How fresh does a UK buying signal need to be before I call?
Judge freshness by the date on the public record and the signal type: live job postings turn over within weeks, contract end dates are known months ahead. Rank by fit first, freshness second.
Written from Lockley's index and the sources below, updated 12 October 2026.
A UK buying signal is most useful in the days after it is filed, and loses value as the company acts on it or moves on. There is no official shelf life, so judge by signal type: a hiring post or a contract award can be time-sensitive within weeks, while a director change or charge is a prompt to check the company, not a countdown. Always read the date on the record, not the date you found it.
Why the date on the record matters
Public registers publish at different speeds. A charge is dated when registered, a job posting when advertised, a contract award when published. A tool that lists a signal without its record date makes it impossible to judge freshness. Lockley dates counts by the date on each record, which is why its weekly figures run from one stated date to another.
A rough guide by signal
These are working judgements, not published rules, and you should test them on your own market.
Hiring and first-of-function hires. Postings are removed once filled. In the week to 11 October 2026 Lockley recorded 301 significant roles and 96 first-of-function hires, so the pool turns over quickly. Check the posting is still live before calling.
Public contract awards. The winner has just started to mobilise. Lockley recorded 171 awards that week, so the winners are a fresh set to research.
Contracts ending. The end date is known in advance, which is useful: you can call before it lapses. 19 ended that week, so the list is short and specific.
New charges and funding. A lender or investor has just committed. Companies that have just raised or borrowed are often reviewing suppliers, but check the filing for what actually happened. Funding rounds were 530 that week.
Director changes. 38,382 were filed in the week, many routine. Fresh matters less than who left, who arrived and whether the company is one you sell to.
New sites. 483 that week. Planning decisions precede opening by months, so the call can wait for the right stage.
Fresh is not the same as right
The freshest signal is not always the best. A routine director change filed today is weaker than a contract ending next month at a company that fits your offer. Rank by fit first and freshness second. A short list of well-matched companies, each with a dated record, beats a long list sorted by date.
How to keep a signal alive
If you do not reach someone, note the record and date, and revisit within a week or two. The signal does not expire on day one, but your opener changes: say that you saw the record on a given date and are following up. Do not repeat the opener unchanged. If a new record appears for the same company, such as a new hire after a contract award, that is a second reason to call.
What to check each morning
Open the source, confirm the company number, read the date, and ask whether anything has changed since. Our guide to checking a buying signal before you call has the full routine. Lockley does this reading each night, links each finding to its record, and sends a 9am brief with the morning's top three companies in full.
Questions
How long does a buying signal stay useful?
It depends on the type. Hiring posts can vanish within weeks; contract end dates are known months ahead. Check the record date.
Should I always call on the day a signal appears?
No. Fit matters more than speed. Call quickly for time-sensitive signals such as live job postings.
Can I use an older signal?
Yes, if you name the date honestly and the situation may still apply.
Where do I find the date?
On the source record: the filing date at Companies House, the publication date on Contracts Finder, or the posting date on the job advert.
Do weekly counts change after publication?
They can, as registers publish late filings, so treat a single week's figure as provisional.
See which of these companies are worth calling for your business, with the source for each.
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