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1. Where do I get forms and guidance booklets?
This is one of a series of Companies House booklets which provide a simple guide to the Companies Act.
Statutory forms and guidance booklets are available, free of charge from Companies House. The quickest way to get them is through this website or by telephoning 0870 3333636.
If you prefer you can write to the stationery sections in Cardiff or Edinburgh.
Forms can also be obtained from legal stationers, accountants, solicitors and company formation agents - addresses in business phone books.
2. How do I send information to the Registrar?
You may deliver documents to the Registrar by hand (personally or by courier), including outside office hours, bank holidays and weekends to Cardiff, London and Edinburgh.
You may also send documents by post or by the Hays Document Exchange service (DX). If you send documents, please address them to:
For companies incorporated in
England & Wales: |
For companies incorporated in
Scotland: |
The Registrar of Companies
Companies House
Crown Way
Cardiff CF14 3UZ
DX33050 Cardiff
|
The Registrar of Companies
Companies House
37 Castle Terrace
Edinburgh EH1 2EB
DX ED235 Edinburgh 1 |
Companies House will only acknowledge receipt of documents at Companies if you provide a stamped addressed envelope.
| Please note: Companies House does not accept accounts or any other statutory documents by fax. |
APPENDIX A
You will need the approval of the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry before any of the following words or expressions (or their plural or possessive forms) is used in a business name. More detailed information is available from the Business Names Section at Companies House Cardiff or Edinburgh.
(a) Words which imply national or international pre-eminence:
| British |
International |
Scottish |
| England |
Ireland |
United Kingdom |
| English |
Irish |
Wales |
| European |
National |
Welsh |
| Great Britain |
Scotland |
|
(b) Words which imply business pre-eminence or representative status:
| Association |
Council |
Institution |
| Authority |
Federation |
Society |
| Board |
Institute |
|
(c) Words which imply specific objects or functions:
| Assurance |
Friendly society |
Post office |
Trade union |
| Assurer |
Fund |
Reassurance |
Trust |
| Benevolent |
Group |
Re-assurer |
|
| Charter |
Holding |
Register |
|
| Chartered |
Industrial & provident society |
Registered |
|
| Chemist |
Insurance |
Re-insurance |
|
| Chemistry |
Insurer |
Re-insurer |
|
| Co-operative |
Patent |
Sheffield |
|
| Foundation |
Patentee |
Stock exchange |
|
The following list gives guidance on the conditions you will need to fulfil if you wish to use one of the words listed above. It is not a full list. For words not shown below, guidance is available in the booklet, 'Company Names'.
- British - the use of this word in your business name can vary depending on the way the word is used. Normally the Secretary of State would expect the business to be British owned. You would need to show that the business is pre-eminent in its field by providing supporting evidence from an independent source such as a Government Department or a trade association.
If the word "British" is qualified by words that do not describe an activity or product, for example by using a "made-up" word, evidence of pre-eminence is not necessarily essential. You would however be expected to show that your business is substantialin relation to its activity or product and that it is eminent in its own field;
- England, English, Scotland, Scottish, Wales, Welsh, Ireland or Irish - if you wish to use any of these words as a prefix to your business name the criteria are similar to that for "British". You will usually be given approval to use any of these words as a suffix provided that you can show that the business is trading in the country concerned. If you want to use one of these words because it is a surname you will usually be given approval provided that the name includes forenames or initials;
- European - names which include this word may be approved provided that they do not imply a connection with official bodies of the European Union, and provided that the name is not misleading or likely to give rise to a justified complaint.
- International - if this word is used as a prefix to your business name you will need to show that the major part of business activities is in trading overseas. If you wish to use the word as a suffix approval will usually be given if you can show that its main activities are exports, or that it operates in two or more countries overseas. Approval is usually given to businesses wishing to use this word when the business is involved in a trade that is international in character, such as travel or transport, provided that the name is not misleading or likely to give rise to a justified complaint;
- National - the criteria for use of this word are thesame as that for "British";
- association, federation or society - if you wish to use one of these words, your constitution should state that each member should have one vote and normally any profits should be used to further the objects of the organisation rather than be paid out to the members as dividends;
- group - if use of this word implies several companies under one corporate ownership, then you will need to provide evidence of a parent and/or subsidiary association with two or more other British or overseas companies. If the name clearly shows that the company is to promote the interests of a group of individuals, then the name will normally be approved.
