We’re running an essay competition for students and recent graduates (within the last 2 years). This would particularly suit those who have focused on economics or law but it’s open to people who have studied any subject.
The winner will get £500 in multi-store vouchers, and there will be two runner-up prizes of £200 each.
The winner will also be announced at an event to mark our 10th anniversary in London in late April (travel and accommodation expenses will be covered).
The question to answer is:
What are the benefits of a strong competition and/or consumer protection regime, and how can the CMA best deliver them?
Please write 1000 to 1200 words aimed at a general, non-academic audience (no need for extensive references or footnotes).
Please submit your entries, or address any queries, to essaycompetition@cma.gov.uk by the 11 March 2024.
The winner will be notified by the 4 April 2024.
The Subsidy Advice Unit (SAU), part of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), has now been operating for just over a year as part of the UK’s domestic subsidy control regime.
The SAU has two key functions – evaluating assessments of compliance from public authorities for the most potentially distortive subsidies to tight timescales, and carrying out a much wider monitoring function for the subsidy control regime overall. Much of our focus this year has been on this former function, and we are now consulting on the operation of our monitoring role.
It’s been a busy first year for the Subsidy Advice Unit – since we launched on 4 January 2023, we’ve accepted 33 referrals of subsidies and schemes meeting the criteria set out in regulations, and published 28 reports.
These reports evaluate and provide non-binding advice on a public authority’s assessment of compliance against the subsidy control requirements set out in legislation.
We’ve produced these reports for a wide range of public authorities across all 4 UK nations including government departments, arms-length bodies, combined authorities and local authorities.
You can read our reports published to date here.
We’ve found it mutually beneficial to have an early informal discussion with public authorities on potential referrals even if the subsidy is not yet certain – we can explain more about the process and timings and advise on next steps for taking the referral forward.
Anyone with a potential referral for the team should reach out to us via SAU@cma.gov.uk.
We also recommend that public authorities take part in pre-referral discussions with the SAU once they’ve produced an advanced draft of their assessment of compliance – ideally, this draft should be shared a few weeks before referral.
No two SAU reports are the same, but we’ve seen some consistent themes in the feedback we’ve given across referrals received so far.
Public authorities should have regard to the DBT Statutory Guidance when producing an assessment of compliance, and we recommend consulting with this closely in the first instance.
While not an exhaustive list, we’d note the following areas that some public authorities find challenging:
With our work on referrals now well-established, we’re continuing to develop our second key role, in relation to monitoring. This involves periodic monitoring and reporting on the effectiveness of the operation of the subsidy control regime and its impact on competition and investment in the UK – a key means to ensure an independent, evidence-based assessment of how the regime has delivered its objectives.
Our first monitoring report is due in 2026. While this is still some way off, we are keen to engage with stakeholders now how we propose to carry out this work.
We have therefore today published a consultation with our proposals. We propose looking at whether the Act works as intended and whether the practical arrangements are working as needed, alongside short and long term indicators of competition.
We propose relying on a range of evidence, including the Subsidy Database, surveys, our own research and case studies.
We are very keen to hear views from all interested stakeholders, in particular public authorities, businesses and representative organisations, legal and economic advisers and academics on:
What kind of shopper are you? Do you buy exactly the same things when you shop? Or maybe you’re happy with whatever’s on offer?
However you like to shop, we all know there’s pressure on household budgets right now. People are really aware of the cost of living, and we’re all looking for ways to save money.
Unit pricing can be a good way to check you are getting value for money at the supermarket. We’ve put together this short guide to help you understand what unit pricing is, and how it can help you make smart choices.
You won’t become a millionaire overnight, of course. But over time, these little savings can add up, so it’s worth thinking about. We’ve also published some research into this if you’d like to know more.
Unit pricing is when the price of an item is provided using a standard measure. This might be by:
You can find unit prices on the shelf label in store and online. They’re usually displayed next to or below the selling price of the item. The unit price may be in smaller print, and so you may need to look harder if there is a loyalty or promotional offer happening.
Here’s how a unit price might be displayed on a shelf label:
Here’s how a unit price might be displayed online:
There are a number of common assumptions out there about how to get the best value for money. Our analysis found the unit prices of some products compared to others can be surprising.
