Four in ten companies have errors on their own Companies House record
A recent survey of large UK businesses found that almost four in ten had discovered discrepancies between what Companies House holds about them and their own records — and one in five had been fined over it. If firms with in-house legal teams are getting it wrong, smaller organisations without a company secretary are more…
Benedict’s Law: what it actually requires of schools — and what it doesn’t
If you have read anything about Benedict’s Law in the past few weeks, you have probably been told that your school must now stock adrenaline auto-injectors and train every member of staff annually. Neither of those is yet a legal requirement. Both probably will be. The difference matters more than it sounds, and it is…
ECCTA Explained: What UK Directors Must Do Before November 2026
Companies House identity verification and the new company law rules, explained by First CoSec - a registered ACSP. If your company was incorporated more than a few years ago, the Companies House you remember no longer exists. The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 — ECCTA — is the largest reform of the UK…
New Dividend Rules: What Company Directors Must Now Report to HMRC
From the 2025/26 tax return, close company directors must report dividends and shareholdings company by company - with a penalty for each missing detail. What to do, from First CoSec.
Do I Need a Company Secretary? What UK Law Actually Requires
Private companies have not needed a company secretary since 2008 - but the duties did not disappear. When appointing one makes sense, and what identity verification changes.
Governance Documents & SOPs for Growing Businesses
Good governance isn't just for large corporations. Whether you need a suite of board governance documents, company secretarial procedures, data protection policies, or Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that capture how your business actually works — First CoSec can draft, review and maintain them all. Properly documented procedures protect your business, support due diligence processes and…