About us

We help people, businesses and the UK economy by promoting competitive markets and tackling unfair behaviour.

We have staff in London, Edinburgh, Belfast, Cardiff, Manchester and Darlington.

Competition that works for people, businesses and the whole UK economy

When competition works well, everyone benefits. Our ambition is to promote an environment where people can be confident they are getting great choices and fair deals, competitive, fair-dealing businesses can innovate and thrive and the whole UK economy can grow productively and sustainably.

Video: Why competition is good for business

Our responsibilities

We help people, businesses and the UK economy by promoting competitive markets and tackling unfair behaviour in a number of ways:

  • we investigate mergers that have the potential to lead to a substantial lessening of competition. If a merger is likely to reduce competition substantially, the CMA can block it or impose remedies to address those concerns
  • we take action against businesses and individuals that take part in cartels or anti-competitive behaviour
  • we protect people from unfair trading practices, including in cases where unfair treatment suggests there may be a systemic market problem
  • we investigate entire markets if we think there are competition or consumer problems
  • we encourage government and other regulators to use competition effectively on behalf of consumers
  • we carry out regulatory appeals in relation to issues like price controls
  • we provide information and advice to people and businesses about rights and obligations under competition and consumer law
  • we provide technical advice, reporting and monitoring in relation to the UK internal market, through the Office for the Internal Market
  • we provide advice, reporting and monitoring in relation to government subsidies, through the Subsidy Advice Unit

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is an independent non-ministerial department. Our work is overseen by a Board, and led by the Chief Executive and senior team. Decisions in some investigations are made by independent members of a CMA panel.

Our annual plan

Every year we publish our annual plan, which outlines the priorities that guide our work.

Read our 2024 to 2025 annual plan

Tell us about competition problems or issues

It’s important that we hear about any problems in markets, or with specific organisations, but we can’t always respond in detail to individual complaints.

Read our guidance on how the CMA handles information and complaints for more information.

Tell the CMA about a competition or market problem

Working for the CMA

The CMA is an exciting place to work, and we have a range of roles that we recruit for.

Search our current vacancies

Request someone from the CMA to speak at your event

Requests for CMA speakers or panellists at events should be submitted using our speaker request form

Please note that requests for the Chief Executive and Chair require at least 3 months’ notice. Other speakers usually require at least 1 month’s notice.

If you are unable to use our form, please email us at [email protected].

Fill in the form accurately and include as much detail as possible.

We cannot guarantee we will offer someone to speak or that a specific person will be available. If we can’t offer the individual you ask for, where possible, we will try to offer an alternative person for your event.

Fill out our speaker request form

Diversity and inclusion in events

The CMA’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy is a key priority for the organisation. We are determined to promote equal opportunities and we acknowledge the diversity of staff who work within the organisation, and the consumers and other stakeholders that are part of the wider community we work with.

We are therefore keen to understand the steps organisers have taken to ensure diversity and inclusivity amongst speakers and panellists of their events. Please ensure questions are answered as fully as possible. If we believe the event does not appear to be inclusive, we may seek further information to understand how diversity has been considered before reaching a decision on the speaker request.

For any queries relating to the speaker request form, please email [email protected].

Read the CMA’s personal information charter to find out how we collect, use and share personal information at the CMA.

Corporate information

Access our information

Jobs and contracts

Read about the types of information we routinely publish in our Publication scheme. Find out about our commitment to Welsh language scheme. Our Personal information charter explains how we treat your personal information. Read our policy on Social media use.

Contents