How We Check Listings
We list every real fire and security company we can find in the areas we cover, and we check each one against the official approval registers ourselves. This page explains where our information comes from, what our labels mean, and how company listings are ordered.
1. We find the companies
We start from businesses listed on Google Maps under fire and security categories, then add companies we find on trade registers and through owners who contact us. We only list businesses that are trading, have a quality website, working phone number, and offer at least one of the services we cover.
2. We read each company's website
The services, the towns covered and the short description on each listing come from the company's own website and its Google Business Profile. If we can't confirm a detail, we leave it out rather than guess.
3. We check the official registers
We search the BAFE, NSI and SSAIB registers for every company we list. Each listing shows one of these for each register:
| Label | What it means |
|---|---|
| On the register | We found the company on that register. The listing shows the date we checked. |
| Not found | We searched the register and did not find the business |
| Not checked yet | We have not searched that register for this business yet |
Approval schemes cover specific types of work. A business on the NSI register for intruder alarms, for example, may not be approved for CCTV or fire alarms. Before you hire, ask the company for its certificate and check the scope covers your job. Some insurers require an approved installer, so check your policy for insurance coverage and requirements.
4. We show Google ratings as they are
Ratings and review counts come from each company's Google Business Profile on the date we last updated the listing. We don't collect, edit or remove reviews.
5. We re-check every listing
We review every listing at least once a year, and sponsored listings more often. Each listing shows the date it was last checked. If you spot something wrong, tell us and we'll fix it.
How are listings ordered?
On every town and service page, companies are sorted by Google rating, then number of reviews, then name. Companies based in the town appear alongside other companies that say they cover it. Each card shows the company's details.
What our labels mean
| Label | What it means | Sponsored? |
|---|---|---|
| Owner confirmed | The owner has checked their details are correct. It is not an accreditation check. | No |
| Premium listing | The company pays £99 a year for extra photos, a longer description, hours, a map and a website link. It does not change the company's position. | Sponsored |
| Best of Peterborough | The company meets our published criteria and pays £249 for a place in the "Best-of" box for its town. | Sponsored |
Other commercial relationships
The directory earns money from Premium listings and Best-of places. The publisher may also have other commercial relationships with listed businesses, including operating some of them, and providing services to some of them. None of this ever changes a company's position in the list, its register status or how we describe it.
What a listing is not
A listing is not an endorsement. We don't inspect companies work, premises, insurance or staff. Always compare quotes, ask for local references, and check approval certificates before you commit.
