UK Company Secretarial Services – Compliance Made Easy
Registered Office & Compliance - UK Company Secretarial Services
Axada provides full company secretarial services for your UK limited company – from a registered office address in London to mail forwarding, confirmation statement filing and Companies House compliance. All from one German-speaking partner, in line with the Companies Act 2006.
Annual compliance services for UK limited companies
Every UK limited company has strict annual reporting obligations with Companies House. These include filing the confirmation statement (formerly called the annual return), submitting the annual accounts and keeping the statutory register up to date. Missing a deadline is costly: Companies House imposes automatic penalties, directors can be held personally liable, and in serious cases the company can be struck off the register.
As your UK company secretarial services provider, we take care of these tasks so you can focus on running your business. Our team monitors the constantly evolving UK legislation on your behalf.
What are Company Secretarial Services?
- Providing a registered office address in the UK
- Maintaining statutory books (register of members, PSC register, register of directors)
- Preparing and filing the confirmation statement
- Filing annual accounts with Companies House
- Drafting board minutes and supporting changes to company details
- For overseas owners, these services are particularly valuable because the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 are complex and change frequently.
The Role of the Company Secretary in the UK
The company secretary shares legal responsibilities of certain duties under the Companies Act 2006 with the company directors. There is no longer a legal requirement for private companies to appoint a company secretary. If one is not appointed, responsibility for tasks such as maintaining the company's statutory books and records and filing information with Companies House falls upon the directors.
In practice, international companies often outsource the role of company secretary to a specialist provider. This ensures all deadlines are met and that the company remains in good standing with Companies House at all times.
Why should overseas companies outsource Company Secretarial Services?
Expertise when it's needed seems to be the most common reason for companies to outsource company secretarial tasks. Continual changes to the Companies Act and other legislation make it increasingly difficult to keep up with current requirements. Outsourcing these tasks helps ensure ongoing compliance with legal requirements. Outsourcing company secretarial functions is generally cost-effective, with benefits that often outweigh the cost.
Outsourcing company secretarial services gives overseas companies three key advantages:
Compliance certainty: The Companies Act 2006 and related legislation change regularly. Our team keeps track of every deadline and requirement, helping you avoid penalties and director liability.
Cost efficiency: Outsourcing is significantly cheaper than hiring dedicated UK staff – especially valuable when making a new international direct investment.
A single German-speaking point of contact: Instead of juggling multiple UK providers in English, Axada handles communication with Companies House, HMRC and other authorities on your behalf.
Our UK Company Secretarial Services at a Glance
Our company secretarial package covers every element
a UK limited company typically needs to comply with the Companies Act 2006:
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Registered Office Address in the UK
We provide a registered office address in the UK that is recorded at Companies House and appears on the public register. All official correspondence from bodies such as HMRC and Companies House is received at this address – we forward it to you reliably and promptly.
Virtual Office & Mail Forwarding from England
In addition to your registered office, we offer a virtual office address for your business correspondence. Mail forwarding from England is handled on a regular schedule and can be tailored to your needs – either by post or digitally via scan.
Director's Service Address – Protecting the Home Address
As a director of a UK limited company, you must provide a service address that is publicly visible. With our director’s service address, you do not have to disclose your private home address – we act as the official point of contact for all director-related correspondence.
Confirmation Statement & Annual Accounts Filing at Companies House
Every UK company must file a confirmation statement (formerly the annual return) with Companies House once a year. This confirms the information held on record about directors, shareholders and persons with significant control (PSC). We prepare and file the confirmation statement on time and also submit your annual statutory accounts.
Electronic Maintenance of Statutory Books
We maintain your statutory books electronically: changes to the register, minutes of meetings and shareholder resolutions are stored securely and in an audit-ready format.
Corporate Governance Reviews
As governance standards rise, corporate governance reviews are becoming increasingly important for businesses seeking investment, public contracts, or regulatory approval. We are pleased to be able to offer corporate governance reviews and advice for large organisations. Please contact us with further details about your organisation and our specialist adviser will contact you to discuss if your business could benefit from a corporate governance review.
How much do UK Company Secretarial Services cost?
Our company secretarial services are offered as an annual fixed-fee package. The standard package includes:
- Preparation and filing of the confirmation statement
- Maintenance of the register of persons with significant control (PSC)
- Filing of annual statutory accounts
- Up to 3 company changes (e.g. director changes, address updates)
- Up to 3 sets of company meeting minutes
- Registered office address in London
Additional services such as incorporating a new company, striking off a company, or corporate governance reviews are quoted separately. Please contact us for a bespoke, no-obligation quote.
Frequently Asked Questions about UK Company Secretarial Services
Yes, our company secretarial package is offered as a standalone service. This can be relevant for companies that have not started trading (dormant companies) but who still need to comply with certain formalities and file documents. The benefit of using Axada at this stage, is that a working relationship will already have been established once trading starts and other services can then be added easily when needed, making process seamless.
We can offer company secretarial services for all companies registered at Companies House. The company location is not important.
Directors have a duty to the company. A conflict of interest, which should always be avoided, can arise when a director holds office in more than one company in a group.
Directors should be aware of UK legislation, such as:
– Health and safety and environmental laws – The Bribery Act-Civil and Criminal Abuse Acts -Wrongful trading legislation, where in certain circumstance a director can be made personally liable to creditors for an insolvent company’s debts. We cannot advise on all aspects of UK legislation in house, but where specialist legal advice in needed, we have partner legal firms that can provide specialist legal advice for our clients.
The Ultimate Guide for Starting Your Business in the UK
This comprehensive guide is your go-to resource for navigating the intricacies of starting a business in the UK with ease and confidence.
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