Summary of investigation – Chamber Group
Published on: Monday 23rd February 2026
December 2025 to February 2026
Organisation or person investigated
Chamber Group
Matter(s) investigated
Whether Chamber Group conducted unregistered consultant lobbying.
Registrar’s decision
Based on information and advice provided, Chamber Group has not conducted unregistered consultant lobbying in relation to the matter under investigation.
Summary of rationale for decision
Under the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 (“the Act”), a registrable communication is made by a VAT registered company or individual communicating with a Minister, Permanent Secretary (or equivalent) on behalf of a paying client.
Chamber Group have provided assurances that they do not receive payment for any activities that are registrable under the Act nor, specifically, were any meetings with ministers arranged on behalf of EC Strategies.
Chronology
| Date | Action |
| 17 December 2025 | Letter to the Registrar and online material describing potentially unregistered lobbying by Chamber Group. |
| 6 January 2026 | Letter from the Registrar to Ben Howlett at Chamber Group giving background on the requirement for registering and asking if the activities of Chamber Group fall within the criteria to be registered with particular reference to, but not limited to, any meetings or communications undertaken on behalf of EC Strategies. |
| 19 January | Email from Ben Howlett stating that internal processes had been reviewed and providing assurances that Chamber Group does not undertake activities that meet the criteria in the Act. |
| 28 January | Follow up letter from Registrar asking specifically about meetings with ministers on behalf of EC Strategies. |
| 10 February | Email from Chamber Group providing assurances that no meetings were arranged with ministers on behalf of EC Strategies, and that conversations with ministers involved no advocacy or representation on behalf of any client. |
| 20 February | Letter from the Registrar concluding the investigation and providing advice on compliance. |
20 February 2026 (Published onto website on the 23/02/2026 due to technical issues)
Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists
office@orcl.gov.uk