Company formation FAQ - sensitive words

If your proposed company name contains words of a sensitive or explicit nature, the company name will not be approved by Companies House without a supporting justification for the use of such words.

Sensitive words are words which:

• imply national or international pre-eminence, eg British, England, Scotland, Wales, international, European, national
• imply business pre-eminence or representative or authoritative status, eg association, society, authority, council, institute
• imply specific object or functions, eg insurance, foundation, chartered, charity, co-operative, fund, group, trust

A complete list of sensitive words, and what you will have to prove in order to have permission to use a sensitive word in the name of your company can be found at Companies House web site.

In order to use a sensitive word in the name of your company, you must supply supporting evidence to Companies House when you apply to have your company incorporated.