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UK company lists: where they come from and how to get a useful one
Every UK limited company and LLP is on the public register at Companies House, and basic company facts are free to search and download. A useful list is a filtered slice: by registration date, area or industry. FreshlySpotted sends a weekly Monday email of newly formed companies, filtered by industry and area, so your list stays current.
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Where company lists come from
The Companies House register covers limited companies and LLPs across the UK. You can search it free, one company at a time, or download its free bulk files.
Paid lists are usually built from the same register, then filtered, refreshed or added to.
What's in a company list
Company name, company number, registered office address, status, incorporation date, company type and trade codes.
The register doesn't hold email addresses. FreshlySpotted shows company facts only: no director names and no personal contact details.
Filters that keep a list useful
- Registered this week: our Newly Spotted signal.
- Area: UK region, shown to postcode district.
- Industry: trade codes grouped into plain names.
- Coming soon: Accounts Due and Moved (registered office moved).
Free or paid
Free: the register itself. It's the official source, but you do the filtering and keep it up to date.
Only need the numbers? Our free New Business Index counts new companies each week for every UK council.
Paid: someone else filters and refreshes it. Check where the data comes from, how often it's refreshed and whether it includes personal data.
Using a list for sales
You can usually email a limited company or LLP without their prior consent, if you say who you are and let them opt out. Sole traders and most partnerships need consent before you email them. If you write to a named person, data protection law also applies: have a lawful basis (usually legitimate interests, documented), tell them where you got their details, and stop if they object.
FreshlySpotted shows company facts only, not director names or personal contact details. You decide whether and how to contact a company, and you are responsible for your own marketing following the law. This guide is general information, not legal advice.
Questions
Can I get a free list of UK companies?
Yes. Basic company facts are public and free to search and download from Companies House. You filter and refresh it yourself.
Is it legal to use a UK company list for marketing?
Company facts (name, number, address, type) aren't personal data, but email marketing rules still apply to how you contact the company. Names of directors are personal data: being public doesn't remove data protection rules. Use them only with a documented legitimate interest, keep it relevant, and stop if anyone objects.
How do I get a list of newly formed companies?
Search the register by incorporation date, or use FreshlySpotted: the Newly Spotted signal picks them out each week by industry and area.
Does a company list include email addresses?
No. The register doesn't hold email addresses, and FreshlySpotted doesn't add personal contact details.
How often do company lists go out of date?
Constantly. Companies form, change and close all the time, so a list starts to age the day you save it.
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