Last Updated on September 23, 2026
You do not need a paid credit or due diligence service to do the first checks on an infrastructure company. Seven official tools cover most of it, and every one is free. Each was read on 23 September 2026.
The mistake: paying for a report before you have looked at the public record yourself. Start with the free tools, then pay only for what they cannot tell you.
| Tool | What it tells you | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Companies House search | Registered address, incorporation date, officers, filed documents, charges, previous names and insolvency information, according to GOV.UK | Free |
| HSE register of enforcement notices | Improvement and prohibition notices. HSE says they are published five weeks after being served and stay for five years | Free |
| Ofgem RIIO-3 final determinations overview | The electricity transmission and gas network companies under the current price control | Free |
| Ofwat’s list of water companies | The water and sewerage companies in England and Wales, with contact details | Free |
| Energy Networks Association lookup | Which electricity network operator covers a postcode | Free |
| Find a Tender | Public procurement notices, including contract awards, since 24 February 2025 | Free |
| Contracts Finder | Older public contracts over £12,000 including VAT | Free |
How to use them in order
- Companies House first. Confirm the legal name, number and status. Read the filing history, not just the overview.
- HSE next. Search the enforcement register by company name. HSE is running a temporary register alongside the main one, so check both.
- The regulator, for a utility. Ofgem for energy networks, Ofwat for water.
- Find a Tender for the work. A contract award notice is better evidence of public work than a press release.
Our guide to checking an infrastructure contractor walks through each step, and every firm in our infrastructure directory links to its Companies House record.
What the free tools will not tell you
They will not tell you about the quality of a firm’s work, its insurance cover or its full financial position. For those, ask the firm for evidence and read the filed accounts themselves.
Takeaway: ten minutes on seven free tools beats a report you have not read.
Method. Official pages only, each opened on 23 September 2026. Descriptions of what each tool shows come from the tool’s own page or GOV.UK.
Limits. These tools show what has been filed or published. A missing record is not proof of anything. This is not legal or financial advice.
Sources, each read on 23 September 2026: GOV.UK, get information about a company · HSE, find an improvement or prohibition notice · HSE notices register · Ofgem RIIO-3 overview · Ofwat water companies · ENA network operator lookup · Find a Tender · GOV.UK, Contracts Finder
If a price or fact here is wrong, tell us and we will check it against the source. Corrections, right of reply and removals: whito.co.uk/corrections/.
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