School Roofs Bid Rigging Investigation Continues

THE COMPETITION WATCHDOG has today confirmed it is continuing its investigation into the roofing industry.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating suspected anti-competitive arrangements in the supply of roofing and other construction services.

The CMA began the investigation in December 2024. It suspects that roofing and construction companies – including building contractors and technical advisors – agreed to rig bids to get public funds for improving the condition of school buildings.

It said it “has reason” to suspect the firms colluded to secure contracts funded through the government’s Condition Improvement Fund (CIF). The CMA has particular concerns in relation to roofing contracts.

School Bid Rigging Investigation

CIF money is awarded yearly to schools by the Department for Education (DfE) and in 2024 the total awarded was £450 million for 866 projects.

The CMA expects to continue its investigation until the end of the year. During that time it will says it will gather further evidence as well as analysing and reviewing the information it already has.

The organisation warns that no assumption should be made at this stage that competition law has been infringed. The CMA has not reached a view of whether there is sufficient evidence of an infringement of competition law.

If it does decide that the law may have been broken, the next step is for the CMA to issue a statement of objections to any of the parties under investigation.

A statement of objections sets out the evidence found and provides the opportunity of reply to those involved before issuing fines, penalties or taking further action.

The CMA operates a leniency policy for businesses and individuals in return for their cooperation with investigations.

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