You should know that:
So check the unit price on the label before you buy.
Here’s an example that shows that items on a promotional offer aren’t necessarily the best value for money:
It’s always worth checking the unit price of items when shopping, whether you're doing so online or in a store. We know that some shoppers have favourite items that they always buy, and you might be one of these people. But do check the unit price, because they:
To learn more about unit pricing, read our latest report and related consumer research.
]]>Applications for our Delivery Graduate Scheme are open for September 2024! If you’ve recently graduated or will be graduating soon and are looking to start up your career, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.
As a graduate at the CMA, you will form an integral part of our multi-disciplinary teams as a delivery case officer. You will gain hands-on experience in CMA casework which can involve mergers, markets, antitrust investigations, subsidy advice and much more.
This is an exciting springboard opportunity to gain valuable experience working alongside legal, economic, financial and other experts across our delivery teams.
As a Case Officer on the Graduate Scheme, you will do three 12-month placements in various delivery teams and contribute to the delivery of high-quality outputs, assisting major investigations and studies. This could involve writing draft proposals for investigations, planning and executing dawn raids, analysing documents, developing strategy, and assisting with project management.
During your time at the CMA, you’ll also get to advance your skills and knowledge through a structured training programme. The programme will be spread over the 3 years of the scheme and is designed to:
You will also be sponsored to study part-time for an external academic qualification related to your work at the CMA.
If you’re interested in the Scheme, we’d love to hear from you!
Please register for our online ‘Q&A’ event on Wednesday 24 January to find out more.
Applicants must be based and eligible to work in the UK.
Upon applying, you will have three tests to complete comprising verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning and management judgement. After these, you will be presented with an application form to fill in.
If you’re successful, you’ll be invited to attend an assessment centre and interview.
Find out more and apply by 6 February 2024.
]]>In the last 18 months the Digital Markets Unit (DMU) has been recruiting steadily as we ramp up to get ready for the Digital Markets Competition and Consumers Bill to become law. Over that time, we have grown from about 25 people to over 60 in our core team.
But the end of this ‘shadow’ phase is rapidly coming into view, as we approach ‘day one’, the date we take on our new powers. We recently published the overview of our provisional approach to implementing the new Digital Markets competition regime which sets out how we will meet our strategic objectives of protecting consumers and businesses, ensuring fair competition, and enabling investment and innovation in digital markets. This is very exciting for all of us who have been working on setting up the DMU. Even more exciting, in 2024 we expect to start exercising these powers and improving outcomes for UK consumers and businesses.
For anyone who has perhaps been watching the developments in digital markets here in the United Kingdom or throughout the world, in places from the European Union and United States of America to Japan, Germany and Australia I would say now is the time to really seriously consider the Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) DMU as a place to develop your career.
Within the DMU you will have the opportunity to work on some of the most complex policy challenges facing governments today.
You can see, for instance, the CMA’s ongoing work on:
These are all examples where members of the DMU have been working with colleagues from across the CMA on these important cases. If you join the DMU you will get the opportunity to work with extremely knowledgeable and supportive colleagues, with international agencies and world-renowned academics such as our digital experts. We are a collaborative team with regular social events, paid time for volunteering and opportunities to travel between our offices and overseas. The work we do has a meaningful impact on the way that digital markets work for millions of people and businesses up and down the country and around the world.
Our recruitment rounds are very competitive, we attract a large number of applicants, in part, as this is such an interesting and fast-moving area in which to work. These roles may be of particular interest to those with experience working in regulatory environments or competition and consumer policy areas or with experience in digital technologies. But we are very interested in bringing in applicants with transferable skills and from diverse backgrounds. We have an active Equality, Diversity and Inclusion action groups both in the DMU and across the wider CMA. This is definitely a place where, whatever your background, you can learn and develop your skills. We place a big emphasis on training, knowledge sharing and personal development. So, if you have a passion for digital markets and want to hear more, we are interested in hearing from you.
We are currently recruiting for a range of roles to support our work:
If you’re interested in hearing more about these roles and the work of the DMU, please register for our online ‘open house’ event on Monday 15 January 2024.
