Methodology & assessment overview — how the CTI score is built and what it measures.
CTI transforms publicly reported payment data into structured behavioural insight using an independent and consistently applied assessment methodology.
The Commercial Trust Index (CTI) is an independent, data-driven measure of commercial payment behaviour within the UK business sector. Rather than focusing on policies, commitments, memberships or certifications, CTI assesses observable behaviour using objective data published under statutory reporting requirements.
Statutory payment reporting published by UK businesses.
A single, consistently applied method for every company.
Behaviour grouped into the four areas set out below.
A score, a CTI Score Band and supporting indicators.
What the behaviour means in practical terms.
Procurement, supply chain and commercial choices.
CTI doesn't tell you whether a company is “good” or “bad”. It helps you understand observable payment behaviour using a consistent methodology, allowing you to compare organisations using the same framework.
Payment practices data is published on the UK Government's Check Payment Practices service.
Every organisation is assessed on published data using the same methodology, whether or not it knows it has been scored.
CTI evaluates indicators grouped into four core assessment areas, providing a broader picture than any single payment statistic alone. The Commercial Trust Index is calculated from four assessment areas. Throughout this report these are referred to as the CTI Score Breakdown.
How promptly suppliers are paid.
Payment speed and how consistently payments fall within recognised payment periods.
How complete and consistent the reporting is.
The quality, consistency and completeness of publicly reported information.
Signs of friction in how payments are made.
Indications of payment delays, disputes, or payments occurring outside agreed terms.
Whether behaviour is improving or worsening.
Whether payment performance improves, deteriorates or holds steady across reporting periods.
The four areas combine into a single CTI Score from 0 to 100. The detailed weightings and calibration within each area remain proprietary.
A lower score does not imply financial distress, insolvency risk or future business performance.
CTI is designed as a rolling behavioural index, considering multiple reporting periods to provide a more balanced view of payment performance over time.
Behavioural Signals highlight patterns that may warrant closer commercial review. They do not indicate financial distress or predict future outcomes.
A signal is a prompt to look closer, not a conclusion in itself.
Where no signal is shown, no material behavioural indicators have been identified in the reported data.
Every CTI Score is produced using five principles: Objectivity, Consistency, Transparency, Independence and Comparability. They are the controls applied to every assessment, not aspirations.
Look up a company to see how it pays its suppliers, how that compares with others, and whether behaviour is improving or worsening.
Apply the same payment-behaviour test across a tender list or approved supplier panel, using one consistent framework.
Track behavioural trends over time across the organisations you depend on, rather than checking once and assuming it holds.
Add an evidence-based view of payment conduct to the wider checks you already carry out before committing.
In each case CTI is one input among several. It improves transparency in commercial decision-making; it does not make the decision.
CTI methodologies are version controlled and subject to periodic review. Changes are documented and published through formal version updates to maintain consistency and comparability over time.
To preserve the integrity of the index and prevent manipulation, detailed scoring calculations, weighting structure, calibration process and risk triggers remain proprietary.
Look up any company covered by statutory payment reporting to see its CTI Score, CTI Score Band and CTI Trend.
Methodology: CTI v2.0
CTI is currently in Early Access. Methodology updates are version controlled and published as the platform is refined with industry feedback.