Guidance

Annex C: Other regulated words and expressions

Updated 1 May 2024

The use of any of these words and expressions in a LLP or business name could be a criminal offence. The list is not exhaustive and applicants should carry out their own checks to ensure their proposed name is lawful.

1. Anzac

The “Anzac” (Restriction on Trade Use of Word) Act 1916 makes it an offence to use this word or anything similar in connection with any trade, business or profession.

2. Architect

To use this word in your proposed LLP or business name, please provide an email or letter confirming you are authorised to use this title from the Architects Registration Board (ARB).

info@arb.org.uk

Architects Registration Board
8 Weymouth Street
London
W1W 5BU

Names that include ‘naval architect’, ‘landscape architect’ or ‘golf-course architect’ are not restricted.

3. Bachelor of medicine

This title is protected by The Medical Act 1983. To support your application to use this expression in a LLP or business name, please provide a copy of your practising certificate or evidence of your inclusion on the list of Registered Medical Practitioners.

4. Building Society

Building Societies are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority. This expression cannot be used in a LLP or business name.

For further information, please contact the FCA.

consumer.queries@fca.org.uk

Sensitive Business Names Team
Financial Conduct Authority
25 North Colonnade Canary Wharf
London
E14 5HS

5. Chemist / Dispensing chemist / Dispensing druggist / Druggist / Pharmaceutical / Pharmaceutical chemist / Pharmaceutical druggist / Pharmaceutist / Pharmacist / Pharmacy

These titles are protected by the Medicines Act 1968. To use any of them in a proposed LLP or business name, please provide an email or letter of authorisation from your professional body.

England, Wales and Scotland

info@pharmacyregulation.org

The General Pharmaceutical Council
25 Canada Square
London
E14 5LQ

Northern Ireland

info@psni.org.uk

The Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland
73 University Street
Belfast
BT7 1HL

6. Chiropractic / Chiropractor / Chiropractic practitioner / Chiropractioner / Chiropractic physician

These titles are protected by The Chiropractors Act 1994. To use any of them in your proposed LLP or business name, please provide an email or letter of authorisation from the General Chiropractic Council.

enquiries@gcc-uk.org

The Chief Executive
General Chiropractic Council
44 Wicklow Street
London
WC1X 9HL

7. Citius / Altius / Fortius

This expression, its plurals, translations and anything similar, is protected by The Olympic Symbol etc. (Protection) Act 1995. Its use in a LLP or business name could commit an offence. If you decide to proceed with your application, please seek the views of the British Olympic Association and include a copy of their response.

brandprotection@teamgb.com

British Olympic Association
60 Charlotte Street
London
WIT 2NU

8. Commonhold Association

This expression can only be used in the name of a limited by guarantee LLP registered as a Commonhold Association in accordance with the Commonhold Regulations 2004 (SI No.1829) as amended by The Commonhold (Amendment) Regulations 2009 (SI No. 2363).

9. Contact lens / Contact lenses

If your proposed LLP or business intends to fit contact lenses, please provide evidence that you are a registered medical practitioner, optometrist or dispensing optician authorised to carry out this activity.

If your proposed LLP or business intends to manufacture or supply contact lenses (but will not fit lenses) please confirm this with your application.

10. Credit Union

Credit unions are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA). To use this expression in a LLP or business name, please provide an email or letter of non-objection from the relevant body.

England, Wales and Scotland

consumer.queries@fca.org.uk

Financial Conduct Authority
25 The North Colonnade
Canary Wharf
London
E14 5HS

Northern Ireland

registry.info@economy-ni.gov.uk

Department for the Economy
Adelaide House
39-49 Adelaide Street
Belfast
BT2 8FD

11. Dispensing optician / Enrolled optician / Ophthalmic optician / Optician / Optometrist / Registered optician

These titles are protected by The Opticians Act 1989. To use any of them in your proposed LLP or business name, please provide an email or letter of authorisation from the General Optical Council.

goc@optical.org

The Registrar
General Optical Council
10 Old Bailey
London
EC4M 7NG

12. Doctor of medicine

This title is protected by The Medical Act 1983. To support your application to use this expression in a LLP or business name, please provide a copy of your practising certificate or evidence of your inclusion on the List of Registered Medical Practitioners.

13. Faster, higher, stronger

This expression, its plurals, translations and anything similar is protected by The Olympic Symbol etc. (Protection) Act 1995. Its use in a LLP or business name could commit an offence. If you decide to proceed with your application, please seek the views of the BOA and include a copy of their response.

brandprotection@teamgb.com

British Olympic Association
60 Charlotte Street
London
W1T 2NU

14. General practitioner

This title is protected by The Medical Act 1983. To support your application to use this expression in your proposed LLP or business name, please provide a copy of your practising certificate or evidence of your inclusion on the List of Registered Medical Practitioners.

15. Geneva Cross

The Geneva Convention Act 1957 makes it an offence to use this expression in a LLP or business.