- assurance, assurer, insurance, insurer, re-assurance, re-assurer, re-insurance or re-insurer - if the name is needed for an underwriting business, Companies House will normally seek further advice. However, if you want to use the name for a business that will only provide insurance services, you should include the appropriate qualification, for example 'agents', 'consultants' or 'services', in the name. - if the name is needed for an underwriting business Companies House will normally seek further advice. However, if you want to use the name for a business that will only provide insurance services you should include the appropriate qualification, for example "agents","consultants" or "services", in the name.
APPENDIX B
Words or expressions in the following list also need the approval of the Secretary of State. If you want to use any of them in your business name you will need to write first to the relevant body to ask whether they have any objection to your use of the word or expression in your business name. If and when you apply for the Secretary of State's approval to the use of the name, you should state that you have written to the relevant body and enclose a copy of any reply you have received.
| Word or Expression |
Relevant Body for
companies intending
to have registered
office in England or Wales |
Relevant Body for
companies intending
to have registered
office in Scotland |
| Charity, Charitable |
Head of Status
Charity Commission
Woodfield House
Tangier
Taunton TA1 4BL |
For recognition as a
Scottish charity
Inland Revenue
FICO (Scotland)
Trinity Park House
South Trinity Road
Edinburgh
EH5 3SD |
| Contact Lens |
The Registrar
General Optical Council
41 Harley Street
London W1N 2DJ |
As for England and
Wales |
| Dental, Dentistry |
The Registrar
General Dental Council
37 Wimpole Street
London W1M 8DQ |
As for England and
Wales |
District Nurse,
Health Visitor,
Midwife, Midwifery,
Nurse, Nursing |
The Registrar &
Chief Executive
United Kingdom Central
Council for Nursing,
Midwifery and Health Visiting
23 Portland Place
London W1N 3AF |
As for England and
Wales |
| Health Centre |
Office of the Solicitor
Department of Health &
Social Security
48 Carey Street
London WC2A 2LS |
As for England and
Wales |
| Health Service |
Department of Health
Room 2N35A
Quarry House
Quarry Hill
LeedsLS2 7UE
|
As for England and
Wales |
| Police |
Home Office
Police Dept
Strategy Group
Room 510
50 Queen Anne's Gate
London SW1H 9AT |
The Scottish Ministers
Police Division
St Andrews House
Regent Road
Edinburgh EH1 3DG
|
| Polytechnic |
Department of Education
and Science
FHE 1B
Sanctuary Buildings
Great Smith Street
Westminster
London SW1P 3BT |
As for England and Wales |
Pregnancy,
Termination,
Abortion |
Department of Health
Area 423
Wellington House
133-135 Waterloo Road
London SE1 8UG |
As for England and
Wales |
Royal, Royale,
Royalty, King,
Queen, Prince, Princess,
Windsor, Duke,
His/Her Majesty |
(If based in England)
Grant Bavister
Department for Constitutional Affairs,
Constitutional Policy Division,
6th Floor, Selborne House
54 Victoria Street
London SW1E 6QW
(If based in Wales)
The National Assembly for Wales
Crown Buildings
Cathays Park
Cardiff CF10 3NQ |
The Scottish Ministers
Civil Law and Legal Aid Division
Saughton House
Broomhouse Drive
Edinburgh EH11 3XD |
| Special School |
Department for Education
and Employment
Schools 2 Branch
Sanctuary Buildings
Great Smith Street
Westminster
London SW1P 3BT |
As for England and
Wales
|
| University |
Privy Council Office
2 Carlton Gardens
London SW1Y 5AA |
As for England and
Wales |
APPENDIX C
Certain words or expressions are covered by other legislation and their use might constitute a criminal offence. Some of these are listed below, but this list is not exhaustive and if you have any doubts you should seek further advice. If you want to use any of these words or expressions in your business name you may wish to consult a solicitor and write to the appropriate body to seek their advice on whether using a name would constitute a criminal offence.
