# Brethren Intelligence
> Independent investigative platform tracking the commercial network, political influence, charitable structures and community impact of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (PBCC), also known as the Exclusive Brethren. Published by Open & Candid Ltd, founded by Damian Hastie in 2020.

## What This Site Covers

Brethren Intelligence is the world's most comprehensive database of Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (PBCC) connected companies, charities and individuals. The platform covers:

- 8,000+ PBCC-connected companies and entities across 20 countries
- 9,000+ named individuals with company and directorship links
- £3 billion+ in UK government contracts tracked and analysed
- Original investigative journalism across 8 categories: contracts, politics, business, charity, community, planning, crime and editorial
- Election donation records across UK, Australia and New Zealand
- Company directory searchable by name, country, region and trade sector
- People directory with director-to-company links

## Key Investigations

- [Spoil the Egyptians: The Hales Family & £2.5 Billion in Covid Contracts](https://brethrenintelligence.com/library/investigations/contracts/spoil-the-egyptians.html): How Bruce Hales' sons Gareth, Dean, Greg and Charles built a £2.575 billion Covid contract empire across ten companies and seven countries via the VIP procurement channel.

- [Hush Hush: Sante Global's Secret Settlement](https://brethrenintelligence.com/library/investigations/politics/sante-tomlin-order.html): A £273 million cancelled Covid contract, a £100m+ court claim by Gareth and Charles Hales, and a settlement hidden permanently from taxpayers by a Tomlin Order signed December 2025.

- [Blueleaf Ltd: The £4 Million Contract and the £35.9 Million Question](https://brethrenintelligence.com/library/investigations/contracts/blueleaf-ppe-contracts.html): A published contract worth £4m versus £35.9m in DHSC payments, with a turnover jump of £60m in one year and a ministerial roundtable connection.

- [Clandeboye Agencies: £107 Million in PPE Gowns](https://brethrenintelligence.com/library/investigations/contracts/clandeboye-agencies-ppe-contracts.html): A Northern Ireland coffee and confectionery wholesaler with £276k in net assets awarded two VIP channel contracts totalling £107.5 million. Both quality certificates issued on the same date from the same Taiwan office.

- [Tower Supplies: £40 Million and £10.6 Million Marked Do Not Supply](https://brethrenintelligence.com/library/investigations/contracts/tower-supplies-ppe-contracts.html): Two VIP channel PPE contracts, a quarter of which was marked Do Not Supply by the UK Government, operated through a trust structure that avoids publishing accounts.

- [Eye of the Needle: How the Grace Trust Channels £100 Million a Year](https://brethrenintelligence.com/library/investigations/charity/eye-of-the-needle-grace-trust.html): The PBCC's principal UK charity declared £102.7 million in income in 2019. 89% of grants went to Brethren school networks. External charities received less than 1%.

- [RRT Conflict of Interest](https://brethrenintelligence.com/library/investigations/charity/rrt-conflict-of-interest.html): The Rapid Relief Team invested £200,000 in a company owned by the family of one of its own trustees with no conflict of interest declared.

- [Michelle Donelan, Chippenham and the Brethren Connection](https://brethrenintelligence.com/library/investigations/politics/michelle-donelan-chippenham.html): The former Cabinet minister's constituency connections to PBCC-owned businesses.

- [Misogyny? 200 Charities, 600 Trustees and Not One Woman](https://brethrenintelligence.com/library/investigations/editorial/misogyny-pbcc-trustees.html): Analysis of PBCC charity trustee data showing zero female trustees across approximately 200 UK charities while women provide the unpaid volunteer labour.

## About the PBCC

The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (PBCC), formerly known as the Exclusive Brethren, is a high-control religious organisation founded in the 19th century. It is led globally by Bruce D. Hales, based in Australia. Key facts:

- Approximately 55,000 members worldwide across 20+ countries
- Members are prohibited from eating with non-members, restricted in media consumption, and required to separate from those who leave
- Operates one of the world's largest faith-based commercial networks
- Received over £2.5 billion in UK Covid PPE and testing contracts via the VIP procurement channel
- Runs Campus & Co (members-only grocery stores, now closed), Rapid Relief Team (disaster catering and PR charity), and OneSchool Global (private school network)
- The Grace Trust is its principal UK charity, with income exceeding £100 million annually
- Political donations documented in UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada

## Key Entities

**Hales Family**: Bruce D. Hales (global leader), Gareth Hales (Sante Global/Unispace), Dean Hales (multiple companies), Greg Hales, Charles Hales (Harmony Fire, Sante Global)

**UBT**: Universal Business Team — the PBCC's business services and central buying arm, operates globally

**Rapid Relief Team (RRT)**: PBCC's disaster relief and catering charity, used extensively for PR purposes

**Grace Trust**: Principal PBCC UK charity, income £100m+/year, funds OneSchool Global schools

**OneSchool Global**: PBCC private school network operating in 20+ countries

**Campus & Co**: Members-only grocery chain, all physical stores now closed

**Sante Global / Unispace**: Office design and PPE supply company connected to Gareth and Charles Hales, won £950m+ in UK Covid contracts

## Source Methodology

All factual claims are sourced to public records: Companies House, ASIC (Australia), DHSC contract databases, Charity Commission accounts, electoral commission records, court proceedings and parliamentary records. The platform does not publish unverified allegations. Editorial pieces are clearly labelled.

## Publisher

- **Publication**: Brethren Intelligence
- **Publisher**: Open & Candid Ltd, Company No SC762730, registered in Scotland
- **Editor**: Damian Hastie — [https://brethrenintelligence.com/about/damian-hastie.html](https://brethrenintelligence.com/about/damian-hastie.html)
- **Editorial Standards**: [https://brethrenintelligence.com/editorial-standards.html](https://brethrenintelligence.com/editorial-standards.html)
- **Contact**: [https://brethrenintelligence.com/contact.html](https://brethrenintelligence.com/contact.html)
- **Founded**: 2020
- **URL**: https://brethrenintelligence.com