Watchdog Expands Scope of School Roof Bid Rigging Probe

The competition watchdog has today announced it is expanding the scope of its probe into suspected bid-rigging by roofing firms supplying schools to include additional parties.

The investigation into suspected anti-competitive arrangements in the supply of roofing and other construction services to schools eligible to apply for funding from the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) was first launched by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in December 2024.

Bid Rigging Probe

The CMA expects to continue its investigation until the end of the year. During that time it 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.

Leniency Guidance

In October 2025, the CMA updated its leniency policy for businesses and individuals in return for their cooperation with investigations. The watchdog is encouraging those who have been involved in cartel conduct to come forward and cooperate with the CMA in return for immunity from, or a reduction in, financial penalties, and immunity from criminal prosecution and/or protection from director disqualification proceedings.

Although an offer of immunity or other lenient treatment to those who have infringed the law is not undertaken lightly, the CMA says it is justified by the contribution it makes to tackling and deterring anti-competitive behaviour in the public.

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