Scale-ups and competition policy
Discussion paper exploring the role of competition policy in supporting UK scale-ups.
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This discussion paper looks at the role of competition policy in supporting UK scale-ups.
When firms scale successfully in the UK, we see more innovation, more high-value jobs, and greater retention of value for the economy. In strategic sectors, scale-ups also improve resilience to global shocks and supply chain disruptions. UK start-ups that go onto become globally consequential firms also strengthen the UK’s influence and autonomy.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) wants to better understand these interactions and assess where it can add value most effectively.
In particular, the paper looks at:
- tackling sector-specific barriers
- unlocking horizontal enablers
- competition policy in the context of sector collaboration and merger activity
At this stage, we do not aim to answer the questions in the paper, but instead, encourage discussion and feedback, and gather evidence. In particular, we would like to hear from high-growth sectors in the UK government’s industrial strategy (the ‘IS-8’) and their investors.
Email any comments or questions about this paper to publicpolicy@cma.gov.uk by 21 November 2025.
We have also published a review of the existing literature on the relationship between investment and competition over a business’ lifecycle.
Collectively, this work programme forms part of our support for the UK government’s growth mission and modern industrial strategy.