Firm in construction bid-rigging inquiry fined after exec removed evidence
Summary
The Competition and Markets Authority has fined M&J Group and two employees after evidence was temporarily concealed during a dawn raid linked to an ongoing bid-rigging investigation. The wider inquiry, launched in December 2024, concerns suspected collusion in construction-related bidding, including work funded through the Department for Education’s Condition Improvement Fund.
Why it matters
Surveyors involved in procurement, contract administration or public-sector projects should note the CMA’s willingness to penalise non-compliance with investigative powers, including individuals. The case also highlights competition-law risk in construction supply chains that can affect project pricing, tender integrity and client due diligence.
Key points
- M&J Group was fined after a work phone and paperwork were hidden from CMA inspectors.
- The CMA fined both the company and two individuals for obstructing its investigation.
- The bid-rigging inquiry remains ongoing and no findings of competition-law breach have been made.
- The investigation covers construction-related contracts, including DfE-funded school improvement work.
- The CMA’s enhanced penalty powers came into force in January 2025, increasing exposure for non-compliance.
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