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Certain words and expressions are deemed sensitive by Companies
House and their use in a Company's name may require justification,
and in some instances authorisation, before a company can
be incorporated. The aim is to ensure that the use of the
word or expression is justified so that the public is not
misled by the name.
You will require the approval of the Secretary of State for
Trade and Industry before you use any of the following words
or expressions, including their plural or singular forms,
in your chosen company name. Companies House act on behalf
of the Secretary of State and you will be required to provide
justification or evidence supporting your application for
the chosen word or expression. Below is a list of words and
expressions deemed as sensitive.
Below is a list of restricted words and expressions.
(a) Words which imply national or international pre-eminence:
British |
Great Britain |
National |
Wales |
England |
International |
Scotland |
Welsh |
English |
Ireland |
Scottish |
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European |
Irish |
United Kingdom |
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(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:
Association |
Board |
Federation |
Institution |
Authority |
Council |
Institute |
Society |
Assurance |
Charity |
Industrial & provident society |
Registered |
Assurer |
Chemist |
Insurance |
Re-insurance |
Benevolent |
Chemistry |
Insurer |
Re-insurer |
Chamber of Commerce |
Co-operative |
Patent |
Sheffield |
Chamber of Commerce, Training & Enterprise |
Foundation |
Patentee |
Stock Exchange |
Chamber of Industry |
Friendly society |
Post office |
Trade Union |
Chamber of Trade |
Fund |
Reassurance |
Trust |
Charter |
Group |
Re-Assurer |
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Chartered |
Holding |
Register |
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Words or expressions in the following list need the approval of the Secretary
of State. If you want to use any of the following in your company name you
will need to write first to the relevant body to ask whether they have any
objection to its use. Once you have received a reply from the relevant body,
you will then be able to apply to have your company formed. We will require
a copy of the reply you have received, either by fax or post. We will submit
this to Companies House along with other incorporation documents.
Word or Expression |
Relevant Body for companies
registering in England or Wales |
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Apothecary |
The Worshipful Society of Apothecaries
of London Apothecaries Hall Blackfriars Lane London
EC4V 6EJ |
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of
Great Britain Law Department Lambeth High St London
SE1 7JN |
Charity, Charitable |
Charity Commission Registration Division
St Albans House 57-60 Haymarket London SW1Y 4QX |
Inland Revenue FICO (Scotland)Trinity
Park House South Trinity RoadEdinburghEH5 3SD |
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For companies not intending to register
as a charity contact: Charity Commission 2nd Floor 20
Kings Parade Queens Dock Liverpool L3 4DQ |
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Contact Lens |
The Registrar General Optical Council
41 Harley Street London W1N 2DJ |
See England & Wales |
Dental, Dentistry |
The Registrar General Dental Council
37 Wimpole Street London W1M 8DQ |
See England & 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 |
See England & Wales |
Health Centre |
Office of the Solicitor Department of
Health &Social Security48 Carey Street London WC2A
2LS |
See England & Wales |
Health Service |
NHS Management Executive Department
of Health Wellington House135-155 Waterloo Road London
SE1 8UG |
See England & 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 |
See England & Wales |
Pregnancy, Termination, Abortion |
Department of Health Area 423 Wellington
House 133-135 Waterloo Road London SE1 8UG |
See England & Wales |
Royal, Royale, Royalty, King, Queen,
Prince, Princess, Windsor, Duke, His/Her Majesty |
England
Home Office A Division Room 73050 Queen Anne's Gate London SW1H 9AT (If
based in England)
Wales
Welsh Office Crown Buildings Cathays Park Cardiff CF1 3NQ (If based in
Wales) |
Brian Rigby/ Anne Billcliff
2 WR
St Andrews House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG |
Special School |
Department for Education and Employment
Schools 2 Branch Sanctuary Buildings Great Smith Street
Westminster London SW1P 3BT |
See England & Wales |
University |
Privy Council Office 68 Whitehall London
SW1A 2AT |
See England & Wales |
The list below contains certain words or expressions which
are covered by other legislation and their use in company
names may constitute a criminal offence. If you wish to use
any of these words or expressions in your company name you
should contact the relevant regulatory authority.
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Anzac |
Section 1 Anzac Act 1916 |
Contact Companies House for further
information |
Architect |
Section 20, Architects Registration
Act 1997 |
Architects Registration Board, 73 Hallam
Street London W1N 6EE |
Bank, Banker, Banking, Deposit |
These terms are NO LONGER deemed sensitive.
Their uses does not require approval. |
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Building Society |
Building Society Act 1986 |
Building Societies Commission Victoria
House 30-40 Kingsway London WC2B 6ES |
Chiropodist, Dietician, Medical Laboratory
Technician, Occupational Therapist, Orthopedist, Physiotherapist,
Radiographer, Remedial Gymnast |
Professions Supplementary to Medicine
Act 1960 if preceded by Registered, State or Registered |
Room 12.26HAP4 Division Department of
Health, Hannibal House Elephant & Castle London
SE1 6TE |
Credit Union |
Credit Union Act 1979 |
The Registrar of Friendly Societies,
25 The North Colonnade Canary Wharf London E14 5HS
(Companies wishing to register in Scotland contact)
Assistant Registrar of Friendly Societies 58 Frederick
Street EdinburghEH2 1NB |
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
(Companies wishing to register in Scotland contact)The
Pharmaceutical Society 36 York Place Edinburgh EH13HU |
Institute of Laryngology Institute of
Otology Institute of Urology Institute of Orthopedics |
University College London Act 1988 |
University College London Gower Street
London WC1E 6BT |
Insurance Broker, Assurance Broker,
Re-Insurance Broker, Re-Assurance Broker |
Section 2 & 3 Insurance Brokers
(Registration) Act 1977 |
The Insurance Brokers Registration Council,
Higham Business Centre Midland Road Higham Ferrers Northants |
Olympiad, Olympiads, Olympian, Olympians,
Olympic, Olympics |
Olympic Symbol etc. (Protection) Act
1995.
Also protects Olympic symbols of five interlocking rings and motto "Citius
Altius Fortius" or translations of it. |
British Olympic Association 1 Wandsworth
PlainLondonSW18 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 |
Patent Office Patent Agent |
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 |
IPCD Hazlitt House, 45 Southampton Buildings
London WC2A 1AR |
Red Cross, Geneva Cross, Red Crescent,
Red Lion and Sun |
Geneva Convention Act 1957 |
Contact Companies House for further
information |
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 |
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