For Consumers

The National Business Conduct Authority (NBCA) provides UK consumers with the power of certainty. Our mission is to ensure that when you interact with a business, you can be confident that it meets national standards for professional, safe, and compliant operation. The primary tool for this is the National Compliance Register, a single, authoritative source of truth, provided at zero cost to the UK taxpayer.

The Register is the UK's public record for business standards. It is a comprehensive directory that allows you to instantly verify the status of any business before you make a decision.

‍Universal Listing
‍The Register lists businesses regardless of their certification status. Those that have not been assessed by the Authority are clearly marked as "Not NBCA Registered", providing you with a clear signal of potential risk.

‍Active Monitoring
‍Unlike a static certificate, the Register is a live system. We ensure standards are maintained through ongoing monitoring and random, unannounced in-person inspections, so you can be confident the rating you see is a reliable indicator of a business's current operational standards.

To make verification simple and universally understood, the Register uses a transparent 1-5 rating system.

‍Rating 5 (Outstanding): Reserved for businesses demonstrating exceptional operational quality that significantly exceeds all required standards.

‍Rating 4 (Excellence): Recognises businesses that meet all standards with distinction and maintain a high level of operational quality.

‍Rating 3 (Professional Standard): Indicates satisfactory compliance with all minimum requirements. This confirms a reliable and compliant operation and is the typical minimum standard required in commercial property leases.

‍Rating 2 (Adequate): Shows a business meets most standards but has identified gaps requiring improvement.

‍Rating 1 (Basic): Indicates a business meets only the minimum legal requirements without demonstrating broader professional conduct frameworks.

Verifying a business is a simple, three-step process designed to be accessible to everyone.

‍Search the Register Online
‍Before you book a service or visit a business, use the free public register to look up its name and check its live rating and compliance status.

‍Look for the Window Sticker
‍Certified businesses are required to display a sticker in their window showing their current rating, similar to the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme.

‍Scan the QR Code
‍Each official sticker includes a QR code. Scanning this with your smartphone will take you directly to the business's live profile on the National Compliance Register, providing instant confirmation that the rating is authentic.

When a business fails to meet the standards, the NBCA provides a clear path for recourse. We operate a formal complaints process for issues related to a certified business's non-compliance with our national standards. A valid complaint can trigger a formal investigation, an unannounced inspection, and may result in a business having its rating reduced or its certification suspended or revoked.

This system ensures that certified businesses are held accountable for maintaining their standards. By checking the National Compliance Register and choosing businesses with a proven commitment to professional conduct, you are not only protecting yourself, you are actively contributing to a fairer, more transparent, and professional UK marketplace.