The OFT is calling on small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to recognise anti-competitive practices in their markets and to work with the OFT to take action against companies that break competition law.
New research from the OFT showed that nearly one out of five (17%) SMEs operating in the professional business service market believe they are harmed by unfair practices such as price fixing, cartels and collusion to set tender prices.
The research found that 28% of SMEs say they are aware of anti-competitive activities in the professional business services industry and 17% feel they have been a victim of anti-competitive behaviour.
Despite the apparent high awareness of anti-competitive behaviour, only a minority of SMEs surveyed in the professional business services market said that they would report it to the OFT or to other government regulators, which prompted the call from the OFT.
Sir John Vickers, OFT chairman, said: "Practices such as price-fixing and bid-rigging harm the competitiveness of our economy. SMEs have rights and obligations under competition law and can work more with the OFT to identify and stop anti-competitive behaviour."
