The
following words imply national or international pre-eminence:
British - approval of this word
in your company name will depend on how it is used.
Normally the Secretary of State would expect the company
to be British owned. You would need to show that the
company 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, then evidence of pre-eminence is
not necessarily essential. But you would be expected
to show that your company is substantial in 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
these words as a prefix to your company name, the
rules are similar to those for 'British'. You will
usually be given approval to use any of these words
as a suffix if you show that the company has its main
place of business in the country concerned. If you
want to use one of these words because it is a surname,
you will usually be given approval if the company
name includes forenames or initials.
European
- names which include this word will not be approved
if they unjustifiably imply a connection with official
bodies of the European Union. If there is a genuine
connection with an official body, the name may be
allowed if the appropriate body supports the application.
Great
Britain or United Kingdom
- if you wish to use these expressions as a prefix,
or to use 'of Great Britain' or 'of the United Kingdom'
as a suffix, then the criteria are the same as for
'British'. If the words are used as a suffix to the
name, they are normally allowed without difficulty.
Using the initials 'GB' or 'UK' in your company name
does not require approval.
International
- if you wish to use this word as a prefix, you
need to show that the major part of the company's
activities is in trading overseas. If you wish to
use it as a suffix, then approval will usually be
given if you can show that the company operates in
two or more overseas countries.
National
- the criteria for use of this word are the same
as for 'British'.
The
following words imply business pre-eminence or representative
or authoritative status:
association,
federation or society -
if you wish to use one of these words, your company
would normally be limited by guarantee. Each member
should have one vote and the constitution should contain
a non-profit distribution clause. This provides that
any profits should be used to further the objects
of the company and not be paid to the members as dividends.
authority,
board or council - if
you want to use any of these words, you should ask
us for advice. If the company is to be registered
in Scotland, contact Companies House in Edinburgh.
institute
or institution - approval for
use of these words is normally given only to those
organisations which are carrying out research at the
highest level or to professional bodies of the highest
standing. You will need to show us that there is a
need for the proposed institute and that it has appropriate
regulations or examination standards. You will need
evidence of support from other representative and
independent bodies.
Government
- approval for use of this word will be granted
only if Companies House is satisfied that there is
not any official connection with the HMG, any part
of the Scottish or Welsh administration. The whole
company name will be taken into consideration and
judged independently on its own merits.
HSC
(Health and Social Care) - Companies
House may consult DHSSPS (Department of Health, Social
Services and Public Safety) when considering the approval
of names containing this word as it could foster a
misleading impression among patients, service users
and wider public that the business enjoys an approved
status in connection with the Health and Social Care.
HPSS
(Health and Personal Social Services) - Companies
House may consult DHSSPS (Department of Health, Social
Services and Public Safety) when considering the approval
of names containing this word as it could foster a
misleading impression among patients, service users
and wider public that the business enjoys an approved
status in connection with the Health and Personal
Social Services.
The following words imply specific
objects or functions:
assurance,
assurer, insurance, insurer, re-assurance, re-assurer,
re-insurance or re-insurer
- if the name is needed for an underwriting company,
we will normally seek further advice. However, if
you want to use the name for a company that will only
provide insurance services, then you should include
the appropriate qualification, for example 'agents',
'consultants' or 'services', in the name.
benevolent,
foundation or fund - names
that include any of these words will be refused if
they unjustifiably give the impression that the company
has charitable status. If the company is limited by
guarantee and has a non-profit distribution clause
in the memorandum of association, then the name will
normally be approved.
charter
or chartered - names that include
these words will be refused if they unjustifiably
give the impression that the company has a Royal Charter.
If the words are used to qualify a profession, we
will seek the advice of the appropriate governing
body before considering whether to give approval.
charity
- to use this word the company must provide a
letter of non-objection from the Charity Commission.
If the company is not intended to be a charity, a
copy of the proposed memorandum and articles of association
along with details of the company activities and an
explanation of why the word is required must be forwarded
to the Charity Commission.
chemist
or chemistry - if you want to
use these words, you should ask for advice from Companies
House in Cardiff. If the company is to be registered
in Scotland, contact Companies House in Edinburgh.
co-operative
- if you wish to use this word, your company's
Memorandum and Articles of Association should follow
the rules generally associated with co-operatives
in the UK. If you need further advice you should contact
Companies House in Cardiff. If the company is to be
registered in Scotland, contact Companies House in
Edinburgh.
Friendly
Society or Industrial and
Provident Society - we will refer
names which include these expressions to the Registrar
of Friendly Societies for advice. If you want to use
them in your company name, you should first ask Companies
House in Cardiff. If the company is to be registered
in Scotland, contact Companies House in Edinburgh.
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.
holding(s)
- a company wishing to use this word must be a
holding company as defined under section 736 of the
Companies Act 1985.
patent
or patentee - a name including
either word will only be approved if it does not contravene
the Copyright, Designs and Patent Act 1988.
post
office - Companies House are likely to
seek advice on applications that include these words.
register
or registered - we treat every
application for use of these words on its merits.
Generally, we will seek advice from the appropriate
governing body if names that include these words are
linked with a professional qualification. The name
will not be registered if it unjustifiably implies
a connection with HM Government or a local authority.
If such a connection actually exists, the name may
be allowed if the appropriate body supports the application.
Sheffield
- if you wish to use a name that includes the
word 'Sheffield', we will need to establish details
of the company's location and its business activities.
We will also consult the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire.
stock
exchange - names including this expression
will normally be refused unless there are special
circumstances.
trade
union - names including this expression
will normally be refused unless they conform to legislation
relating to trade unions.
trust
- the word 'trust' can be used in many different
senses. Each application is dealt with on its merits
but the main uses of this word are as follows:
charitable
trust - these companies need to have
charitable objects and a non-profit distribution clause
in the memorandum of association. You will be asked
for confirmation that you have made, or will make,
an application for registration as a charity with
the Charity Commission. Scottish companies wishing
to use the expression 'charitable trust' will need
to apply to the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in
Edinburgh as the Charity Commission has no jurisdiction
in Scotland.
educational
trust or artistic trust
- such companies should have a non-profit distribution
clause in the memorandum of association and the name
should reflect the nature of the trust. The promoters
should be of high standing in the field.
enterprise
trust - these companies must have a non-profit
distribution clause in the memorandum of association
and they must be able to provide evidence of support
from, for example, local authorities, businesses or
banks.
family
trust - such companies must be non-profit
distributing and the objects must reflect the nature
of the trust. Names of family trusts will usually
be approved if the name as a whole identifies the
company as such.
financial
trust or investment trust
- if you wish to use these expressions, you will
need to provide a written assurance that substantial
paid-up share capital or other funds will be achieved
within a reasonable period after incorporation.
pensions or staff trust - the names of such companies
must include the name of the parent company, and the
objects of the company must include the operation
of pension funds.
unit
trust - if you wish to use this as part
of your company name, you should seek the advice of
Companies House in Cardiff. If the company is to be
registered in Scotland, contact Companies House in
Edinburgh.
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