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Further information
1. Where can I go for help?
For more information about names which need the approval of the Secretary of State, you should write to:
For companies incorporated in
England & Wales: |
For companies incorporated in
Scotland: |
New Companies Section
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
LP – 4 Edinburgh 2 |
You can also get advice about the use of particular words and expressions from the relevant bodies whose names and addresses are listed in the Appendices.
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, by the Hays Document Exchange service (DX), or by Legal Post (LP) in Scotland. 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. |
3. 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.
APPENDIX A
You will need the approval of the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry before you use any of the following words or expressions (or their plural or possessive forms) in your chosen company name.
(a) Words which imply national or international pre-eminence:
| British |
Great Britain |
National |
Wales |
| England |
International |
Scotland |
Welsh |
| English |
Ireland |
Scottish |
| European |
Irish |
United Kingdom |
(b) Words which imply business pre-eminence or representative or authoritative status:
| Association |
Board |
Federation |
Institution |
| Authority |
Council |
Institute |
Society |
(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 |
|
APPENDIX B
Words or expressions in the following list need the approval of the Secretary of State. If you want to use any of them in your company name you will need to write first to the relevant body to ask if they have any objection to its use. When you apply for approval to use the name you should tell Companies House that you have written to the relevant body and enclose a copy of the 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 |
Royale,
Royalty, King,
Queen, Prince, Princess,
Windsor, Duke,
His/Her Majesty |
(If based in England)
Grant Bavister
Department for Constitutional Affairs
Constitutional Policy Division
6 th Floor
Selbourne 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 in company names might be a criminal offence. These are listed below. If you want to use any of these words or expressions in your company name, then you should contact the relevant regulatory authority or ask Companies House for advice before proceeding. Companies House may seek independent advice from the relevant body.
| 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 |
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 |
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