Each organisation will operate under its own name or brand. Companies cannot be incorporated with names that are the same or very similar to existing companies. Some words are banned, and some are controlled (like “Foundation”). Charities cannot be registered with names that are the same or very similar to existing charities.
Any organisation can use an operating name or trading name as well as their formal registered name, but to comply with transparency regulations all must include the following information on websites, letterheads and emails that contain official business:
- Registered Name
- Registered Company number (if relevant)
- Registered Charity number (if relevant)
- Registered office or postal address
- VAT number (if relevant).
When considering a new name, or a name change, also review existing brand names (some are registered as trade marks at the Intellectual Property Office) and the availability of domain names and social media accounts.