Legislation round-up

Require prior approval for the registration of a name by a company or a limited liability partnership (LLP), or the use of a name by any person carrying on business in the UK, if the name includes a sensitive word or expression.

Specify 155 words and expressions for which prior approval is required for their inclusion in the registered name of a company or an LLP or in any person’s business name; a further six words are prescribed so that prior approval is required only for their inclusion in the registered name of a company or an LLP. In addition, it applies to the plural, possessive and feminine forms of prescribed words.

Companies House must revise their operating procedures and guidance in line with these changes. In addition, those bodies that must be consulted by applicants will be affected. They will be asked to indicate whether (and if so why) they have any objections to a proposed name that suggests a connection to them.