What Is Due Diligence Investigation?
Due diligence investigation is a structured process of gathering, verifying and analysing information about an individual, company or asset before a significant decision is made — whether that decision is commercial, legal or regulatory in nature. In a business context, the term encompasses a range of intelligence-gathering activities: from verifying the identity and financial standing of a prospective director, to confirming whether a target company is free from undisclosed litigation or insolvency proceedings.
Priority Process conducts due diligence investigations across Belfast, Northern Ireland, the wider United Kingdom and internationally through our European network. All investigations are conducted in accordance with UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018 and the lawful basis applicable to the specific instruction.
Types of Due Diligence Services
Company and Director Background Checks
A company background check provides a comprehensive picture of a corporate entity's standing and history. This includes a review of Companies House records — incorporation details, filed accounts, registered officers — alongside searches for County Court Judgments (CCJs), winding-up petitions and insolvency proceedings. Director-level checks cover searches for disqualified directors under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986, personal insolvency history, and any pattern of association with failed or dissolved entities.
Pre-Employment Screening
Pre-employment screening verifies that a candidate's representations to a prospective employer are accurate and that they meet any regulatory requirements for the role. Our screening service covers identity verification, right-to-work checks, confirmation of academic and professional qualifications, and employment history verification. For roles involving regulated activities, we facilitate criminal record checks through AccessNI — the Northern Ireland disclosure service — as well as DBS checks for roles in England, Wales and Scotland.
Business Partner Due Diligence
Before entering a partnership agreement, joint venture or significant commercial contract, organisations require verified intelligence on the individuals or entities involved. This service is frequently instructed by solicitors acting on behalf of investors, by businesses considering new commercial relationships, and by regulated entities with compliance obligations under anti-money laundering regulations including the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and the Money Laundering Regulations 2017.
Asset Investigation
Asset investigation is the process of identifying, locating and documenting assets held by an individual or corporate entity, typically in the context of enforcement proceedings, litigation or insolvency. A successful asset investigation can establish whether a judgment debtor holds real property, vehicles, bank accounts, business interests or other realisable assets — information that is essential before committing to enforcement action.
The Legal and Regulatory Framework
All due diligence investigations conducted by Priority Process are carried out under a lawful basis as defined by UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. Priority Process is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO registration number C1292310). Director Justin McGibbon is a member of the Association of British Investigators (ABI), which operates under an ICO-approved UK GDPR Code of Conduct for Investigative and Litigation Support Services.
Who Uses Our Due Diligence Services
Our due diligence clients include solicitors and barristers instructing us on transactional, contentious or advisory work; businesses conducting KYC and AML checks on prospective clients or suppliers; HR professionals commissioning pre-employment screening; insolvency practitioners investigating director conduct; and private investors conducting pre-investment due diligence.
Geographic Coverage
Priority Process is headquartered at Wellington Business Park Centre, 3 Wellington Park, Belfast BT9 6DJ, and serves clients across Belfast, Northern Ireland and the wider United Kingdom. We maintain an active network of investigators across Great Britain and operate internationally through established contacts in Ireland and across Europe.
Why Choose Priority Process
Justin McGibbon, director of Priority Process, brings more than eleven years of professional investigation experience to each instruction. He is a member of the Association of British Investigators (ABI) and the World Association of Professional Investigators (WAPI). Priority Process is PSA-licensed and ICO-registered (C1292310). Findings are documented with precision, sources are identified, and reports are structured to withstand scrutiny.
To instruct Priority Process or to discuss a due diligence requirement, call 028 9092 3333 or use our contact form for a free consultation.