16. Health Care professions and protected titles

To use any of the protected titles set out below in your proposed LLP or business name, please provide an email or letter confirming you are authorised to use the relevant title from the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

registration@hcpc-uk.org

Registration Department
Health and Care Professions Council
Park House
184 Kennington Park Road
London
SE11 4BU

Profession Protected title
Art therapist Arts psychotherapist, art therapist, drama therapist, music therapist
Biomedical scientist Biomedical scientist
Chiropodist/podiatrist Chiropodist, podiatrist
Clinical scientist Clinical scientist
Dietitian Dietitian, dietician
Hearing aid dispenser Hearing aid dispenser
Occupational therapist Occupational therapist
Operating department practitioner Operating department practitioner
Orthoptist Orthoptist
Paramedic Paramedic
Physiotherapist Physiotherapist, physical therapist,
Practitioner psychologist Practitioner psychologist, registered psychologist, clinical psychologist, counselling psychologist, educational psychologist, forensic psychologist, health psychologist
Occupational psychologist Occupational psychologist
Sport and exercise psychologist Sport and exercise psychologist
Prosthetist/orthotist Prosthetist, orthotist
Radiographer Radiographer, diagnostic radiographer, therapeutic radiographer
Social worker (in England) Social worker
Speech and language therapist Speech and language therapist, speech therapist

17. Olympic / Olympian / Olympiad / Paralympic / Paralympian / Paralympiad

The Olympic Symbol etc. (Protection) Act 1995 protects these words including their plurals, translations and anything similar. Their use in a LLP or business name could commit an offence. If you decide to proceed with your application, please seek the views of the BOA and include a copy of their response.

brandprotection@teamgb.com

British Olympic Association
60 Charlotte Street
London
W1T 2NU

18. Ordnance survey

To use this expression in your proposed LLP or business, please provide an email or letter of non-objection from Ordnance Survey.

customerservices@os.uk

Ordnance Survey
Explorer House
Adanac Drive
Southampton
SO16 0AS

19. Physician

This tile is protected by The Medical Act 1983. To support your application to use this word in your proposed LLP or business name, please provide a copy of your practising certificate or evidence of your inclusion on the list of Registered Medical Practitioners.

20. Red Crescent / Red Cross / Red Lion and Sun

The Geneva Convention Act 1957 makes it an offence to use these expressions in a LLP or business name.

21. Social worker

To use this title in your proposed LLP or business name, please provide an email or letter of non-objection from the relevant body:

England

registration@hcpc-uk.org

Registration Department
Health and Care Professions Council
Park House
84 Kennington Park Road
London
SE11 4BU

Wales

mailto:info@socialcare.wales

Social Care Wales
South Gate House
Wood Street
Cardiff
CF10 1EW

Northern Ireland

info@niscc.hscni.net

Northern Ireland Social Care Council
19-25 Great Victoria Street
Belfast
BT2 7AQ

Scotland

enquiries@sssc.uk.com

The Scottish Social Services Council
Compass House
11 Riverside Drive
Dundee
DD1 4NY

22. Solicitor

England and Wales

If you are an existing firm i.e. a sole proprietor or partnership regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) please include a copy of your business letterhead, which includes the statement ‘regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority’.

If you are a new firm i.e. you do not already carry on business as a firm of solicitors, please include an email or letter from the SRA confirming that you are authorised to use this title.

Online contact form

The Solicitors Regulation Authority
Operations
The Cube
199 Wharfside Street
Birmingham
B1 1RN

Northern Ireland

To use this word in your proposed LLP or business name, please provide an email or letter from the relevant body, confirming you are authorised to use this title.

enquiry@lawsoc-ni.org

The Law Society of Northern Ireland
96 Victoria Street
Belfast
BT1 3GN

Scotland

To use this word in your proposed LLP or business name, please provide an email or letter from the relevant body confirming you are authorised to use this title.

lawscot@lawscot.org.uk

The Law Society of Scotland
Atria One
144 Morrison Street
Edinburgh
EH3 8EX

23. Spirit in motion

This expression, its plurals, translations and anything similar, is protected by The Olympic Symbol etc. (Protection) Act 1995. Its use in a LLP or business name could commit an offence. If you decide to proceed with your application, please seek the views of the British Olympic Association and include a copy of their response.

brandprotection@teamgb.com

British Olympic Association
60 Charlotte Street
London
W1T 2NU

24. Surgeon

This title is protected by The Medical Act 1983. To support your application to use this expression in a LLP or business name, please provide a copy of your practising certificate or evidence of your inclusion on the list of Registered Medical Practitioners.

25. Vet / Veterinary / Veterinary surgeon / Veterinary practitioner

These titles are protected by The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966. To use any of them in your proposed LLP or business name, please provide an email or letter of authorisation from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).

info@rcvs.org.uk

Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
62-64 Horseferry Rd
London
SW1P 2AF