Geopolitical Risk, Policy Uncertainty and the Growing Role of Public Affairs

Last week, our sister company Hanson Search hosted its annual Public Affairs webinar, The Year Ahead in Politics, looking ahead to 2026. The discussion highlighted a reality many organisations are already grappling with: the geopolitical landscape is no longer just noisy but structurally unstable. For businesses, institutions and membership bodies, navigating the shifting sands of policy, regulation and risk now requires deeper, more specialist counsel than ever before.

A political environment defined by drift, not direction

A central theme from the discussion was the absence of a clearly-defined, governing anchor. While individual policy decisions still exist, there is currently limited sense of a unifying direction, either economically, socially or internationally. Growth continues to be positioned as the priority yet businesses struggle to see a coherent strategy underpinning it.

For organisations, this creates two immediate challenges: policy unpredictability, which makes long-term planning difficult, and narrative volatility, where reputational risk can escalate quickly as priorities evolve. In this environment, public affairs can no longer be reactive. It is critical organisations seek forward-looking insight into where pressure points are emerging and how future regulation is likely to land.

When domestic policy and global risk collide

The panel reinforced how closely domestic policy is now tied to global dynamics. Defence, security, trade, supply chains and energy are no longer simply abstract geopolitical issues - instead, they directly shape cost, access to markets, labour and investment confidence.

For organisations with international exposure or growth ambitions, political risk is no longer confined to Westminster. Public affairs advisory must therefore sit at the intersection of policy, geopolitics and commercial strategy, helping leaders understand how political decisions interact with global growth and risk.

The Employment Rights Act and the limits of one-size-fits-all policy

One of the most relevant contributions came from Jim Bligh, Corporate Affairs Director at the British Retail Consortium, who described the Employment Rights Act as the most significant reform of employment law in a generation but also one that raises serious questions around flexibility and implementation.

While the Act seeks to improve job security and working standards, there is concern it is shaped by assumptions about work that no longer reflect reality. Many sectors rely on variable demand while plenty of professionals actively choose portfolio careers, multiple clients and flexible delivery models.

Without clear distinction between insecure work and genuine independence, there is a risk that policy aimed at protection inadvertently constrains choice for both businesses and individuals.

Why independent public affairs expertise is increasingly valuable

In a volatile and fast-moving environment, many organisations are recognising the limits of fixed, permanent teams. Independent public affairs and policy specialists bring deep expertise, objectivity and adaptability - often shaped by senior experience built across government, regulation, industry and advisory.

For businesses and corporates, this model allows access to high-calibre counsel as and when needed, supporting scenario planning, stakeholder engagement, regulatory navigation and reputational risk management without impacting long-term headcount or budgets.

From communications to counsel

The discussion repeatedly returned to the idea that today’s challenges cannot be solved by messaging alone. Communications matters — but without strategic understanding of political trade-offs and policy direction, even the strongest narrative will struggle to land.

Public affairs today is about helping leadership teams anticipate change, translate complexity into commercial implications, and make informed decisions in ambiguous conditions.

How The Work Crowd can support you

At a time of political uncertainty, shifting regulation and global volatility, organisations need experienced public and corporate affairs counsel they can trust - often at short notice.

The Work Crowd connects businesses, institutions and membership bodies with senior, independent public affairs, policy and corporate affairs experts - individuals who have operated at the highest levels across government, regulation, industry and advisory. Whether you need strategic political insight, government and stakeholder engagement, scenario planning or specialist advisory during periods of change and growth, we provide flexible access to proven expertise without the overhead of permanent hires.

If you’re navigating political change, regulatory complexity or global uncertainty, we would be delighted to support you. Get in touch with The Work Crowd to discuss how we can help.