The Strategy and Research department contributes to Ofcom’s work by developing understanding, providing insight, and setting direction.

This department’s work draws on insights from our research, and analysis of the sectors we regulate. This helps to make sure Ofcom makes good decisions that help make communications work for everyone. The team understands how consumers use and engage with communications services, and how different organisations are building their communications strategy using both market research and market intelligence work.

The different teams

There are three core teams within the Strategy and Research department.

The Market Research and Market Intelligence team

This team provides a ‘one-stop-shop’ for evidence, insight and market analysis. It makes sure Ofcom has the most robust and reliable evidence to underpin its policy programme – helping us to provide a detailed understanding of the markets we regulate and the people that we work for.

Ofcom’s duties and responsibilities are heavily influenced by global policy and legislative developments, as well as technological and commercial developments in the sectors we regulate. This means our Market Research and Market Intelligence team needs to coordinate with businesses, individuals, and regulators around the world as the communications sector continues to shift and grow.

The International team

This team helps us stay in touch with regulators, stakeholders, and organisations all over the world.

In everything we do, the International team is thinking about the world around us and what that means for Ofcom. Its work helps to influence: 

• the development of international regulatory policy and frameworks which directly bind us and our stakeholders in the different areas we regulate, as well as those which constrain us (both EU and globally); and

• international practices and organisations or regulators in other jurisdictions – especially those which affect UK people in the areas we regulate. 

We also use our international engagement p to make sure Ofcom has a global platform, allowing us to deliver knowledge and insights to a wider international audience.

The Strategy and Policy team

This team plays a pivotal role in setting Ofcom’s strategic direction and making sure we deliver against our main priorities. It provides the organisation with the strategic insight and analysis needed to anticipate future challenges and opportunities.

As a department, its key responsibilities include:

• market and policy insight – understanding how the communications sector may develop in future to inform our wider policy programme;
• delivering Ofcom’s strategic priorities – leading major projects that set the future direction of regulation in the sector;
• thought leadership on emerging policy issues – working collaboratively with other teams to decide Ofcom’s position on new or cross-cutting consumer, public policy and competition issues; and
• Ofcom’s corporate strategy – working with senior management and the Board to set Ofcom’s strategy, define its priorities and assess their delivery.