EFAU 50 - August 1998Back to list of articles in this issue

How To Research A Company: In Brief

'The Earth is not dying, it is being killed. And those who are killing it have names and addresses'. - Utah Phillips

Beginning

* important: check with other activist groups in case they've done the work already!
* start with the company's annual report - they will send it if you ask nicely
* if a non-PLC, look up the relevant business directories
* for structure, try Who Owns Whom
* for production info, try Kompass vol . 1
* Try also market research guides and industry reports
* always note your sources to insure against libel

Libraries

* as well as the business section, check out reference
* look for Who's Who , the Directory of Associations and Professional Bodies , trade journals (e.g. Mining Journal , The Engineer ), and local history books
* if you can get to London, visit the City Business Library, Westminster Reference Library, or the British Library Business Info Service
* alternatively, get to your University library

Internet

* for leads and contacts, join an activist listserver, e.g. listserve@mizzoul.missouri.edu
* top infosites to start at: http://wwww.essential.org, http://www.corpwatch.org, http://www.oneworld.org

Newspapers. Newsletters Etc

* Financial Times
* Investor's Chronicle
* Private Eye is good for leads but quoting is a libel risk!
* find internal newsletters (e.g. BP Today ) for recent contract awards, new offices etc, careers offices have them sometimes
* look in Business Surveys' Research Index , which covers most major papers & mags

Who Are They?

* Directory of Directors, Debrett's People of Today , and Who's Who will get you people biographies
* you have a legal right to inspect shareholder listings at a company’s registered office - see Corp.Watch Issue one p. 16 for details

Where Are They?

* find the red postal address directories in the library for locations, or MacMillan's Key British Enterprises
* Companies House (in many city centres) will get you home addresses for L1, or a full company search for £3.50 (ph. 01222 380 30) but you may be asked for a name & ID

Who Knows Who?

* the annual report must declare any donations of over L200; for more call the Labour Research Dept (ph. 0171 928 0621
* for lobbying activity, try the Directory of Associations & Proff. Bodies
* The Register of Members’ Interests should tell you who benefits from what

PR Strategy

* find this out in PR Week or Marketing , or the PR Consultancy Yearbook

Further Research

* once you have your basic profile, examine it for anything dodgy or interesting, and follow up
* ask questions as...a journalist, a student writing a thesis, a job-hunter...pick a flattering angle on the company (their community projects/'green' image-improving etc) to win confidence
* visit: see what lorries stop, look through windows, check rubbish bins, try walking straight in and being lost
* talk to employees
* get a job with the company, if you can stand it!

Investigating Tips

* always be friendly with accountants & secretaries
* look for enemies of the company
* interview company reps last, when you have a good case & it’s harder for them to lie to you
* brush up on jargon & background knowledge
* anticipate possible responses
* decide beforehand if you wish to leave your source friendly or hostile to you after an interview
* document your interviews in detail
* use openended questions, putting-at-ease questions
* note what your interviewee doesn't want to talk about
* Respect off-the record comments (use as leads only) - but convention is that off-the-record must be said BEFORE the comments are made, rather than in oops, I shouldn’t have said that! - avoid offering o-t-r.
* use an alias that you can elaborate on if necessary
* alter your memorable features (glasses/smoking etc)* use a callbox not outside your house
* back up your sources carefully
* in writing use devices such as according to... allegedly etc
* keep incriminating notes elsewhere

What To Do Next

You are limited only by your own imagination (and your feelings about the possible consequences!) Things people have done before include: public awareness-raising on future developments, freephone calling, fax blockades, junkpost campaigns, targetting tenderers, shareholder-educating, site occupations, office occupations (a way to get more info too), work disruption, AGM disruption, getting media onto company dodginess and corruption, taking companies to court for false advertising, illegal operations...and any campaign can benefit from a greasy palms leaflet, to provide info about the relevant companies and their subcontractors, and where to write to/visit them.