Methodology
How we research, verify and distinguish findings from allegations.
Last verified: 5 October 2026
Primary-Source Research
This publication is built on primary sources. The source hierarchy is:
- Competition and Markets Authority
- Competition Appeal Tribunal / courts
- GOV.UK
- Companies House
- Contracts Finder / Find a Tender
- Department for Education
- Local-authority procurement registers
- Official procurement frameworks
- Company statements
- BBC / established media
- Specialist legal publications
- Established construction trade press
Random blogs are not used for major accusations.
Procurement-Data Verification
Public contract records are drawn from official procurement databases. Every contract entry links to its original source. Inclusion of a contract does not imply it forms part of the CMA investigation.
Company-Record Analysis
Company data — identity, directors, ownership, accounts, historic names — is drawn from Companies House. Residential addresses are never published.
Financial-Analysis Methodology
Financial figures are drawn from filed accounts and verified against the original filings. Only figures directly verified against filed accounts are presented. Where a figure is provisional or requires verification, this is stated.
Distinguishing Allegations from Findings
We distinguish regulatory findings from allegations. We distinguish penalties for investigative non-compliance from the underlying competition investigation. We do not describe suspected bid-rigging as proven bid-rigging unless and until an authoritative final decision establishes that.
Updating Ongoing Investigations
Each page stores a last-verified date and case status. If a new CMA announcement changes the case, we update prominently. We do not leave obsolete language such as "currently under investigation" after a final decision.
Editorial Policy
We distinguish regulatory findings from allegations. We distinguish penalties for investigative non-compliance from the underlying competition investigation. We do not describe suspected bid-rigging as proven bid-rigging unless and until an authoritative final decision establishes that. Public procurement records are presented as context and are not themselves evidence of anti-competitive conduct.