]]>We are launching a new round of secondment opportunities for lawyers, to start on 18 March 2024.
Since its launch in June 2018, over 50 secondees from over 20 law firms have taken part in the programme and we are now accepting applications for the next round which is anticipated to start on 18 March 2024.
We invite you to consider whether your firm and any of your associates wish to participate.
The deadline for applications is 12 January 2024.
Our programme offers an exciting opportunity for competition and consumer lawyers:
Comments from previous secondees:
“Being seconded to the mergers unit of the CMA as a principal case officer has been an incredible experience. I had the chance to work on very interesting cases, while working with very smart, thoughtful and friendly colleagues along the way. I would definitely recommend it to every competition lawyer.”
"I thoroughly enjoyed my secondment to the CMA’s Consumer team. My colleagues were very welcoming and friendly, and got me involved from day one. I helped scope for new consumer law enforcement cases and this taught me a lot about strategy, prioritisation and working within a team to make decisions. I also helped launch and run enforcement cases over my secondment. Overall, this experience was incredibly valuable as I was able to develop my understanding of consumer laws and CMA enforcement powers. The project I was on very much sat at the forefront of law and technology. Further, the CMA clearly value knowledge sharing as there is no shortage of talks and seminars to attend.”
"Working within the Digital Markets Unit has been fantastic. I am so grateful for the opportunity and have learned a lot. It has been fascinating working on the shaping of future legislation."
Application details
Secondments are open to all qualified lawyers currently employed in a law firm in the UK and with previous experience working on competition and/or consumer law or related litigation matters. While secondees to date have been based in our London office, we are open to consider requests for secondments to be based in CMA offices in Belfast, Edinburgh or Manchester.
We aim to offer secondees a range of work suitable for their level of experience and to provide training as part of the role, Our secondments last for 6 months with two intakes annually on a rolling basis. The CMA will contribute a flat rate to the cost of secondees, with further details available on request.
Firms that would like to put candidates forward should email a CV and covering letter for each candidate by 12 January 2024 to Simon Harms, David Riley, Victoria Oates and John Bardsley.
As part of their covering letter, candidates should confirm that they are able to start their secondment on 18 March 2024 for a 6-month period.
Candidates should also express any preference for particular types of work within the CMA which we will do our best to accommodate, including with a view to maximising a firm’s exposure to different CMA tools among their associates seconded over time.
Candidates should be available to have a meeting or call with the CMA during the weeks of either 15 January 2024 or 22 January 2024 to discuss the secondment.
Please note we will not consider applications via agencies.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss the benefits of the programme, please contact any of Simon Harms, David Riley, Victoria Oates or John Bardsley.
Simon Harms
Legal Director Simon.Harms@cma.gov.uk
David Riley
Legal Director David.Riley@cma.gov.uk
Victoria Oates
Assistant Legal Director Victoria.Oates@cma.gov.uk
John Bardsley
Assistant Legal Director John.Bardsley@cma.gov.uk
]]>
The main aims of Black History Month are to celebrate the achievements and contributions of black people in the UK and worldwide, and to educate on black history.
Celebrating Black History Month is just one of the ways that we as an organisation are always striving to create an inclusive culture in the workplace, in which every individual is valued and respected.
Keep reading to find out about the various ways we've celebrated Black History Month, this year at the CMA.
Across the organisation, colleagues have shared their experiences of being black and British through a series of internal blogs and events which also involved external guests.
This included a panel event hosted by our Chair, Marcus Bokkerink, which explored Black British culture and heritage and how it intersects with the arts and media.
In our London office, the Café served delicious African and Caribbean food throughout October.
The first ever Black History Month in the UK was only celebrated in London, but over the years, the celebration has expanded across the whole of the UK. To mark the end of the month, our Edinburgh-based colleagues came together for a Black History Walking Tour, led by Lisa Williams of the Edinburgh Caribbean Association.
