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…
Regulatory Updates
Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 — Now in Force The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 came into force on 19 June 2026. Key implications for businesses include new requirements for internal data complaint procedures, a 30-day acknowledgement obligation for data-related complaints, and potential fines of up to 4% of global turnover for serious…
A Deadline Your Board Cannot Afford to Miss
Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, all company directors and persons with significant control (PSCs) must complete mandatory identity verification during a transition period ending 18 November 2026 — and for most, the due date is earlier. Directors must provide their Companies House personal code with their company’s next confirmation statement, and…