Comparison methodology
Last updated: 2026
How providers are added
Providers reach CompareHQ in one of two ways: our team researches and adds them from public information, or the business submits its own listing. Either way, a member of the CompareHQ team reviews every new listing and every edit before it goes live. Nothing gets published automatically.
What “Verified provider” means
The “Verified provider” badge on a listing means the CompareHQ team has checked that listing for accuracy and completeness before publishing it. It isn't an independent financial, legal, or quality audit of the business, and it isn't a personal recommendation or endorsement by CompareHQ.
Credibility standards
CompareHQ doesn't aim to list every UK provider, only ones we can show are credible, established businesses. What counts as credible depends on the category. In Executive Coaching and Coach Training, a provider needs a real, verifiable accreditation or credential, for example ICF, EMCC, or another recognised coaching body. In every other category, we look for at least one clear signal: a genuine public Trustpilot or Google review profile, a professional and credible business website, or named facilitators or business leaders with a verifiable track record. A listing that's later found not to meet these standards is removed, and can only rejoin once the issue has been resolved. See our Provider agreement for the full terms.
Categories and cross-listing
Every provider has one primary category, based on its core service. If a provider genuinely offers something covered by another category, say an executive coaching firm that also runs team coaching, it can show on that category's page too. That cross-listing only reflects real services a provider has confirmed or that we've verified ourselves. It's never for sale.
Listing tiers don't affect facts
Providers can hold a Free, Professional, or Premium listing. Paid tiers buy visibility, for example a higher spot in search results or a tier badge. They never change, hide, or add to a listing's factual content, rating, review count, or accreditation data. See our Provider agreement for the full tier terms.
Ratings and reviews
Star ratings and review counts come from a provider's public Trustpilot or Google profile. They're independently verified rather than self-reported, and a provider can never pay to change one. See our full Review & Ratings Policy.
Search, filters, and comparison
Filters (location, price band, founded year, accreditations, and category-specific themes) are built from real listing data, either submitted by the provider or researched by us. Where we can't confirm a genuine answer, we leave the filter blank rather than guess. So if a provider doesn't show up in a filtered result, it doesn't always mean they lack that quality, just that we haven't verified it.
Contact us
Spotted something that looks wrong, or think a provider should be listed? Get in touch.