How the CTI score is built and what it measures.
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.
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.
CTI evaluates indicators grouped into four core assessment areas, providing a broader picture than any single payment statistic alone.
Measures how promptly organisations pay suppliers and how consistently payments are made within recognised payment periods.
Assesses the quality, consistency and completeness of publicly reported information.
Considers signals that may indicate payment delays, disputes or payments occurring outside agreed terms.
Evaluates whether payment performance is improving, deteriorating or remaining consistent over time.
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.
All organisations are assessed using the same methodology and data standards. CTI does not accept payment in exchange for altering, improving, suppressing or removing scores.
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.
CTI is not a credit rating, financial assessment, certification, accreditation or recommendation. It is an independent, data-driven measure of observed commercial payment behaviour, designed to support transparency and informed decision-making. Users should consider CTI alongside other relevant information when making commercial, procurement or business decisions.
CTI measures observed commercial behaviour using publicly available data. It does not assess opinions, memberships, certifications or future outcomes.