after completion of an action plan
| Name of REC | Latest date action plan should be completed | Date completed action plan received | Date full accreditation received | |
| Yorkshire & the Humber – Bradford Leeds* | 27-Mar-25 | 27-Mar-25 | 01-Apr-25 | 08-Jul-25 |
| South West – Frenchay | 18-Apr-25 | 17-Apr-25 | 17-Apr-25 | n/a |
| Wales REC 6 | 23-Jul-25 | 27-May-25 | 02-Jun-25 | n/a |
| London – Harrow* | 24-Jul-25 | 28-Jul-25 | 29-Jul-25 | 29-Oct-25 |
| Scotland A* | 17-Aug-25 | 15-Aug-25 | 02-Sep-25 | n/a |
| Scotland B* | 17-Aug-25 | 15-Aug-25 | 02-Sep-25 | n/a |
| London - Surrey | 20-Sep-25 | 31-Jul-25 | 31-Jul-25 | n/a |
| London – Camberwell St Giles | 28-Oct-25 | 16-Jul-25 | 21-Jul-25 | n/a |
* REC given either an extension to complete the action plan or Short Term Accreditation.
Action Plan Decisions
Figure 2 shows the action plan decisions during the current reporting period (April to September 2025) and the previous two reporting periods (October 2024 to March 2025 and April to September 2024).
The graph shows the number of RECs completing an action plan which was signed off on time for the current reporting period, April to September 2025 (4 RECs), with previous reporting periods October 2024 to March 2025 (6 RECs) and April to September 2024 (12 action plans).
The number of action plans where the REC was given an extension to complete the actions for the current reporting period (2 RECs) mirrors the previous reporting period (October 2024 to March 2025) and has increased from the reporting period April to September 2024 (0 RECs).
The number of RECs given short term accreditation, after completion of the action plan, for the current reporting period (2 RECs) has decreased from the previous reporting period October 2024 to March 2025 (6 RECs) and has increased from the reporting periods April to September 2024 (1 REC).
The data is also available in a separate file. Download the CSV file for Figure 2.
Number of issues, raised in action plans, for each audited REC during the current and previous reporting periods
Figure 3 shows the number of action plan issues raised for each audited REC during the current reporting period (April to September 2025) and the previous two reporting periods (October 2024 to March 2025 and April to September 2024).
The graph shows the number of RECs being issued an action plan with 1-3 actions for the current reporting period (18 RECs) has increased from the the previous reporting periods October 2024 to March 2025 (7 RECs) and April to September 2024 (16 RECs).
1 REC was issued with an action plan with 4-6 issues for the current reporting period which has increased from the previous reporting period October 2024 to March 2025 (0 RECs) and mirrors the reporting April to September 2024 (1 REC).
The data is also available in a separate file. Download the CSV file for figure 3.
Breakdown of unmet accreditation audit standards for the current and previous reporting period
Figure 4 compares the number of unmet standards relating to membership for the current reporting period (April to September 2025 – 24 RECs) with those unmet standards for the previous reporting periods (October 2024 to March 2025 – 16 RECs and April to September 2024 – 27 RECs).
The graph shows trends of the five audit categories relating to membership standards. There is an increase in issues relating to indemnity for the current reporting period (2 RECs) from the previous reporting period October 2024 to March 2025 (0 RECs). The current reporting period mirrors the issues for the reporting period April to September 2024 (2 RECs).
Actions relating to training shows an increase in issues with 16 action plan issues for the current reporting period compared with 7 action plan issues for the previous reporting period October 2024 to March 2025 and 14 for the reporting period (April to September 2024).
Non-compliance relating to attendance for the current reporting period (1 issue) mirrors the previous reporting period October 2024 to March 2025 (1 issue). This is a decrease from the reporting period April to September 2024 (9 issues).
Issues relating to the constitution has increased for the current reporting period with 4 issues raised, compared with 1 issue raised for the previous reporting period October 2024 to March 2025, and a decrease from the reporting period for April to September 2024 with 5 issues raised.
Actions relating to other issues (eg Declarations of Interest) for the current reporting period mirrors the previous reporting period October 2024 to March 2025 which no issues raised. This is a decrease from the reporting period April to September 2024 where 2 issues were raised.
The data is also available in a separate file. Download the CSV file for Figure 4.
Figure 5 compares the number of unmet standards relating to minutes, correspondence, and SOPs for the current reporting period (April to September 2025) with those unmet standards for the previous reporting periods (October 2024 to March 2025 – 16 RECs and April to September 2024 – 27 RECs).
The graph shows the number of unmet standards relating to management of minutes for the current reporting period has increased with 11 issues raised, compared to 1 issue for the previous reporting period October 2024 to March 2025 and 3 issues for the reporting period April to September 2024.
There was an increase in unmet standards relating to non-compliance to SOPs (for example inquorate meetings) with 11 issues raised for the current reporting period, compared to 0 issues for October 2024 to March 2025 and 4 issues for April to September 2024.
The data is also available in a separate file. Download the CSV file for Figure 5.
Analysis of recommendations detailed in audit reports
Recommendations are issues which are deemed to be low enough risk not to warrant an action plan requiring review and sign off by the HRA QA department. Compliance against recommendations are actioned by the appropriate Approvals team (Support/Operational Delivery).
Recommendations relating to Membership
Figure 6 shows the breakdown of the 59 recommendations made which related to membership.
Recommendations related to low-level non-compliance regarding training (25%), appointment/re-appointment documentation (10%), attendance (19%) and constitution (including capacity of members) (14%). Other recommendations (32%) related to inaccurate/missing membership details on HARP, missing annual DOI forms etc.
The data is also available in a separate file. Download the CSV file for Figure 6.
Recommendations relating to Minutes, Correspondence and SOPs
Figure 7 shows the breakdown of the 82 recommendations made relating to the management of minutes, correspondence and SOPs.
Issues included low-level non-compliance against SOPs (DOIs, membership list, referees, delegation and other issues) (38%), the management of minutes (ratification/uploading) (23%)*, the quality of minutes (15%)** and the quality of correspondence (24%)**.
* to note the requirement to prepare and upload PR and sub committee minutes was removed from 1st June 2024.
** quality of minutes and correspondence against best practice examples and guidance.
The data is also available in a separate file. Download the CSV file for Figure 7.
Report completion times
All the HRA QA procedure timelines were met during the reporting period.