FAQ
Company Formations
- New companies
- Public limited companies
- Single member companies
- Re-registration
- Publication of company name and details to be shown on company stationery
- The new company - looking forward
- Further information
Company Names
- Introduction
- Choosing a company name
- Change of company name and change of status
- Sensitive words and expressions
- Exemptions using the word ‘limited’
- Directions to change a company name
- Controls and restrictions
- Disclosure of company name and other information
- Further information
- Appendix
This is a guide only and should be read with the relevant legislation.
- Companies Act 1985
- Companies Act 2006
- The Companies Act 2006 (Commencement No. 6, Saving and Commencement No. 3 and No. 5 (Amendment)) Order 2008 – SI 2008/674
- The Companies (Trading Disclosures) Regulations - 2008 SI 2008/495
Appendix
Appendix A
You will need the approval of the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform 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 |
| Government | HSC (Health and Social Care) | HPSS (Health and Personal Social Services) | |
| 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
The following words or expressions require the approval of the Secretary of State. If you want to use any of them in your company name you will need to write to the relevant body to obtain their written support to use the name. A copy of the supporting letter should be sent with you application to form a company or to change its name.
| 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 HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC 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 | Penny Turner Head of Branding Department of Health Room 230B Skipton House 80 London Road London SE1 6LH | As for England and Wales |
| NHS (National Health Service) | Mike Pattrick Office of the Solicitor Dept of Health, Room 518, New Court 48,Carey Street London WC2A 2LS Tel 0207 412 1225 Email: Mike.Pattrick@dwp.gsi.gov.uk | As for England, Wales and Scotland |
| Police | Pauline Laybourne Briefing and Honours Team CRCSG Change and Support Unit 3rd Floor A Fry Building 2 Marsham Street London SW1P 4DF | 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 | Change of address wef 20/10/2008 7C-018 (Post Point 7.42) 102 Petty France London SW1H 9AJ (If based in Wales) The National Assembly for Wales Crown Buildings Cathays Park Cardiff CF10 3NQ | Douglas Boyd Protocol Unit St Andrew's House Regent Road Edinburgh EH1 3DG |
| Special School | Clinton Roche
Department for Education and Skills Caxton House 6-12 Tothill Street London SWlH 9NA Tel: 0870 0012345 | 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 us for advice before proceeding. We may seek independent advice from the relevant body.
| Word or Expression | Relevant Legislation | Relevant Body |
| Anzac | Section 1 Anzac Act 1916 | Seek advice of Companies House |
| Architect | Section 20 Architects Registration Act 1997 | Architects Registration Board 73 Hallam Street London W1N 6EE |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Chiropractor | Chiropractors Act 1994 | The Chief Executive General Chiropractic Council 44 Wicklow Street, London WC1X 9HL |
| Credit Union | Credit Union Act 1979 | The Public Records Section Financial Services Authority 25 The North Colonnade Canary Wharf London E14 5HS |
| 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 |
| 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 UK Intellectual Property Office, Cardiff Road, Newport, NP10 8QQ |
| Olympiad, Olympiads, Olympian, Olympians, Olympic, Olympics, Paralympic, Paralympics, Paralympiad, Paralympiads, Paralympian, Paralympians, translation of these or words so similar to these protected words | Olympic Symbol etc. (Protection) Act 1995 (as amended)* Use of such words may infringe the rights of the British Olympic Association/British Paralympic Association. *Also protects the Olympic symbols of five interlocking rings; the Olympic motto "Citius Altius Fortius"(“Faster, Higher, Stronger”); the Paralympic symbol of three “agitos”; the Paralympic motto “Spirit in Motion”; and anything so similar to them. Following London's successful bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games, the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Act 2006 has been introduced. This provides further rights for the protection of Olympic words, symbols and marks relating to the Games. In addition to the protected words outlined in this booklet, the registration of a company name which includes specific words implying association with the London 2012 Games may infringe the rights of The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games Limited (LOCOG) under this Act. For further information, please visit: www.london2012.com/about/our-brand/index.php | The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games Limited (LOCOG) 23 rd Floor 1 Churchill Place Canary Wharf London E14 5LN |
| 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 |
| Solicitor (Scotland) | S.31, Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980 | The Law Society of Scotland 26 Drumsheugh Gardens Edinburgh EH3 7YR |
| 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 |
