CSCS forces builder to change name

The Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) has won an order forcing a builder to change its similar name.

The case concerns West London-based CSC Construction Ltd, which was also ordered to pay £800 as a result of the action brought by the CSCS, which issues skills cards for workers.

The firm was registered at Companies House in November 2024, and the CSCS applied for it to change its name in late January under section 69(1) of the Companies Act 2006.

The law relates to businesses having either the same or “sufficiently similar name that it would be likely to mislead members of the public in the United Kingdom or elsewhere by suggesting a connection between the company and the applicant”.

CSC Construction did not file a defence but did write to the tribunal to claim it had not been contacted by the CSCS over the matter, as required, and that it would have changed its name had it done so. The firm added that it had been having trouble accessing emails.

However, the skills-card body produced evidence of a letter sent via Royal Mail special delivery on 17 December that had been successfully delivered.

Company-names adjudicator Susan Eaves ordered CSC Construction to change its name and pay £800 in costs to the CSCS.

CSC Construction was dissolved last month, having first applied to be struck from the register in April.

Contractor Willmott Dixon Holdings has also been successful in an application made against a company registered since October 2024 as Willmott Dixon Developments Group Ltd.

No defence was made and the company was ordered to change its name. Willmott Dixon did not apply for costs in the case.

In April, the contractor was successful at tribunal over a company registered as Willmott Dixon Construction Group Ltd since September 2024. The company was ordered to change its name within one month of the judgment.

It did not do so and has since been mandatorily renamed 15969713 Ltd by powers exercised by the adjudicator.

Earlier this week, Companies House announced it would introduce legal requirements for directors and people with significant control of companies from November. For the first time, new directors will need to verify their identities to incorporate a company or be appointed to an existing one.

The move, part of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, is being introduced in an attempt to tackle fraud.

Once the new rules come into force, it will be an offence to act as a director without being verified. Existing directors will need to fulfil identity verification ahead of their company’s confirmation statement.