| Word Or Expression |
Relevant Legislation |
Relevant Body |
| Architect |
Section 20 Architects
Registration Act 1997 |
Architects Registration
Board
73 Hallam Street
London W1N 6EE |
| Credit Union |
Credit Union Act 1979 |
The Public Records Section
Financial Services Authority
25 The North Colonnade
Canary Wharf
London E14 5HS |
Veterinary Surgeon,
Veterinary, Vet |
Sections 19/20
Veterinary Surgeons
Act 1966 |
The Registrar
Royal College of
Veterinary Surgeons
62-64 Horseferry Rd
London SW1P 2AF |
| Solicitor (Scotland) |
S.31, Solicitors
(Scotland) Act 1980 |
The Law Society of Scotland
26 Drumsheugh Gardens
Edinburgh EH3 7YR |
Dentist,
Dental Surgeon,
Dental Practitioner, |
Dental Act 1984 |
The Registrar
General Dental Council
37 Wimpole Street
London W1M 8DQ |
Drug, Druggist,
Pharmaceutical,
Pharmaceutist,
Pharmacist,
Pharmacy |
Section 78
Medicines Act 1968 |
The Director of
Legal Services
The Royal Pharmaceutical
Society of Great Britain
1 Lambeth High Street
London SE1 7JN
(for Scottish
Registered Companies)
The Pharmaceutical
Society
36 York Place
Edinburgh
EH13HU |
Olympiad,
Olympiads,
Olympian,
Olympians,
Olympic,
Olympics,
or translation of these |
Olympic Symbol etc. (Protection) Act 1995*
*Also protects Olympic symbols of five interlocking rings and motto "Citius Altius Fortius" |
British Olympic Association
1 Wandsworth Plain
London
SW18 1EH |
Optician,
Ophthalmic Optician,
Dispensing Optician,
Enrolled Optician,
Registered Optician,
Optometrist |
Opticians Act 1989 |
The Registrar
General Optical Council
41 Harley Street
London W1N 2DJ |
Red Cross,
Geneva Cross,
Red Crescent,
Red Lion and Sun |
Geneva Convention
Act 1957 |
Seek advice of
Companies House |
| Anzac |
Section 1 Anzac Act 1916 |
Seek advice of
Companies House |
Chiropodist, Dietician,
Medical Laboratory,
Technician,
Occupational Therapist,
Orthoptist,
Physiotherapist,
Radiographer,
Remedial Gymnast |
Professions
Supplementary to
Medicine Act 1960
if preceded by
Registered, State or
Registered |
Mrs Joan Arnott
Department of Health
HRD HRB
Rm 2N35A
Quarry House
Quarry Hill
Leeds LS2 7JE |
Institute of Laryngology,
Institute of Otology,
Institute of Urology,
Institute of Orthopaedics |
University College
London Act 1988 |
Seek advice of
University College
London
Gower Street
London
WC1E 6BT |
Patent Office,
Patent Agent |
Copyright, Designs
and Patents Act
1988 |
IPPD (Intellectual Property Policy Directorate)
Room 3B38, Concept House
The Patent Office, Cardiff Road,
Newport, NP10 8QQ |
| Building Society |
Building Society
Act 1986 |
Seek advice of
Building Societies Commission
Victoria House
30-40 Kingsway
London WC2B 6ES |
Chamber(s) of Business, Chamber(s) of Commerce,
Chamber(s) of Commerce and Industry,
Chamber(s) of Commerce, Training and Enterprise,
Chamber(s) of Enterprise,
Chamber(s) of Industry
Chamber(s) of Trade,
Chamber(s) of Trade and Industry,
Chamber(s) of Training,
Chamber(s) of Training and Enterprise
or the Welsh translations of these words |
Company and Business Names (Chamber of Commerce etc.) Act 1999 |
Guidance is available from Companies House |
APPENDIX D
Although there are no rules about how you should show the necessary information on your business stationery, here are a few examples to help you:
1. A business owned by an individual person:
W.JONES BAKERY
(prop: W. Jones)
12 High Street
Barchester
Barset
BA1 2YZ
2. A business owned by a partnership:
JONES AND BROWN (CAR REPAIRS)
(partners: P. Jones and A. Brown)
34 Lower Street
Barchester
Barset
BA2 3WX
3. A business owned by a company:
ABC FOODS
Unit 2
New Trading Estate
Barchester
Barset
BA3 4ST
At the bottom of the letterhead (these details are required under both the Business Names Act 1985 and the Companies Acts):
ABC FOODS (GREAT BRITAIN) LTD registered in England and Wales
Registration number: 1234567
Registered Office: 5 Middle Street Barchester Barset BA4 5QR
REMEMBER this notice must be displayed in a prominent position so that it can be read easily in all the places where you carry on your business and where you deal with customers or suppliers. |
APPENDIX E
Again, there are no rules governing the way you display your business name with the owner's name and address. However, the following example may help you.
PARTICULARS OF OWNERSHIP
OF
W. JONES BAKERY
(as required by section 4 of the
Business Names Act 1985)
William Jones
12 High Street
Barchester
Barset
BA1 2YZ |
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