CMA Fines Roofing Firm and Staff for Concealing Evidence During Inspection

Roofing firm M&J Group Construction & Roofing and two staff members have been fined a total of £50k for hiding a mobile phone and documents during an inspection by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), in breach of clear instructions.

The CMA carried out the inspection of the Bedford-based M&J Group business premises, alongside inspections of several other businesses, under a court warrant as part of its investigation into 12 construction companies suspected of bid rigging.

School Bid Rigging

The CMA is examining whether these companies illegally colluded when bidding for contracts awarded by private and public sector bodies, including projects funded through the Department for Education’s Condition Improvement Fund (CIF).

The scheme awards millions of pounds each year to help schools repair and improve buildings, ensuring premises are safe for pupils and staff.

Fines

Today’s penalties concern failures to comply with the CMA’s investigatory requirements and are separate to any findings from the competition investigation, which remains ongoing and no assumptions should be made as to whether competition law has been broken.

Hiding Evidence

During the inspection, M&J’s Estimating Director, Barry Pirrie, instructed M&J’s Office Manager, Tracey Woods, to remove a work mobile phone and paperwork from the company’s premises to prevent the evidence from being found by CMA investigators. Barry Pirrie also falsely told CMA officers that he did not have a work mobile phone.

The items were later on the same day brought back and handed over. However, concealing the evidence, even temporarily, risked the loss of relevant information, and wasted valuable investigative time and resource.

Enforcement Powers

Under the CMA’s enhanced enforcement powers, which came into force in January 2025, businesses that fail to comply with CMA investigative requirements may face higher penalties for noncompliance – fixed penalties of up to 1% of turnover, daily penalties of up to 5% of daily turnover, or both.

As the conduct took place before the CMA’s new powers came into force, M&J is subject to the lower maximum penalty that applied at the time. The maximum penalties for individuals have not changed. The fines are:

• Barry Pirrie: £20,000
• Tracey Woods: £5,000
• M&J: £25,000

The CMA’s ongoing investigation into suspected bid rigging forms part of its work to tackle bid rigging in public procurement. Recently, it published a paper setting out the case for stronger action against bid rigging in UK public procurement and proposals to improve its detection, prevention and deterrence.

The CMA operates a rewards policy under which it may pay a financial reward of up to £250,000 in return for information which helps it to identify and take action against illegal cartels. More information on the CMA’s informant reward policy.

Anyone who has information about a cartel is encouraged to call the CMA cartels hotline on 020 3738 6888 or email cartelshotline@cma.gov.uk.

>> Read more about roofing bid rigging in the news