The venture stems from the collective frustration of four founders—James Ryan, Luke Burford, Ian Lewis, and Els Tisserand—who experienced the industry's systemic flaws firsthand. Their initiative arrives as regulators, including the Competition and Markets Authority, have flagged existing platforms for misleading vetting processes and inadequate complaint handling. By requiring rigorous checks through Companies House, HM Land Registry, and direct insurance verification, the founders intend to replace the current industry model of selling bulk leads with a more secure, exclusive auction system.
Platform Launches to Combat £1.4bn Annual Rogue Trader Losses
UK homeowners lose an estimated £1.4 billion annually to unreliable contractors, a persistent crisis that has prompted the launch of Compare Builders. The new platform aims to disrupt the home improvement sector by enforcing strict, dual-sided verification for both property owners and tradespeople before any project bidding begins.
While the platform provides a higher standard of screening, it stops short of guaranteeing workmanship quality, functioning strictly as an introducer. The Federation of Master Builders reports that one in four customers loses money on home improvements, with average losses hitting £1,760. By mandating identity and financial verification for both parties, the platform seeks to restore trust in a market that still lacks a national registration scheme for builders. Compare Builders is currently in beta, with plans to expand its verification-first model into other sectors under the Compare Data Group Ltd umbrella.
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