On the tour, Lisa shared some fascinating but little-known stories of Edinburgh’s deep connections with Africa, Asia and the Caribbean from Tudor times to the present day. Cecilia Parker Aranha, Senior Director at the CMA, accounts the tour in more detail below:
]]>Colleagues from the CMA’s office in Edinburgh joined colleagues from HMRC on a Black History Walking Tour of Edinburgh, led by the wonderful Lisa Williams of the Edinburgh Caribbean Society. Lisa took us from the 16th to the 19th Century with stories of highly regarded black courtiers in the Court of King James IV, through Scotland’s, and particularly Edinburgh’s role in the slave trade, and the inspirational, and sometimes quick radical, abolitionists in Edinburgh. Sadly, we didn’t get time for the 20th Century, but we are hoping to organise a sequel!
Our actions will help give people confidence that they are getting fair deals, are able to use products and services that best meet their needs and are protected from misleading practices. We will also work to ensure that competitive, fair-dealing business can innovate and have the chance to challenge existing firms.
Read more about the CMA’s approach to promoting competition and innovation in digital markets.
As part of the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) we are based across the country, and we have recently opened a new office in Manchester which will be a key hub for the DMU.
We’re hiring – so now is the perfect time to join the team!
The following roles are available now:
Apply by the 6 November 2023 for both roles.
Find out what it's like to work in the DMU from 2 of our Manchester-based colleagues, Jess and Felicity, below.
We are excited to build our presence in Manchester and benefit from the deep talent pool and history of innovation that exists within the city.
We are looking for a people from a range of backgrounds, with transferable skills. This could include experience in one of the following fields: accountancy, advocacy, data analysis/science, economics, government, law, project management, regulation, research, teaching/academia, technology.
Previous experience studying or working in a digital-related field may be helpful but is not essential – we are proud of our commitment to learning and development and will support you to upskill in key areas.
If you’re interested in hearing more about these roles and the work of the DMU, please register for our online live Q&A event on Monday 30th October 2023.
]]>We made two recommendations to the UK government which have both been accepted:
We believe that the best chance of positive change will be achieved when a permanent, mandatory and open access fuel finder scheme is put in place. The UK government has already confirmed it will take forward this recommendation.
In the meantime, the government asked the CMA to implement a temporary fuel price data scheme. We’re asking fuel retailers to provide up-to-date price data, which will be available to third-party developers. Consumers will then be able to use apps and websites to find fuel prices in their area.
During July and August, the CMA worked with the largest fuel retailers and trade associations – representing a significant proportion of petrol and diesel sold in the UK – on a temporary data scheme.
While this scheme is a useful first step, it’s important there is a mandatory, permanent scheme in place as soon as possible, so drivers have access to real-time prices from all the fuel stations in the UK.
The permanent scheme will help ensure effective competition, which benefits consumers and businesses.
The CMA website lists the retailers who have signed up to the scheme, with links to their pricing data. So far, several major fuel retailers, including Asda, Morrison’s, Sainsbury's and Tesco, have joined. You can see the full list of who has signed up on our website. The fuel retailers that have signed up so far account for approximately 35% of service stations throughout the UK and approximately 60% of the volume of fuel sold.
We're strongly encouraging more retailers to follow suit.
You can read more about the scheme on our road fuel price data scheme page. You can also find out more about the market study we completed this summer.
]]>There are school-run, government-backed and local authority support schemes to help with the back-to-school shop and make your money go the extra mile. But it is hard to know where to find the best deals and what red flags to look out for which can help you save much needed time and money as well as anxiety and stress.
Here are some useful tips and tricks to help you when shopping online and instore for back-to-school supplies.
Make sure you understand what your school’s uniform policy is and especially what items need school branding and where they can be bought from. Even if you can only buy branded items from one place, make sure you find the best deals for everything else. Remember that for many items you do not need to buy from a school’s approved shop.
Some retailers might make you rush into paying by saying that stock is low, lots of people are looking right now, or that it’s only available for a limited time. This is not always true. So, take your time to compare prices and availability on other sites, and ignore sales tactics that pressure you.
Some businesses pay or reward people for positive reviews, so don’t believe everything you read. Fake reviews are difficult to spot, so try reading the negatives as well and find reviews on multiple sites. If it’s too good to be true, it probably is.
You may be eligible to receive a grant up to £200 to help with uniform costs. To see if you are eligible contact your local council.
]]>